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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Blake Schuster

Charles Barkley rooting for Michigan State to spite Kenny Smith was perfectly petty

Charles Barkley doesn’t need to do a ton of research when it comes to picking his favorite teams each year in the men’s NCAA tournament.

If his Auburn Tigers are in the big dance, he’ll ride with his alma mater. And if the Tigers get knocked out — like they did on Friday in a massive Yale upset — he’ll just root for which ever teams are playing against the favorite teams of his NBA on TNT co-hosts.

With No. 1 North Carolina facing No. 9 Michigan State on Saturday, Barkley was asked about joining the Tom Izzo bandwagon and gave a very succinct and sarcastic answer.

“I want Izzo to win because I hate Kenny [Smith].” Barkley joked.

Smith seemed thrilled about the development.

Knowing you’ve just gotten under Barkley’s skin must still be so satisfying after all these years. Especially when Charles has certainly had worse reasons for picking teams in March.

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