Charles Barkley said Alabama basketball is best team in country. Now it's in pregame hype video

Alabama basketball was getting ready to play Mississippi State in its first game back at Coleman Coliseum on Wednesday since Jan. 14 when Charles Barkley made an appearance on the video board for a brief second.

The pregame hype video included a clip of Barkley saying Alabama is the best team in the country before flashing to another clip. Barkley is an Auburn legend who had his No. 34 jersey retired on March 3, 2001.

Here's the original clip from his appearance on The Next Round from Jan. 18.

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Barkley went on to become an 11 time NBA all-star and was the NBA's most valuable player in 1993.

Alabama is set to face Auburn on Feb. 11 in Auburn before a return trip to Tuscaloosa against the Tigers on March 1.

No. 2 Alabama is facing the Bulldogs for a second time this season on Wednesday. The Crimson Tide entered the matchup at Coleman Coliseum undefeated in SEC play.

The Crimson Tide beat the Bulldogs 78-67 in Alabama's first SEC game back on Dec. 28.

Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men's basketball for The Tuscaloosa News/USA TODAY Network. Reach him via email: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly.