Charles Barkley may be a well-known NBA analyst, but he still keeps a pulse on college basketball, especially as it relates to Barkley’s college team, Auburn, and Alabama.

Alabama is widely projected to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and Barkley is well aware about how this Crimson Tide team is assembled, and its success to date.

The former Auburn and NBA star, who joined “The Next Round” on Wednesday, admitted as much about his former rival.

“Alabama’s the best team in the country, honestly,” Barkley said. “I’ve watched them play probably 4 times. They are the best team. Houston is right there with them, but they beat Houston. But just, off the top of my head, Alabama’s the best team in the country, and that’s painful for me to say.”

No. 4-ranked Alabama is coming off a 78-66 win of Vanderbilt on Tuesday, and is leading a stocked class of strong SEC teams that includes Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn, Missouri, and Kentucky. Texas A&M and Florida are also in the mix for the Big Dance.