The Auburn basketball team is headed to the NCAA Final Four.

Prior to the Tigers’ 70-64 win over Michigan State on Sunday in Atlanta, Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze stressed the importance of Bruce Pearl’s team to the Auburn brand.

“I told Bruce,” Freeze told WKRG Sports Director Simone Eli on Sunday. “… I just said, ‘Man, what you all are doing for our university. You are in the middle of the fight right now and the battle. You don’t recognize the notoriety and just the brand Auburn and what you and your team are doing to help all of us.”

Freeze has been a big supporter of the the team throughout its NCAA Tournament run.

“It helps us all in recruiting,” he told Eli. “It helps us all raise money, helps us in the NIL space. You look in there and Charles Barkley is talking about Auburn. Right now over and over each night.

“I don’t think you can measure it. It’s just so big.”

Check out the full interview at WKRG.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.