Can We Win The SEC Basketball Tournament ?
by aubtigerman on Feb 21, 2010 4:43 PM CST
22 comments
Tay Waller scored 29 points and made seven 3-pointers
in Auburn's win over SEC West Division leader Arkansas on February 20th in Auburn.
Some folks have all but given up on Jeff Lebo's Tigers this year. But the coach and the team have not given up. They have scratched and fought all year . In true Auburn Spirit this team does not have any quit in them... which is a testament to Coach Lebo.
After beating Alabama, taking Florida to the wire, and losing in overtime to both Arkansas and Mississippi State, Auburn beat the West Division leading Arkansas Hogs 92 - 83 at Beard Eaves Colliesum on Saturday, which was the most points scored in in an Auburn game during the last 6 seasons.. The Tigers shot 60.9 % in the first half and hit 16 of 25 in the second half for a 64 % average. Senior DeWayne Reed hit 5 of 7 from the field and was 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
A lot has been written about the men's team having a poor season but there is only one game difference in their record (13 - 14) and first place Arkansas' record (14 - 14). Reed says " this season could still turn into something special. We have had so many close games ... I told my teammates ... I think we are going to win the SEC Tournament. I've been dreaming about it and I believe it is going to happen ." Well one things for certain the Tigers finally got it together after so many close ones this year.
Coach Jeff Lebo has done a good job with less talent than his competition playing in one of the less attractive venues in the Conference. He is both a good coach and a good game planner that has kept us in close games his entire career. Add to that the fact he has finally got a good recruitment class coming in. I believe there is no telling what he could do in the next couple of years with better personnel as well as being able to play in a first class facility.
The question remains , will the Auburn administration have the courage to give Coach Lebo a chance to see what he can do with a full bench and a team with some size ?
Unfortunely it looks like for Coach Lebo to return, the team needs to win the SEC Tournament. Can they do it ? Senior DeWayne Reed thinks so ... and SO DO I !!!
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I definitely think they can do it.
But even if they don’t win the tournament, I have said on this board before that Lebo deserves the chance to proove what he can do with a good class in a new colesium.
I hope he gets that chance too ...
… after all even Coach Sonny Smith who set the standard at Auburn for winning and for post season play with 5 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, went from 1978 till 1985 before there was a big difference in the win/loss column. It wasn’t till after his 6th season that they finally had the record that put them in the Big Dance.
aubtigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
Do you think your Tigers can win it Jonno ?
aubtigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
In your opinion whats the problem at LSU besides the W/L column ?
Is it that most all SEC basketball is weak (excepting Kent. & Fla.) or is there another reason ?
aubtigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
Players.
John Brady was an excellent recruiter, but he recruited the types of players that stayed only one or two years and then were first round selections in the NBA draft. On top of that, he only recruited one of those types of guys a year, and could never find a true point guard. So we were always very inconsistent under Brady.
Trent Johnson came in last year and reaped the benefits of Brady’s final recruiting success winning the SEC, and proving to be the only tough opponent that UNC played in the NCAA tourney last year. But now Trent faces APR problems due to Brady’s recruiting blunders and he’s running a completely new system without the players to run it.
I’m actually very surprised that we are this bad considering Bo Spencer is in the top 50% of point guards in the conference and Tasmin Mitchell is a star. Storm Warren is having a breakout year as well. But after those 3 guys we’ve got absolutely nothing. Our recruiting class is ranked 11th in the country this year though, and with a transfer from Ole Miss who is eligable next year, we will probably challenge for the top spot in the West again.
Interesting... I think everyone was surprised at LSU's performance this year.
It might be too wishful on my part but if we keep our recruiting class together, I think we could also be a contender for the West next year. Would love to see it come down to AU / LSU. No more Arkansas / Miss State.
aubtigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
I know this is a little against the grain but...
Do we want them to have success? With the way lebo has “built” the team so far i would think not. Let me say i always cheer for the tigers when i catch their games but for them to have success enough that gives lebo one more year might not be the best thing. Ill be interested to hear your thoughts.
AUBURN is back!
I don't think its going against the grain Auskip ...
… from what I’ ve read ( in the news and on blogs) the majority of folks are looking for a coaching change. At this point I’m probably going against the grain. I know I’ m in the minority but I really think Lebo can get the job done. He has been handicapped since the beginning with 4 top players leaving the team when Ellis was fired, followed by probation, followed by the NCAA banning contact with summer league guru Mark Komara, and then followed by trying to get top recruits to come play at Beard Eaves.
I respect Phllip Marshall more that any other sports writter and he said if you talk to anyone inside the game they will all say that Lebo is a masterfull coach on the floor and that he is a man of integrity that will just not cheat. In addition to quote Marshall, after the Tigers pushed Florida to the wire, " Lebo’s latest team has made dramatic improvement over the course of the season. Its been so close to being really good, but it hasn’t happened yet. " Well I think they showed against Arkansas what they can do. That is not to say that they will win the Tournament, but I definitely think its possible.
I understand how some Tiger fans want to go in a different direction. But now that he has a good recruiting class coming in, I would like to see what he could do with better talent and size. Its my opinion that his bunch has played well (for the most part) with teams that they were severely mismatched against. IF he would be given another year or two, win the West, win 20+ back to back, get us in the NCAA, I think alot of people would not remember wanting a change. Wishful thinking ? … Probably, but I’m the type homer that always has hope. I still love the rest of the family that have doubts, we need both to be balanced. War Eagle !
aubtigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
Good points
I was unaware of his handicap position with the NCAA….. i would like for him to have a couple more years but i just not sure it will happen
AUBURN is back!
Well the Ole Miss loss Wed. night might have ...
… sealed his fate. For the first 30 – 35 minutes of the game I thought I was looking at another good Auburn win like Saturday’s Arkansas game. We led most of the game, then Ole Miss wins late by 10.
In addition that loss will probably put us against Kentucky in the tournament . We played them close and put a scare into them earlier this year, but playing them early in the tournament is not a good thing.
aubtigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
We can
I wouldn’t bet on it though.
Our performance against Arkansas was a fluke. The SEC West is a joke of a division. We’ll probably get bounced in the first round by one of the East’s big 4.
You know what they call a quarter pounder with cheese in France?
No we cannot.
I will say this right now: We cannot and we will not win the SEC tournament. With Lebo at the helm, it’s foolish to think we will win the SEC conference tournament. Furthermore, we will not make it to the NIT either. I’m sorry, but in this many years we made it to the NIT and okay. That’s not acceptable for me. You keep screaming to leave Lebo where he is. And, I’ll keep saying he needs to go and needed to last year. I can’t even fathom thinking he should stay. Why? Because of Shawn Kemp, Jr.? Seriously? You want us to keep a coach because of a POSSIBLE RECRUIT? Wow, would you really use that kind of logic for anything else other than the basketball team?
With all due respect to you Sparkey ...
… I do think Jeff Lebo can still get the job done and it has more to do with him than with one recruit. I did not think I was screaming. If you read my above reply to auskip07, I said that regarding Lebo, " I understand how some Tiger fans want to go in a different direction " and I said I’m probably in the minority in wishing him well. In fact I have only noticed two others say on TET that they want to see him return ( Todd92 & PineMtTiger ).
However I can’t help but want to win the tournament. Do I think it can happen ?….yes. Do I think it will happen ?….probably not. Do I respect your opinion ?…. I most certainly do.
aubtigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
That wasn't you my man
No worries man. I didn’t mean you personally in screaming to keep him. And, it was a bit of hyperbole as well. Honestly, I was waiting for a retort from Todd 92. He and I have been arguing about Lebo for about a year now so I figured why not prod him some. As far as wishing him well, listen I’ll never pull against an Auburn team. In fact, nobody gets more frustrated after a basketball loss than I do because I don’t think Lebo should be there anymore. Lebo is better than what we are right now. I believe that as well. However, once we get the new facility I don’t see us winning SEC championships. To me, that’s unacceptable. I want to compete at the top in every sport.
Ditto that ... " I want to compete at the top in every sport. "
aubtigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
For the record...
The game tonight wouldn’t have changed my mind one way or the other. As it stands, it didn’t help Lebo’s case any of course-but one game doesn’t make or break a basketball season.
We were up by 12 with 11 minutes left
Of course, as they (are starting to) say about Ole Miss, “It’s a trap!” Lost by 10!
You know what they call a quarter pounder with cheese in France?
by jd is legend on Feb 24, 2010 10:08 PM CST up reply actions
I watched...
we were up by 14 with 10 minutes I think. Once Waller went cold, Auburn had no way of winning. If he gets hot, we’re pretty good. Without him on his “A” game, we’re in trouble.
It also didn't help that we had a 50 - 25 deficit in rebounding.
aubtigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
by aubtigerman on Feb 25, 2010 10:00 AM CST up reply actions
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