2008 Auburn Tigers Basketball Preview

In 2007-2008, the Auburn Tigers (14-16 overall, 4-12 SEC) finished last in the SEC West and, once again, did not make a post-season appearance. Auburn probably won’t see the NCAA or NIT this year either, but they should finish somewhere in the middle of their division. Coach Jeff Lebo, who starts his fifth season with the Tigers, hopes that, unlike last season, his club stays healthy and fully engaged in the season.

Last year, forward Korvotney Barber (27.3 MPG, 13.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 0.8 APG, 72.0 FG%, 42,6 FT%) broke his hand in the 10th game of the season; that pretty much sealed the fate of the team. Barber, now a senior, is back and that bodes well for the Tigers. He’s a solid scorer from the floor. Junior forward Lucas Hargrove (21.4 MPG, 7.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 47.6 FG%, 55.0 FT%) showed marked improvement last season. He should get a chance to start. Overall, the frontcourt is thin on vets, which means that freshmen and new faces will be asked to contribute immediately. Junior college transfers Francis Aihe and Johnnie Lett will see minutes as will freshman forward Kenny Gabriel.

The Tigers have a deep backcourt that includes senior swingman Rasheem Barrett (31.9 MPG, 13.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 44.4 FG%, 70.2 FT%). In his first three seasons at Auburn, Barrett has been a dependable performer. Quantez Robertson (37.5 MPG, 7.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.1 APG, 41.4 FG%, 75.3 FT%), also a senior, is a fine playmaker with excellent court-vision. He’s been a durable workhorse for the past three seasons. Junior college transfer Tay Waller and freshman Frankie Sullivan bring excellent scoring skills to the floor. Both could see important minutes.

This looks to be the year that the Auburn Tigers start to move up in the SEC standings. This club is not yet ready for the post-season, but they do possess a talented roster of newcomers and veterans. Coach Lebo has weathered a range of challenges and disappointments and if his frontcourt can stay healthy, his backcourt continue to improve and his new guys step-up, this should prove to be a winning season for Auburn.