For Auburn basketball coach Jeff Lebo, it’s been a long haul. For Auburn’s basketball program, it’s been even longer.
No Auburn team has gone to postseason play since the 2003 team advanced to the Sweet 16. No Auburn team has had a winning record in Southeastern Conference play since 2000. Since Lebo arrived in the spring of 2004, defections, injuries and suspensions have been his constant companions.
The Tigers open Lebo’s fifth Auburn season Friday night against Missouri State at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum with renewed optimism.
Senior forward Korvotney Barber is back from the broken hand that ended his season after 10 games last season. Junior college transfer Tay Waller is a sharp-shooter from long distance like Lebo hasn’t had at Auburn. Freshman Frankie Sullivan might be, too, but he’s recovering from a high ankle sprain.
There is ample experience in seniors Quantez Robertson, Barber and Rasheem Barrett and juniors DeWayne Reed and Lucas Hargrove. There is size and athleticism inside in junior college transfers Johnnie Lett and Brendan Knox.
The Tigers were impressive in beating Morehouse College 98-50 in an exhibition game, but Lebo says they are ready to play one that counts.
“They are ready,” Lebo said. “It is a long haul when you only have one exhibition game. We have had 22-23 practices, and we are ready to bang against somebody else and ready for the games to start.”
Three of Lebo’s previous four Auburn teams have finished at the bottom of the SEC West. His 2007 team played for a share of the West Division championship at Ole Miss on the final day of the regular season but finished 7-9 in the league and did not advance to postseason play.
Is this the year?
“I’m not going to put that pressure on them,” Lebo said. “Certainly, that’s our goal.”
Robertson, the acknowledged team leader, says anything short of that would be a major disappointment.
“We have the players to do it,” Robertson said. “We have a lot of guys who have played a lot. We know what to expect. We know what it takes to win.”
Lebo isn’t sure what to expect from Missouri State. The Bears, who went 17-16 overall and 8-10 in the Missouri Valley Conference last season, have a first-year head coach in Cuonzo Martin.
“You kind of look at his background and where he came from,” Lebo said. “He came from Purdue, so you kind of study them a little bit and see what they’ve done in the past.”
Senior forward Chris Cooks has averaged 24.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in leading the Bears to a pair of exhibition victories.
Waller scored 27 points and Robertson 19 for Auburn in its exhibition victory.
Tickets for Friday’s game, which begins at 7 p.m., are $10.
