A year ago, Auburn’s basketball team had staggered to a 2-5 start in Southeastern Conference play. Speculation was swirling about Jeff Lebo’s future as head coach.
The Tigers responded with one of the great finishing kicks in school history, winning eight of their last nine SEC games and finishing with the second most wins in school history at 24-12 overall.
Today, the Tigers are again 2-5 in the SEC. Once again, there is speculation about Lebo’s future.
“We did it last year and we can do it again,” sophomore guard Frankie Sullivan said. “We still have confidence in ourselves.”
The Tigers (11-11, 2-5) gained some momentum with a 58-57 victory over Alabama last Saturday. Arkansas (11-11, 4-3) is one of the hotter teams in the SEC with three consecutive victories.
Tipoff is set for 12:47 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.
Three of Auburn’s SEC losses have come to nationally ranked teams from the East Division. And the Tigers are still just two games out of first place in the West.
“We will talk about that a little bit with our group,” Lebo said. “There is still a lot of basketball to be played. Arkansas is sitting right now at the top of our (division) at 4-3. We have played Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. A lot of teams haven't yet. I don't see a whole lot of difference in the West night in and night out.”
After a miserable start, Arkansas has found some answers. One is sophomore guard Courtney Fortson, who was suspended for the first 14 games. In eight games, he has averaged 19.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6 assists per game.”
The Tigers had all kinds of fun on their last trip to Fayetteville, winning 73-51. It is most lopsided loss ever suffered by Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena.
"Last year was last year,” Lebo said. “We played awfully well there last year. It is a new year. Last year’s game has not come up with this year’s team, nor will it.”
Senior point guard DeWayne Reed continues to leading Auburn with 16.1 points and 4.4 assists per game. Sullivan and senior forward Lucas Hargrove score 13.2 points per game each. Senior guard Tay Waller averages 12.6.
