2008 Auburn Basketball Predictions & Season Preview
Written October 17, 2008 by Luke Knight
Jeff Lebo and the Auburn Tigers were 14-16 and 4-12 in SEC play last season. Auburn has now gone eight consecutive seasons without a winning record inside the SEC. The Tigers can blame a lot of last years losses on a series of injuries and suspensions. Those who have done the math attribute 4,733 minutes to a series of maladies, including Korvotney Barber’s broken hand after the 10th game of the year when Barber was leading the nation in field goal shooting. Lebo should have Barber back this season as well as the promise of Tay Waller, a JuCo transfer, and Frankie Sullivan, a freshman. Waller averaged 19.0 pointers per game last season and Sullivan demonstrated to veterans that he was tough enough to play in summer workouts. Barber brings back an inside presence the Tigers lacked last season and Waller and Sullivan appear to be legitimate outside threats. Head over to BetUS where Auburn is +600 to win the SEC West.
Korvotney Barber is a legitimate SEC every-night scorer and may be the closest thing Auburn has to a center. He averaged 11.3 points two years ago and was averaging 13.8 points before last season’s injury. If he can stay healthy, he will be a legitimate frontcourt leader and could vie for a spot on the All-SEC team. Lucas Hargrove improved last season and averaged 7.8 points per game. Auburn also has three incoming players 6’8” or taller in Francis Aihe, Johnnie Lett, and Kenny Gabriel, and they should provide welcome relief on the inside.
Waller and Sullivan will join an experienced backcourt including Rasheem Barrett, Quantez Robertson, and DeWayne Reed. Barrett has averaged double figures in each of his three seasons at Auburn, including a career high 13.6 points last year. Robertson has been a steady player, who has been asked to play almost every minute. He started at the point but shifted to a 2-guard for long stretches last seasons. Robertson is a guy that would rather direct than shoot, and that is where signing two scorers in Sullivan and Waller will help.
Final Analysis
Jeff Lebo is in his 5th year as head coach of Auburn and for once could have a true inside-outside threat barring injury and suspension. Auburn must become tougher to defend and with Sullivan and Waller in the backcourt and Barber in the frontcourt, the Tigers should be much tougher to defend. Auburn also needs to get tougher defensively. If newcomers Waller and Sullivan become the scorers that they can be, look for Auburn to compete in the SEC West. We don’t expect them to win the SEC West, but think they should pick up postseason bid with an NIT berth. At BetUS, the Tigers are +25000 odds at winning an NCAA Championship.
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