SECOND HALF: Mercer @ AU
We're discussing the second half of Auburn's game against Mercer.MERCER WINS, 78-74.
@0:05:
Mercer leads, 76-74. Robertson drives the lane, has the ball knocked away and out of bounds. Official initially signals that the ball deflected off a Mercer defender. He is overruled. Robertson is whistled for a charge instead. Mercer given possession. I couldn't see the play very well from this end of the floor.
@0:21:
Mercer leads, 75-74. Auburn gets a steal; Barber scores on another nice pass from Sullivan.
@1:01:
Mercer leads, 75-72. Robertson put-back.
@1:18:
Mercer leads, 75-70. Trouble here.
@ 2:10:
Mercer leads, 73-70. Auburn has hit 2 of its last 8 FTs. Barber just scored on a sweet pass from Sullivan.
FOURTH TO @ 3:45:
It's getting dicey for the Tigers. They're not good at the free-throw line and it's affecting them. They have hit just 2 of their last 6. Mercer's rebounding advantage has to be epic; Auburn isn't getting to much in terms of rebounds. Pretty sloppy effort overall.
THIRD TO @ 7:46:
Same basic theme: Mercer working harder on their offensive end and getting some fortunate bounces. Auburn seems a bit timid on offense right now; that shooting verve is gone.
SECOND TO @ 12:06:
Auburn leads, 59-58. Teams playing evenly now. Auburn is showing more aggression on defense. First time tonight. The Tigers have scored on six of their last seven possessions. Reed has nine points in this half.
FIRST TO @ 15:39:
Mercer ahead, 51-48. Auburn opened with a flurry, scoring on its first three possessions. Mercer just fights harder than the Tigers on their end. More rebounds, more hustle points. It's that simple.
posted by Jay G. Tate at
8:20 PM
162 Comments:
Auburn can't afford to NOT hustle. What type of pressure is Auburn trying to apply. It sounds like they need to turn up their defensive intensity.
Auburn is almost exclusively man to man tonight.
And getting whipped on it too.
What they need to do is realize they arent play volleyball when they're trying to rebound. Just hang on to it.
Thanks for the extra stuff tonight, Jay.
I think Zone is the way to go. Why do we keep running man?
http://www.channelsurfing.net/ always has all sorts of shows and games (basketball, soccer, football). You just have to check it each day.
They have to stay with Florence on the perimeter, so they need a defense that provides support there.
This Florence dude is for real.
Jay,
Thanks for the update. Can You tell me why we are sinking however many millions into a new house when we obviously SUCK! It makes no sense. How does Lebo look as a coach this year? More style than substance?
What up Monica?
Monica,
In case you didn't get my first message, NICE new picture. You look good.
Spending lots of money and making little or no progress...an Auburn tradition.
LOL!
The make some noise screen is killing me!
If you could have any player in college basketball, who would you take.
I would take Stephen Curry.
Mr. S,
That seems to be the case but how can you keep being the King of the Road if you suck??
Hey there, Cory. Just trying to stay warm in the arctic north. What's up with you?
MDaniel - Thank you very much. That's nice of you.
Either Curry or Tyler Hansbourough (sp?)
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Monica- How many snows do you typically get in a winter up there?
I'd take Dewayne Reed.
Just kiddin'.
I'd take Hansbrough. No regrets there.
Mr. S- Hansborough would be my second choice. He is an all around good player.
LOL Monica! Bundle up. Just enjoying the ball game and Jay G's commentary!
Shaq would improve our FT%...SHEESH
It really varies. Last year we got bunches of 3 inch snows - enough to mess up morning commute. We'll get one or two 6" - My first year here we had a blizzard - over two feet - that was crazy. In the higher mountains they already have a foot or more.
Rebounding is a state of mind and we're drawing blanks right now!
Owned!
That was a nice block by reed.
Thanks Mon. My brother is in Denver, and they have already gotten snow. I'm jealous. I would love to see some snow. Heck, for that matter, I would love to go snow skiing.
Eddie,
Was it you in downtown ATL today?
If so, wwhat was so cool about it?
Mdaniel- Yeah, I was in Downtown ATL. I was pricing a demo job at the old Macy's right across from the Ritz. I thought it was cool, because that place has been there since like the 1920's and there was a lot of history in there. That's the jist.
Eddie - Bring your crew on up and we'll head over to Snowhoe to go skiing. The snow is fun, the accompanying ice - not so much.
I need to Monica. I went to snowshoe when I was a kid. I had a good time, even with the ice :).
M2M is the way to go. I prefer a switching M2M. Unless you have the Athletes that Rick Pitino has, a zone won't work Auburn. Jay G, are they picking up full court or are they getting back and picking up?
No offense Mr. Sensible, but don't give up on Auburn in November. Basketball is a LONG season. It is more important to show improvement over the course of the season and build during the season. A a win or a loss in November is not indicative of the season or how Auburn is going to play in conference. I guess I am going overboard on this topic, but I remember the big run that Cliff Ellis had with his 30 win Auburn team. I had the opportunity to come to the first Auburn game after that team's first loss. I was appalled at the amount of no shows. There was, in my opinion, a noticible drop in fan intensity and involvment. It was like if the undefeated season was over, then why bother. The fans had what I called a football mentality. In Football a loss during the regular season can turn that season into an also ran season. In basketball, losses while you don't like them, don't mean nearly as much as they do in basketball.
In my national championship run in 1986, we were 7-4 going into January. We lost two more games after that and beat Duke for the National Championship. Don't think Auburn is going to win a national championship, but check out NC State's record in 83.
Getting beat early in the year in M2M is nothing to be ashamed of. It takes games played for the players to understand the rotations and responsibilites. Getting beat because of lack of hustle, well that is a problem. That is why I went to a full time press in 1980. I swore that my teams would not get beat again for lack of hustle.
42-16 rebounding in favor of Mercer.
Sheesh...we are giving it to them.
Football player sightings: Mario Fannin, Gabe "Spuds" McKenzie, Byron Isom, Tyronne Green.
Thanks for the link; didn't have any idea I could watch the game on the net. Looks like a typical Lebo team. How can he have such terrible free throw shooting teams each year? I don't understand it - I could make 25 in a row when I was in the 9th grade, and these guys are 10 times better athletes than I ever thought about being.
denny crum, why can't he teach them to shoot free throws? There's only one right way to do it.
Jay G,
I bet those dudes (especially the big ones) are easy to spot.
LOL! Rod forgot to pot down his mic before he let out that big sigh at the break.
They are easy to spot ... especially Isom. He's a big dude.
By the way, this is an exciting football game on ESPN2 ... Ball State-Central Michigan tied at 24 in the snow with 11:00 to go.
I am really enjoying watching the snow fall in the Ball State CMU game.
This comment has been removed by the author.
My bad. That was Jet's post. I misread it.
Cent. Mich/ Ball State
40-16 rebounding......no desire and no hustle. Poor free throw shooting is epidemic on teams in the SEC. Why does it seem that teams from the MVC and other mid majors always hit their free throws, make the extra pass, play fundementally sound defense, and hustle for loose balls?
Time for the picket fence to Jimmy.
Got to love football Wish the field was white.
I'm feeling like the AU game is a lost cause, even though they are only down by 3.
He can make it. And boys, don't get caught watchin' the paint dry.
Good call, Denny.
DC,
Living vicariously through Denny Crum or a REAL PLAYER??? Way too much time to make that up!
I want to know how many of you out there every watch the basketball scores scrolling on ESPN and after you have watched few scores realized that it says NCAAW not NCAAM and then Damn, there goes 60 seconds I'll never get back.
I'm guilty of that Denny.
Jay-G,
Either Mercer is pretty good or AU is not??
TD ... Ball State ... rompin' and stompin' drive.
Got a chance to take this one.
Mdaniel,
Check out my show athttp://www.joebanddenny.com/
Joe B and get around.
is the game over..i'm confused
1 point game with 20 seconds.
Has happened to me several times, Denny.
what the hell are we doing?
dadgum it, i hate the "make some noice" graphic.
Mercer is decent. Auburn is decent. Close game.
This is the worst rebounding performance I've ever seen out of an Auburn team.
c'mon somebody WE GOT A FINAL?!
Should have fouled with 20 left.
Charge...dang
Mercer up by 2 with 5 seconds to go
Charge. Pretty much ending this game. That sucks. Down by 2 with 5 seconds.
What was that Mercer player doing to the crowd?
I love where they are at the real Hinkle Fieldhouse and the player shouts out HICKORY!
There are earlier real versions in Kentucky with the Carr Creek basketball teams. That is what makes the Kentucky State Basketball Tourney the best in the Country. No classification of basketball teams. They classified the basketball teams in Indiana and they are still complaining up there. The whole Super Six in Birmingham is so diluted and doesn't draw near the crowds or generates near the intensity. If you make it to the regionals in Kentucky, you have done something.
I hear the Boo-Birds
Mercer brought a lot of students ... I'd say they have as many or more students than Auburn.
dang it..can we win at something PLEASE..what's the latest on the t-shirts Jay?
44-20 the rebounding difference
wow.
Mercer 78- Auburn 74
Ballgame
CMU fakes a punt on 4th and 18 with 4:00 to go ... gains 1.
Field flipped.
Mr. S- I think they were booing the last charge call. Oh well, can't win rebounding like that.
Covington,
I'll guess you didn't say damn, but you get my meaning.
I say you get what you earn and getting out rebounded by 20 is earning a loss. Lucky it wasn't more than that.
Ugly.
If we can't rebound better than that against Mercer, what's going to happen in the SEC?
Hey Denny,
Dave Jennings here! You're still full of S___!
Ya'll have been following Auburn bb longer than I have -- why the sparse crowds? I know they haven't been all that good for a while, but man, 3,000 people is pitiful...
Dave, My husband wants to know if you play golf?
Mr. S,
There is always hope for baseball! HA!
mercer may be the next cinderella..though these alabama teams may not be that good..hmmm...this may be one of those years where I really try to follow basketball(like back in the chris porter days) though traveling 2 hours for a game is just a pain..sucks we lost..WAR EAGLE
I'd say 3,000 is a standard crowd.
Monica,
Do you think Denny is a FAKER?
wow..auburn athletics =(
I can't say. I do remember during that 30 win season with Cliff, while there were lots of 'sellouts' there were lots of no shows for big games after the first loss. I do know that it is much easier getting into quality basketball games at Auburn than it is at either Freedom Hall or Rupp Arena. Heck it is tougher to get tickets at district high school games than it is at Auburn.
I have another postulate. For as much as fans in Kentucky get bashed for not knowing football, they know more about football than people in Alabama know about basketball.
Basketball, as Shooter said, is...the greatest game ever invented.
Anon,
Dave would never say that because he is my whipping boy.
My family is planning on going ot the George Washington game Saturday. If we lived a little closer, we'd probably go more often. Oh well, since there won't be many people there, at least maybe my little girl will get to see Aubie. That'd make her day!
Could we please drop the BANHAMMER on DC w/o a campfire?
I never could get bb tickets when I lived in Kentucky. We saw 3 games in the 5 years I lived there. Rupp arena was packed for every game -- 24,000 strong. That's one thing I DO like about Auburn bb -- at least I can get in the door!
No excuse in getting whipped on the glass tonight....I bet practice will be pretty tough tomorrow. Disappointing loss.
Denny is the real deal.
damn denny..i live 2 hours away..it's a work night..and i have always lived in a state where football is king..not to mention AU has made no investment into the basketball program until this year with the new arena. So yeah maybe I don't keep the passion for b'ball but you Hotties have given me a new passion for AU in general so thanks Hotties..
Covington,
AU students just don't go to the games. It's really sad to me. The few games last year that were big crowds, the team really fed off of them and they seemed to play better. I know that I went to every game when I was a student and we sucked then.
3000 is why the new arena is going to hold less than that disaster known as Beard Eaves Coliseum.
Western Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky both have better venues than Beard Eaves. Heck, Transy plays in a PALACE and they are non-scholarship.
My ratings of D-1 basketball gyms in Alabama.
One being best here goes.
1. USA You can buy beer, luxury boxes, great sight lines
2. Alabama State Great sight lines
3. UAB New, need jumbo tron
4. Auburn Multi use building that is good at nothing
4. UAT Quonset hut
6. Jack St.
7. Troy like a poor High school gym old and horrible
8. Samford. Samford's looks like it is 100 years old.
I know people that drive 2 hours one way that are season ticket holders at both Freedom Hall and Rupp Arena and they make to games on week nights with snow on the road..
Quonset hut = da truff
I couldn't believe that place.
Denny Crum,
You are the SHANE of HABOTN!!
Preach on it, Coach!
Had a chance to go to a few EKU and Transy games. I don't remember Transy's gym being much at all -- but it's been a long time.
You know, students could have a really good time and MAKE a big difference in games if they would attend. A rowdy student body can do wonders. Jim in Sranton is right. There was better support for teams that weren't that good.
I'll tell you how much interest AU basketball has. When I was there, Sonny Smith used to hold contests for the frats. Most kids w/ most noise won several cases of beer for a party. I was at the frat house once, looked outside, and there is old Sonny unloading beer and hauling it in our frathouse. Can't see that happening today, but I have to say that was fun....
Transy has a "new" gym (2004 or so) and it's plush.
I don't know much. But I will bet I know two things more than mdaniel. I know basketball and I know how to make baloney tacos.
Sonny was good for Auburn. He realized that he had to promote the game and the program. Auburn lost a lot more than a good coach when he left.
Yes, Sonny was good. He was the Bruce Pearl of his day in a way. That's Lebo's weakness. He needs to go to all the students and sell the game. Also needs to go to all the cities, radio stations, do the same. If we win, fans WILL show up.
What was Lebo's demeanor after the game. Is there any residual CTF MCP going on with him?
Never had a chance to enjoy the bologna tacos. However you are the MOST wordy person I've met on this blog,Officer Stidanko.
I will say one thing. I believe the Athletic Director needs to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the coaches. Where there is a weakness, they need to step up and cover it. Maybe get an assoc Ath Director to suggest ways to increase attendence to Lebo, go out with him on campus, radios, etc. It's hard to find a coach that is good at everything.
Jay, Did AU just not block out? Sounds like they were never in a position to rebound.
What is Lebo's salary?
Denny,
You got lucky vs sonny in the tourney and you know it.
Richmond got you back though.
If you want to see how a showman was, I would urge you all to look up Ed Diddle at Western Kentucky University. He did things not only to win, but he played a style of basketball that would draw the common man and women off the street in Bowling Green Kentucky to see them play.
Diddle was one of the first proponents of the fast-break style of basketball and the tremendous success of his early teams helped to popularize and spread this style of play all across the country. Many years later he stated, "We play the fast break because it makes people come to our gymnasium, they like to see scoring. We give them what they like. I see it as entertainment." Even in warmup drills Diddle's boys would entertain the crowd. The coach would often have several basketballs painted red and white, the school's colors, for use during the pregame warmups. Diddle also encouraged his players to dunk the ball at every opportunity....something that wasn't widely accepted among the country's more straight-laced coaches in those days.
http://www.hilltopperhaven.com/diddle/index.html
the facebook group isn't excepting me
Hoopie is wordier than me and I tend to agree with most of what he says.
accepting** i need hooked on phonics
I know things have changed alot since I was a student. There wasn't much else to do on a Wed. night other than going to the bball games. Tommy Joe & Cliff usually had competitive teams. They usually lost, but at least they were competitive.
You have to give these kids a reason to come. Losing to teams like Mercer won't do it.
Lebo plays an up tempo game. He just never has the players. Heard an ex coach say about Lebo when AU hired him..."Great guy, great coach... Won't win at Auburn. Won't cheat...Doesn't know how to cheat." That in a nutshell is the state of AU basketball. Gotta get a dominant player or two. Usually have to cheat to get that player. Mostly have to outbid the other schools...
Didn't lose to Richmond. Jeff Hall's lay up off a stolen pass caused by defensive pressure was the difference in the game.
I wonder if Auburn would win if it recruited players that you would see at schools like Butler or Vanderbilt.
Look at Vandy. They recruit role players and kids that know basketball. I see the type of kids Lebo recruits and they look like the ones he recruited at Tn Tech. They come in with poor fundementals and he has to spend too much time teaching them things they should have been taught in middle school
DC - move Samford up to #2 on your list -- they have a beautiful new building
Next question,
Who else here thinks that Clint Eastwood really made poor movies when he was hooked up with Sandra Locke. Watching the Enforcer and it really pains me to see the true awfulness of Sandra Locke. The exception to the Sandra Locke rule is Outlaw Josey Wales.
A man like Wales lives by the feud.
When did they complete the new gym. Last time I was there was in 05. They come off the list until I can review it.
Just checking you to see if you're still up on your game Denny. Touche.
Who was the bigger jerk, Joe b or Eddie Sutton?
Go ask Bobby Knight about Eddie Sutton. There is a nice passage about Eddie in Season on the Brink.
Joe B. is a consumate gentleman. There has been quite possibly no one that was under the pressure he faced when he replaced Rupp at UK.
I'm the one not accepting people.
jhag ... did you clarify your handle in your group request?
I'll bet $500 that you did not do that.
Sutton.
I want some of that action.
Pete Hanna Center at Samford....for your viewing pleasure. Opened November 2007.
http://samfordsports.cstv.com/facilities/samf-seiberthall.html
Jay G speaks the truth. While there was no one under the pressure that Joe B faced. There is no one who did more damage to a program and was allowed to walk away like Sutton was able to. Tubby may have left the cupboard bare. But he ran a clean program. Go ask Dwayne Casey about Eddie Sutton.
Well there goes the perfect season.
Luckily, I didn't drink the ****ALERT! OVERUSED METAPHOR APPROACHING**** kool-aid on this basketball team like I did for the football team, so I can't say I am all torn up about it. We'll get em next time, Tigers!
I'm out fella's. Have a nice night. Jay, did you check on the reason AU changed their signals. I know you heard the Richt rumor. I think AU found out from a UT Martin coach. Richt just confirmed it. Don't know, just sayin.
Bobby knight doesn't get on the Blog so ill just have to take your word.
Wonder how much whiskey Sutton could go through on a cold night like this?
Sutton did more damage than Switzer at ou. Ont difference is that Eddie got to continue his pillaging at another school while Barry had to wait for his college buddy to give him the Dallas job.
Monica - Let me answer that Lebo salary question for you.
Auburn Head Basketball Coach Jeff Lebo Signs Contract
March 18, 2005
AUBURN -- Auburn head men’s basketball coach Jeff Lebo has signed a contract which will pay him $750,000 annually for the next seven seasons according to an announcement by Athletic Director Jay Jacobs.
The contract will pay Lebo a base salary of $175,000 with the remainder coming from endorsement rights and radio and television agreements.
The contract also features several incentives to reward Lebo for the team’s success. Lebo will receive the highest regular-season and post-season bonus after the season. The incentives include: $25,000 for an Southeastern Conference Western Division Championship; $50,000 for a SEC Regular Season Championship; $40,000 for an SEC Tournament Championship; $20,000 for an invitation to the NCAA Tournament; $40,000 for advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen; $50,000 for advancing to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight; $75,000 for the Final Four; and $100,000 for an NCAA National Championship. There are also incentives for achieving the NCAA’s academic success rate and for graduation rates.
The contract includes two clauses, a buyout should Auburn choose to cancel the contract and a penalty clause should Lebo terminate the agreement. Auburn’s buyout is $250,000 for each year remaining on the contract up to a maximum of four years. In addition, if more than four years are remaining, Lebo will receive his base salary for each year.
Should Lebo terminate the contract, then Auburn will receive the base salary times the number of years remaining on the contract.
http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031805aaa.html
Nice. But not number two.
Berea College (NAIA) Seabury
http://www.berea.edu/athletics/facilities/default.asp
The Palace
http://www.transy.edu/athletics/beck.htm
I think a coach like Jeff Neubauer could win at Auburn. Different style that I think would translate well at AU>
"This is the worst rebounding performance I've ever seen out of an Auburn team."
That is saying a whole lot since at some points in recent years they have had 4 guards on the court for large portions of the game.
monica, you are talking to yourself again.
Also, how come everyone's names got all capitalized correctly? Who? Wha? Huh? I'm still holding strong with all lower case.
They got more than doubled up by Mercer. I mean, come on.
Careful Monica, some anon poster will say you are wordy. What are you some kind of Leo Tolstoy or James Michener or something.
I'm headed back to MGM.
I'll be back here in Auburn on Thursday morning. Tuberville and, possibly, a player or two tomorrow.
So all of the people predicting a tournament appearance this year by the Tigers should probably hope/pray for the NIT?
denny - or Wordy McTurdface! I made that one up.
I think you are on to something. If they got outshot, well some teams just get hot. But doubled up on the boards..And they had beaten Alabama already. That should have clued some of the players that these guys from Mercer might mean business.
Michael - I am my best audience. Maybe you haven't earned you capital M yet, michael.
All I have to say to you Michael is that John has a long moustache and your comments Wounds my heart with dolorous languour
Did Mercer beat Auburn in Ellis's last season? That's the way I remember it, but not sure.
That drive has gotta get to ya Jay.
I'm onto you, Crum. Through some googling of your nonsense, I just discovered you announced the D-Day invasion to the French Resistance. I am sure this applies to the basketball team in some awesome way, but I can't quite figure it out yet.
The ride from Montgomery thru Macon County is like going out of the time space continum or something. It is only like twenty five miles, but it seems like 250.
Denny...you're right. I'm the wordiest....and I even try not to be.
Just stopped by to see who won..bummer. It's 11:42 EST..peace out.
That's it Michael. The black helicopters are going to swoop down on you and snatch you away. CTF already has committed high treason according the 'rumors' out there. We can't afford to have you letting the cat out of the bag...and by the way...THe customs house is on fire.
They are not terrible. I saw some good things tonight. Their biggest problem seems to me is some unknown fear of being physical. Particulary Vot, which is understandable. He needs to get over it. Frankie ... didn't score that many points tonight but a future star without a doubt. This team is way better than last years team, they are just going to have to toughen up A LOT.
We'll see ... I don't care what LEBO says ... You absolutely have to keep the ball out of Reed's hands. My nickname for him is going to be "The Fortunate One." If it goes in, Reed was fortunate. If he doesn't turn it over, AU is fortunate. There was a stretch tonight where he took about 8 consecutive shots and missed all 8. Seemed to take something away from the rest of the team.
Auburn to Montgomery - not a bad drive, especially if Tate Manor is on the east side of the gump.
JGT - ever thought that maybe you could combine the Tubs Verizon billboard and a Victoryland billboard in photoshop, and show him geting his "lottery ticket"? Something to think about on your next trip past exit 22 in Shorter, AL
Jay ... I thought he called that foul on two four which would have been Waller and an even weirder call?
Man Jay, you stay on the road for the HOTTIES(and the Advertiser). Let me know if you need to stay a night in Auburn to ease the I85 trip. I have a decently comfortable couch for college student and an internet access that won't flake out on you like JH.
michael-what happened with Richt and UGA and the UTM game. I missed something or just fell out of the loop?
Can't bring myself to even mention Eddie Sutton and Joe B. Hall in the same sentence. Oh wait, I guess I just did. Anyway, you get the idea... night and day.
enjoyed the updates last nite JG. good work.
Is Jeff Lebo really a basketball coach? I bet he could coach wide receivers better than Knox.
Thanks for the offer, Caleb. I'll keep that in mind.
Foul was called (officially) on 23. I checked the box score before I wrote it, but I really have no idea what happened. I saw 23 go into a crowd and the ref indicated ball out to Auburn.
They huddle and five seconds later, Auburn is retroactively whistled for a charge. It was a fitting end to a weak officiating performance ... both ways. They called some shady offensive fouls on Mercer, too.
Strange, I wonder what Lebo is up to now.
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