Finally we got over the hump; Congrats Lebo

[mj4au]

It took a long while, but Lebo has finally elevated AU basketball. Let's not forget the mess Lebo had to fix and the annual bad luck, which hopefully has run its course. Now the future of AU BB is looking much better and it couldn't happen at a better time. Many SEC teams are struggling or rebuilding. Bammer and uga are looking for coaches and I dont think there is a line at the athletic dept. Stability and better recruiting at AU could pay big dividends for some time.

Congrats to CL for a very good season and a chance at the NCAAs. I believe a run of NCAA appearances is just around the corner. One thing is for certain: CL has bammers number. Isn't it funny how bammer beats us in recruiting every year, yet we beat them on the court every year.

[ranrobius]

Not ready to say that we are there yet.

We lose Vot and some very big role players and we STILL DONT HAVE A TRUE BIG MAN! If we get those things thightend up then we will make some real hay! BUt this season we could be the cinderella.......MAYBE!

[Galen]

Auburn is a loooooong way from over any hump. The team has shot well and beaten a bunch of teams that are going nowhere.

I'm still not sold on Lebo. I don't think he can recruit.

Barber, Barrett and Robertson are seniors. How many other teams in any league are playing three seniors?

I think we could do better. How long did it take the guy to turn LSU around? A year. Bruce Pearl at Tennessee? A year. Lebo's had FIVE FREAKING YEARS. He's not the guy.

[AUTerp92]

Originally Posted by Galen

Auburn is a loooooong way from over any hump. The team has shot well and beaten a bunch of teams that are going nowhere.

I'm still not sold on Lebo. I don't think he can recruit.

Barber, Barrett and Robertson are seniors. How many other teams in any league are playing three seniors?

I think we could do better. How long did it take the guy to turn LSU around? A year. Bruce Pearl at Tennessee? A year. Lebo's had FIVE FREAKING YEARS. He's not the guy.

I don't think you can compare the situation that Jeff stepped into with situations at UT or LSU. Those programs had talent that didn't bail on the program and weren't saddled with NCAA probation. Therefore, I think Jeff deserved at least five years to re-build the program. I also think, that the performance of the team this year especially as of late with twenty wins and post season play has earned him another year at the helm. I'm optimistic that this team will be as good next year if not better...I've been told the transfer from IU is the best player we have, the kid that transfered from OU is good, we have signed a couple of "big" men (big for AU at least 6'10" and 6'8") and we do have some key talent returning.

UNC starts two seniors and three juniors and plays at least one more senior significantly and another would but he is in Roy's doghouse...should be a favorite to win the tournament thanks to all the upperclassmen.

[WarEagleInSWFL]

Hopefully the new arena and an NCAA bid will help with recruiting.

[auwareagle]

LSU is a totally different story. They're still working with 2 starters from the final 4 team a few years back.

[Galen]

I don't care if they're working with the LA Lakers or nine guys from the gay cheerleader's association.

It.does.not.take.five.years.to.succeed.at.any.bask etball.program.

[mj4au]

Originally Posted by Galen

I don't care if they're working with the LA Lakers or nine guys from the gay cheerleader's association.

It.does.not.take.five.years.to.succeed.at.any.bask etball.program.

It does take that long at AU, especially after the Cliff Ellis fiasco (sp?), the lack of BB tradition, the lack of hardly any consistent winning, and an old, outdated, crapy arena. I say Lebo gets two more years and then we evaluate the program.

Besides anyone who can win 20+ games at AU is definately doing something right.

[demon42]

Lebo should be given credit for this season without a doubt. But lets look at his body of work at AUBURN over 5 years. He has run off better players than he has recruited. He has had 5 recruiting classes, so he has played with his own players, in his system where Auburn has not been competitive. After watching the AU, UAT game there was very little movement by players without the ball, ball movement and spacing was not great very few open 3 point shots, did not see a pick and roll or any screens to free the jump shooters. Thought they were very quick with there hands and played solid defense but would of liked to see more pressure applied to Alabamas guards made the big men handle the ball outside of the paint. I know alot of people on here think Lebo is a great game day coach, but I thought he was almost outcoached by a guy who has led the Tide for a few weeks and will not have a Div 1 head coaching job after this season is complete. I thought the tigers won in spite of Lebos coaching.

[Galen]

Originally Posted by mj4au

It does take that long at AU, especially after the Cliff Ellis fiasco (sp?), the lack of BB tradition, the lack of hardly any consistent winning, and an old, outdated, crapy arena. I say Lebo gets two more years and then we evaluate the program.

Besides anyone who can win 20+ games at AU is definately doing something right.

Christ almighty.

The Ellis fiasco? There was no fiasco. There was plenty of talent on the team when he left, Lebo just ran it off. That's on him.

Two more years? Good lord. Why don't we just put a big sign outside the arena? Call it the "Auburn Doesn't Care About Basketball Center."

Lebo is a decent guy. Given the state of the SEC this season, a coach that has been at the school five years and plays a primarily senior lineup should be whipping everybody's ass, not straggling along with losses to Mercer (that alone eliminate AU from NCAA consideration) and a slightly better than average SEC record.

I'm sorry, but what you're seeing now is smoke and mirrors. Auburn is not a good basketball team, it has no offensive identity and zero inside presence.

Two more years? Hell, just give him a lifetime contract if nobody is going to expect or demand anything.

And I say again for hopefully the last time: Even if Lebo had inherited a team that played in the middle of College Street on rusty rims and his best player was a one-eyed Samoan who served lemonade at Toomers at halftime, he STILL should have had the team competitive within two years if he was able to recruit and coach. He did not.