Tough Week Leads To Tougher Week For Tigers

After a road week that saw Auburn display perseverance, as well as lethargy in losses at Arkansas and Tennessee, returning to the Plains should be of some comfort. Like most scenarios the Tigers have faced this season, there is good news and bad news in what lies ahead.

Two breeds of Bulldogs. Caldwell-Pope (l) and Moultrie (r).

The good news is that they return home Wednesday, where they are 11-1 this season, with the lone loss coming against #1 Kentucky. The bad news is, there are no easy games in the SEC. Enter Georgia. At 10-10 (1-5), the Bulldogs are a Jekyll and Hyde team, capable of being pretty good or pretty bad. Both teams are similar in size and match up pretty well gainst each other. In addition, they both play a similar grind it out style of basketball, which should not collide into the ugly contest witnessed in Fayetteville last Wednesday. Georgia has a talented backcourt in Dustin Ware, Gerald Robinson, and freshman sensation Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Tigers will have to key on Caldwell-Pope who can bust zone defenses wide open with an uncanny ability to stick the trey ball.

Following the Georgia game, the Tigers will travel to Starkville, MS to take on #16 Mississippi State. This breed of Bulldogs are arguably the most talented team in the league, featuring the always steady Dee Bost and the inside presence of Renardo Sidney and Arnett Moultrie. Moultrie played for Auburn coach Tony Barbee at UTEP and boasts impressive numbers – 12 points per game and 13 rebounds per game. Many people believe that Moultrie would be a Tiger, had UTEP not placed a condition on his release, which disqualified him from transferring to Auburn. If the Tigers are to compete in Starkville, they cannot allow Moultrie and Sidney to have their way inside as the Tennessee big men did this past Saturday.

The advantage both sets of Bulldogs have had are byes, allowing them a week to focus exclusively on the Tigers. Auburn needs to score some wins if they are going to keep their post season hopes alive. At 12-9 overall and 2-5 in league play, there is little margin for error as the Tigers head into the last stretch of the SEC season.

It was good to see Varez Ward back in the lineup Saturday versus Tennessee after missing the Arkansas game due to a deep thigh bruise early in that contest. No word yet on Josh Langford’s return, as it appears he suffered a possible concussion, also against Arkansas.

Challenging Week For Resurging Tigers

   

This is another pivotal week for the Auburn basketball team as they travel to Arkansas Wednesday and Tennessee Saturday. Both the Razorbacks and Volunteers are playing well and will be a handful for the Tigers, who are not playing too shabby themselves, coming off their best overall performance of the year this weekend versus South Carolina. 

The basketball culture is slowly changing at Auburn .

Arkansas has won 11 in a row at Bud Walton Arena, a tough place to play, including a 66-64 out-of-conference win this past weekend over #19 Michigan. Tennessee had a big out-of-conference-win this weekend too, knocking off defending national champion and #11 UConn. Last week, I said that LSU was the biggest surprise in the league. I must retract that and give that nod to the Vols, who despite one league victory, have been impressive all season with tenacious defense and a blue-collar work ethic.

After embarrassing road losses to Florida State and Vanderbilt, this young Auburn team has begun to showcase the gritty attitude Coach Tony Barbee has called for since his arrival on the Plains. This will need to continue in Fayetteville and Knoxville this week.

The Tigers have 11 regular season games left, five at home and six on the road. Speculation has begun to swirl around post season possibilities for the Tigers. Logic says that a 7-9 or 8-8 league record gets an NIT bid for this resurging program. That certainly looks possible, especially since the Tigers are 11-1 in the Auburn Arena thus far this season. One thing is for certain, the Tigers are a much better team than the one I witnessed in Tallahassee earlier this month.

Following Saturday’s home win over South Carolina, Barbee said “The fans get the sixth man award.” There is no doubt that the atmosphere and culture is changing in the Auburn Arena. With Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi State, Arkansas, and LSU all looming at home, I urge you to spread the word, bring people who normally do not come, and let’s give these opponents fits as fans, just as our young team will. War Eagle!

Another Corner Turned, Another SEC Win

     Auburn took another huge turn in the Coach Tony Barbee era Saturday in front of a raucous home crowd, downing South Carolina 63-52. The win improved the Tigers to 12-7 (2-3), while the visiting Gamecocks fell to 8-10 (0-4).

Josh Wallace and the Tiger defense held Bruce Ellington to 9 points.

      This was the first complete game the Tigers have played all season. Even trailing 28-24 at the half, the defensive effort was at a level not yet seen. Barbee's defensive demands have begun to pay dividends as the visitors failed to place one player in double figures. Using a different lineup, which featured the hard-nosed Josh Langford and energetic Josh Wallace, Auburn limited South Carolina's Bruce Ellington to nine points on 4-14 shooting. Much of that credit belongs to Wallace, who harassed the two sport star from the opening tip. But it was the total team effort that showed defensively. The Tigers talked, helped, and finished off defensive possessions the way they should be finished– with a rebound. Auburn won that battle 27-24, but so many were one and done attempts for the Gamecocks. Also notably shaken was Gamecock leading scorer Malik Cook, who finished with six points on 2-7 shooting.

      Frankie Sullivan continued his red hot shooting, scoring 14 first half points and finishing with 22. While Sullivan accounted for more than half the teams points in the first half, Auburn got help from the always steady, always reliable Kenny Gabriel who finished with 16 to go along with seven rebounds. Varez Ward contributed with eight points, including a huge steal in the midst of a 29-8 run to start the second half, while Chris Denson, added seven.

     The Tigers travel to Fayetteville Wednesday for an SEC match-up with a tough Arkansas Razorback team, who beat #19 Michigan today 66-64. Then it is on to Knoxville next Saturday to face the Tennessee Volunteers. This will be another pair of opportunities for the Tigers to grow and add to their resume, as talk of the post-season will start to swirl soon.

      Auburn returns to action on the Plains at the Auburn Arena on Wednesday, February 1 against rival Georgia. The crowds are picking up and getting with it. Time for everyone who claims to be an Auburn fan to get all in or get out!

Alabama: Perception Is In the Eye of the Beholder

What's your perception?

    

      I was once told by a not so good employer that “perception is in the eye of the beholder.” And though this guy was downright incompetent (he got a big promotion for his incompetence by the way), he was spot on there. Today, I am taking a break from Auburn Basketball here at the Big Blue Bagel to address that notion, as it relates to something not so dear to our hearts: Alabama. Specifically, Alabama Fans. Even more specific, Alabama Football fans. Because quite frankly, I am not even sure they know they have basketball team, even though they are in the Top25. To quote Pat Dye, “Alabama fans love Alabama Football. Auburn fans love Auburn.”

Most of us now, unaffectionately use the term “Updykes,” synonymous with demented 60-something year old from Dadeville, whose cowardice act sent shockwaves not only through The Plains, but the nation, when referring to this subculture of fans. That term, even tongue in cheek draws a negative reaction from everyone of them that I know.

I jokingly used the term to a self-avowed Updyke - I mean Alabama fan from my church - who promptly told me off in a real Christian way, then defriended me from Facebook (boo-hoo)! Another so called fan and Facebook friend, jumped in and said that the term was really offensive and was not representative of their fan base.

So just when I think, well maybe, just maybe the old Bagel is being too hard on them, comes the latest breaking news. It seems that they have now, ruffled the feather of fellow SEC friend and foe LSU, and nation again, as several of their fans accosted verbally, physically, and sexually accosted an incapacitated LSU fan at a Krystal restaurant in New Orleans during the BCS revelry earlier this month. The video went viral and was pulled from YouTube but can now be found at Dead Spin. Prepare yourself to be disgusted if you venture that way.

I am not naïve enough to think that every fan base is not enmeshed with some level of insanity, but perhaps no other fan base garners more attention than the Updyke Nation when it comes to unthinkable, irrational behavior in the name of sportsmanship and goodwill.

Again, I was ready to give them a pass, thinking that this was just another isolated incident of sophomoric behavior turned criminal but then it happened. My own personal experience with a random Updyke. There I was, closing down a workout in the gym this morning, wearing an Auburn Basketball Under Armour shirt. As I was lunging towards my finishing point of a grueling leg workout, a guy I had never seen before - a New Year’s member I suppose - was frantically pointing to his shirt. As I drew closer it read “Got 14?” Let me just say, my eyes have beheld all they can.

   

Tough Road Loss For Tigers

Frankie Sullivan is back.

Winning on the road has been a challenge for Auburn all season. On Tuesday, the Tigers finally showed they can play tough on the road.  However, the Tigers could not close the game out despite a gritty performance that included coming back from a 13 point first half deficit and forcing overtime.

Trailing 56-53, Auburn got three cracks at forcing the game into overtime. Varez Ward, not known for his three pointing shooting ability, nailed a trey with 0:0.2 seconds left and give the Tigers momentum heading into the extra session. However, any momentum was brief, as the Tigers managed only two points, falling 65-58.

The Good: Rebounding. Though it started out sluggish, Auburn won 41-32. Frankie Sullivan. Sullivan continued his fine shooting from Saturday's win over Ole Miss, going 5-11 from behind the arc and finishing with 19 points.  Also, the Big Blue Bagel continues to be encouraged by the play of Josh Wallace. Wallace really brings an energy to the line-up everytime he is on the floor. Ditto, for the tough, Josh Langford, who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Lost in the disappointment of the loss was Robb Chubb's first career double-double, 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The Bad: Free Throws. 53.3% from the line is very costly in close games and it showed here. Somewhat contradictory is Chubb. While his double-double was encouraging, it was also misleading. Five turnovers and 1-5 from the free throw line overshadowed an otherwise fine performance. With that said, still be encouraged by the good.

The Ugly: Chris Denson; 0-5 fg's and two turnovers. Kenny Gabriel; 3-14 fg's. Their presence was greatly needed in this game.

It would have been a great win but I would not say it is a bad loss. Time to head back to the Plains and get ready for South Carolina Saturday. Come out, get loud and get behind this team. War Eagle!

Gritty Tigers Continue Their Growth Spurt In First SEC Win

Two of four from the free-throw line from Auburn's Frankie Sullivan and Varez Ward, coupled by back to back treys from the Ole Miss Rebels' Jarvis Summers and Nick Williams in the waning seconds of regulation Saturday, almost dampened a consecutive solid performance from the Tigers. But the Tigers took on the gritty personality of their coach Tony Barbee and found a way to win in double overtime 69-68, in front of a good home crowd, estimated at around 7,000.

Adrian Forbes was the unsung hero Saturday vs. Ole Miss.

The Tigers built a 12 point lead early in the second half, led by Sullivan who came out of a shooting slump to score 19 points, three rebounds, and four assists. But the Rebels roared back, using a three quarter court press and a barrage of threes from Summers and Williams to make things more than interesting. Auburn turned themselves over in the Rebels' comeback more than the Rebels themselves, with sloppy ballhandling and poor decisions.

At the end of the day though, the Tigers overcame young mistakes and miscues with tenacious splay, including a clutch rebound from Sullivan on the Rebels' last possession that helped stave off what would have been a crushing defeat.

Chris Denson added 16 points and Kenny Gabriel added 11 to go along with 13 rebounds. But it was perhaps the play of the game's unsung hero Adrian Forbes, who showed the Tigers' new found toughness. Though he did not score, he took charges, dove for loose balls, and got several clutch rebounds defensively and offensively. Barbee has talked of late about how he has to “find a catalyst” for this team. On Saturday, Forbes answered his coach's plea.

With the win, Auburn improves to 11-6 (1-2), while the Rebels fall to 11-6 (1-2). Next up for Auburn is a trip to Baton Rouge, LA Tuesday to for an SEC match-up with the surprise team of the league, LSU.

Tigers Must Find A Way To Contain Holloway

Auburn hosts Ole Miss tomorrow in a pivotal SEC match-up for both teams. The Tigers, 10-6 (0-2), and Rebels 11-5 (1-1) split last year's series, each winning at home. Auburn's win will be in the back of the visitors' minds, as the Tigers came back from 20 points down to win 76-73.

Auburn looks to stop Murphy Holloway and Ole Miss.

If the Tigers are to win, they will have to find a way to stop the Rebels' Murphy Holloway. Holloway had missed three games with an ankle injury, before returning to the lineup Wednesday in a 71-63 home win versus Arkansas. Listed at 6'7, Holloway is the workhorse, the heart and soul of the Rebels. Though not a prolific scorer or shooter, he is great at second chance points. He finished Wednesday's game with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Ole Miss outrebounded the Razorbacks 48-26.

Auburn must build the solid performance they displayed in a 68-53 loss against#2 Kentucky on Wednesday. Auburn's rebounding must continue to improve and that includes keeping Holloway off the offensive glass. Tip-off at the Auburn Arena is 12:30 CST.