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Mar 29, 2024
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Men's Basketball Starts Season
Entering the 2013-14 season, the Auburn men’s basketball program is still trying to find its way to get over the hump. In Tony Barbee’s fourth year, the coach will need new players to become faces of the program if Auburn has any chance to afloat in the SEC.

Several off-the-court situations added insult to injury after Auburn finished last in the SEC last year with a 9-23 (3-15 SEC) record. Two prized freshmen are no longer on the team after 3-point shooter Jordan Price transferred to La Salle and Shaq Johnson was dismissed from the team.

Auburn will have only a few familiar faces back on the court when the season begins tonight against Nicholls State, most notably seniors Allen Payne and Chris Denson.

In Auburn’s 109-67 exhibition win over Victory, Denson led the team with 21 points and seven rebounds. Denson also scored 25 points in the Tigers’ 99-64 exhibition win over Paine College.

Excitement surrounding Virginia transfer KT Harrell has lived up to the hype thus far. In Auburn’s two exhibition games, Harrell has combined for 35 points, including a team-high 25 against Paine College.

Auburn has the opportunity to have a different feel this season and not be as guard heavy as in the past.

Along with returner Asauhn Dixon-Tatum, the Tigers have another 7-footer in freshman Ronald Delph, 6-foot-9 freshman Matthew Atewe and returning 6-foot-8 sophomore Jordan Granger.

Looking at the schedule, Auburn’s first challenge will come in early December when the Tigers face Iowa State on Dec. 2 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge and then on Dec. 8 when Auburn plays Illinois in Phillis Arena.

Conference play starts Jan. 9 when Auburn travels to Ole Miss, and big conference games on the road include Tennessee (Jan. 15), Mississippi State (Jan. 22), Florida (Feb. 19) and Alabama (March 1).

Auburn will play at home against Missouri (Jan. 11), Florida (Jan. 18), Alabama (Jan. 29), Georgia (Feb. 1), Kentucky (Feb. 12), Mississippi State (Feb. 15), Vanderbilt (Feb. 22), South Carolina (Feb. 26) and Tennessee (March 5).

Despite having seniors such as Frankie Sullivan and Rob Chubb graduating last season, Auburn still has potential to have a better season than the previous three under Barbee. While it’d be a push to say Auburn has a chance to make the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers may not be the bottom-dweller of the conference anymore.