Sunday afternoon March Madness.
Auburn vs. Kentucky in the Elite Eight from Kansas City.
1:20 on CBS.
The Tigers are a 4.5 point underdog playing without Chuma Okeke.
Okeke has a torn ACL. Sitting on the bench today, he will have surgery on Tuesday.
Auburn starts tight and cold from the field.
Good looks but shots not going in.
Auburn 3 Kentucky 9 15:45
Auburn 7 Kentucky 17 11:52
Good looks but shots still going in.
We could lose this game from the get-go.
Auburn 11 Kentucky 20 9:50
Auburn 13 Kentucky 22 7:53
Kentucky extends their defense to defend our three point opportunities.
Kentucky is bigger and more physical.
Auburn 17 Kentucky 27 5:00
Half: Auburn 30 Kentucky 35
As the half closes the Tigers pick it up a bit.
Sonny Smith says we need Jared Harper to penetrate the lane to open up shots.
Can we defend the lane in the second half without fouling?
Will the Tigers be a second-half team again?
40-37 Auburn out first lead 17:45
Good start to the half: a 10-0 run.
42-39 Auburn 15:47
As the half rolls on our big people get into foul trouble. We don't need this.
46-44 Kentucky
This is an INTENSE game!
56-50 Auburn
56-52 Auburn
58-56 Auburn 3:28
Auburn is playing so hard.
60-38 Kentucky 51.9
60-60 OVERTIME!
In overtime the Tigers do it!
Jared Harper takes over.
26 points. The tournament MVP.
We hit the necessary free throws.
Spencer is our only player to foul out.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 77 Kentucky 71
Auburn is headed to the FINAL FOUR!
I never thought I'd live to see this.
This is a SPECIAL Auburn basketball team.
On TV we see Chuma Okeke in a chair lift the tournament trophy.
We see the Auburn players celebrating.
We win!!!
On to Minneapolis to play Virginia.
How do you beat Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky in a row?
Like Auburn just did it!!!
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Friday, March 29, 2019
Elite Eight We Come!
Sweet Sixteen
Auburn vs. North Carolina from Kansas City
6:20 tipoff of TBS.
UNC favored by 5.
Auburn 12 UNC 14 14:54
Good rebounding by Auburn early holding our own. This was a big concern.
More Auburn half-court than I expected.
Auburn 26 UNC 26 7:12
We have missed several layups.
Halftime Score: Auburn 41 UNC 39
The Tigers start fast to open the second half.
An 8 and 0 run.
52-41
64-54 11:18
67-54
76-57
The Tigers pull away.
8:08 Okeke is injured. He will not return to the game.
78-68 7:02
85-72 3:21
Our bench, 17 threes, and rebounding win this game.
The Tigers drub the Tar Heels!
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 97 North Carolina 80
The Tigers move to the Elite Eight for the second time in school history.
It's good to hear Sonny Smith on the radio as he was our coach in 1986 for the first Elite Eight.
This is a great team. it's just plain and downright exciting to watch this Auburn basketball team!
Auburn vs. North Carolina from Kansas City
6:20 tipoff of TBS.
UNC favored by 5.
Auburn 12 UNC 14 14:54
Good rebounding by Auburn early holding our own. This was a big concern.
More Auburn half-court than I expected.
Auburn 26 UNC 26 7:12
We have missed several layups.
Halftime Score: Auburn 41 UNC 39
The Tigers start fast to open the second half.
An 8 and 0 run.
52-41
64-54 11:18
67-54
76-57
The Tigers pull away.
8:08 Okeke is injured. He will not return to the game.
78-68 7:02
85-72 3:21
Our bench, 17 threes, and rebounding win this game.
The Tigers drub the Tar Heels!
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 97 North Carolina 80
The Tigers move to the Elite Eight for the second time in school history.
It's good to hear Sonny Smith on the radio as he was our coach in 1986 for the first Elite Eight.
This is a great team. it's just plain and downright exciting to watch this Auburn basketball team!
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Looking Forward to It
It's special that Auburn is playing North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen, for the Tar Heels are the bluest of the blue bloods and they are seeded #1 overall I think. Let's see how we measure up.
UNC is very good I gather. We may lose. We may lose big. It concerns me that they play uptempo also. What happens will happen. Still just to be in this game against North Carolina is big.
Philip Marshall says:
To have a real shot, the Tigers must force turnovers, hit 3-pointers, play defense like mad men and not get completely destroyed on the boards. And even those things might not be enough.
And I would add: limit fouls. This will be a tall order.
Monday, March 25, 2019
Sweet 16
First time since 2003, which I do not remember. It seems like we may have played Ohio State, but I cannot remember. In Kansas City we play legendary North Carolina. One legendary program down, another one on the horizon. The game tips off at 6:30. A good time for us. I see a line favoring NC by 5. Good enough.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
NCAA Round Two - Auburn vs. Kansas in Salt Lake City
After a tough game hanging on to beat New Mexico State, the Tigers take on Kansas, an historic basketball program. The Tigers seem to be about a 2 point favorite.
Auburn gets off to a fast start with a 12 to 5 start.
15-5 Auburn
23-9 Auburn
28-14 Auburn
34-15 Auburn
40-20 Auburn
44-23 Auburn 3:58
This may have been the best half of Auburn basketball EVER.
We score inside, we score outside, and play great defense.
Halftime Score Auburn 51 Kansas 25
The teams swap baskets to start the second half. The first 12 shots combined go in.
Kansas has the FT advantage as you would expect, but never cuts the lead to a single digit.
Bryce Brown has a great night. The Tigers are a much quicker team. Our speed makes the Jayhawks look slow.
The final score is as close as they get.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 89 Kansas 75
Auburn gets off to a fast start with a 12 to 5 start.
15-5 Auburn
23-9 Auburn
28-14 Auburn
34-15 Auburn
40-20 Auburn
44-23 Auburn 3:58
This may have been the best half of Auburn basketball EVER.
We score inside, we score outside, and play great defense.
Halftime Score Auburn 51 Kansas 25
The teams swap baskets to start the second half. The first 12 shots combined go in.
Kansas has the FT advantage as you would expect, but never cuts the lead to a single digit.
Bryce Brown has a great night. The Tigers are a much quicker team. Our speed makes the Jayhawks look slow.
The final score is as close as they get.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 89 Kansas 75
Friday, March 22, 2019
About Kansas
We move on to Kansas tomorrow night in our NCAA dance. Kansas is an historical power in NCAA basketball. I would like to know why basketball became so big in Kansas of all places. There must be a story to it. I do know that Wilt Chamberlain played there in the 50's. The game seems to be a tossup. Who knows. I wish tipoff weren't so late, but it gives our team extra rest.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Surviving Salt Lake City
The Tigers survive our opening NCAA game in Salt Lake City against New Mexico State. Auburn is not supposed to lose to a team like this even if they are a competitive team, are they? No!
The Tigers blow a 13 point halftime lead, play poorly down the stretch, NMS plays well, and we are lucky not to lose this game. With 1.1 left the Aggies had the ball inbounding at the baseline but their shot was an airball. Auburn played about as bad as you play in the last minutes but hung on to win. Tough game. Tough win.
The Tigers prevail 78 to 77. After running thru the SEC tournament, having to fly cross country playing in thin air, maybe we were due to have a game like this to get it out of our system. Now on to Saturday against either Kansas or Northeastern.
The Tigers blow a 13 point halftime lead, play poorly down the stretch, NMS plays well, and we are lucky not to lose this game. With 1.1 left the Aggies had the ball inbounding at the baseline but their shot was an airball. Auburn played about as bad as you play in the last minutes but hung on to win. Tough game. Tough win.
The Tigers prevail 78 to 77. After running thru the SEC tournament, having to fly cross country playing in thin air, maybe we were due to have a game like this to get it out of our system. Now on to Saturday against either Kansas or Northeastern.
Monday, March 18, 2019
The Road to a Championship
3-14-19
Auburn vs. Missouri
Our first game in the SEC Tournament.
Missouri beat Georgia last night.
Tough physical first half.
Good defense. We make only 3 of 17 three point attempts.
Okeke spends time on the bench with 2 fouls.
Missouri hits some threes.
Halftime score: Auburn 32 Missouri 30
Bryce Brown heats up.
14:42 Auburn 49 Missouri 39
11:04 Auburn 52 Missouri 50 as Missouri comes back.
7:33 Auburn 62 Missouri 53
2:14 Auburn 71 Missouri 65
39 Auburn 78 Missouri 71
Final Score: Auburn 81 Missouri 71
Tough, gritty, performance with balanced scoring and great bench play.
3/15/19
Auburn vs. South Carolina
Second round
Halftime score: Auburn 36 South Caroline 36
Gamecocks thrive on free throws and rebounds.
12:09 Auburn 49 South Carolina 47
3:59 Auburn 65 South Carolina 59
2:54 Auburn 69 South Carolina 59
2:30 Auburn 69 South Carolina 61
2:14 Auburn 71 South Carolina 61
1:13 Auburn 73 South Carolina 61
44 Auburn 73 South Carolina 61
Final Score: Auburn 73 South Carolina 64
Once again the Tigers turn it on down the stretch. Harper scores 27.
Auburn vs. Florida tomorrow night as the Gators eliminate LSU.
Great bench play.
3/16/19
Auburn vs. Florida
SEC semi-finals. The winner gets Kentucky or Tennessee tomorrow.
Noon tipoff on ESPN.
12:12 Auburn 7 Florida 14
8:12 Auburn 19 Florida 19
3:35 Auburn 24 Florida 28
Halftime score: Auburn 30 Tennessee 34
Auburn not playing well especially McLemore. We have to pick it up.
13:06 Auburn 47 Florida 44
Wiley in the game.
10:32 Auburn 47 Florida 47
7:49 Auburn 51 Florida 47 Defense!
3:41 Auburn 59 Florida 55
57 Auburn 61 Florida 60
12 Auburn 64 Florida 60
7 Auburn 64 Florida 62
Harper hits a FT to make it 65 - 62.
Misses the second.
UF can only get up a wild shot as the clock expires.
Final Score: Auburn 65 Florida 62
Gator Hater!
3/17/19
Auburn vs. Tennessee
SEC Final. The winner is the SEC Tournament Champion and receives the automatic SEC bid.
12:30 tipoff on ESPN.
Full house heavily favoring the Vols.
Harper gets 2 fouls early and sits for over 17 minutes in the half.
7:33 Auburn 19 Tennessee 18
Holding our own with Harper on the bench.
McLemore has 3 fouls.
Great Auburn defense is carrying our team.
6:27 Auburn 25 Tennessee 18
5:06 Auburn 27 Tennessee 18
4:25 Auburn 30 Tennessee 18
3:58 Auburn 41 Tennessee 18
2:23 Tennessee hasn't scored in 6 minutes.
Halftime score: Auburn 32 Tennessee 23
12 turnovers created by our defense.
Awesome defense!
14:52 Auburn 43 Tennessee 28
11:22 Auburn 57 Tennessee 34
Up tempo needs to continue. Full court game. No fouls.
6:31 Auburn 68 Tennessee 53
3:54 Auburn 75 Tennessee 57
1:17 Auburn 81 Tennessee 64
Final Score: Auburn 84 Tennessee 64
Unbelievable!
No only winning, but a blowout!
What a tournament in Nashville! What a victory! What a team!!!
Auburn vs. Missouri
Our first game in the SEC Tournament.
Missouri beat Georgia last night.
Tough physical first half.
Good defense. We make only 3 of 17 three point attempts.
Okeke spends time on the bench with 2 fouls.
Missouri hits some threes.
Halftime score: Auburn 32 Missouri 30
Bryce Brown heats up.
14:42 Auburn 49 Missouri 39
11:04 Auburn 52 Missouri 50 as Missouri comes back.
7:33 Auburn 62 Missouri 53
2:14 Auburn 71 Missouri 65
39 Auburn 78 Missouri 71
Final Score: Auburn 81 Missouri 71
Tough, gritty, performance with balanced scoring and great bench play.
3/15/19
Auburn vs. South Carolina
Second round
Halftime score: Auburn 36 South Caroline 36
Gamecocks thrive on free throws and rebounds.
12:09 Auburn 49 South Carolina 47
3:59 Auburn 65 South Carolina 59
2:54 Auburn 69 South Carolina 59
2:30 Auburn 69 South Carolina 61
2:14 Auburn 71 South Carolina 61
1:13 Auburn 73 South Carolina 61
44 Auburn 73 South Carolina 61
Final Score: Auburn 73 South Carolina 64
Once again the Tigers turn it on down the stretch. Harper scores 27.
Auburn vs. Florida tomorrow night as the Gators eliminate LSU.
Great bench play.
3/16/19
Auburn vs. Florida
SEC semi-finals. The winner gets Kentucky or Tennessee tomorrow.
Noon tipoff on ESPN.
12:12 Auburn 7 Florida 14
8:12 Auburn 19 Florida 19
3:35 Auburn 24 Florida 28
Halftime score: Auburn 30 Tennessee 34
Auburn not playing well especially McLemore. We have to pick it up.
13:06 Auburn 47 Florida 44
Wiley in the game.
10:32 Auburn 47 Florida 47
7:49 Auburn 51 Florida 47 Defense!
3:41 Auburn 59 Florida 55
57 Auburn 61 Florida 60
12 Auburn 64 Florida 60
7 Auburn 64 Florida 62
Harper hits a FT to make it 65 - 62.
Misses the second.
UF can only get up a wild shot as the clock expires.
Final Score: Auburn 65 Florida 62
Gator Hater!
3/17/19
Auburn vs. Tennessee
SEC Final. The winner is the SEC Tournament Champion and receives the automatic SEC bid.
12:30 tipoff on ESPN.
Full house heavily favoring the Vols.
Harper gets 2 fouls early and sits for over 17 minutes in the half.
7:33 Auburn 19 Tennessee 18
Holding our own with Harper on the bench.
McLemore has 3 fouls.
Great Auburn defense is carrying our team.
6:27 Auburn 25 Tennessee 18
5:06 Auburn 27 Tennessee 18
4:25 Auburn 30 Tennessee 18
3:58 Auburn 41 Tennessee 18
2:23 Tennessee hasn't scored in 6 minutes.
Halftime score: Auburn 32 Tennessee 23
12 turnovers created by our defense.
Awesome defense!
14:52 Auburn 43 Tennessee 28
11:22 Auburn 57 Tennessee 34
Up tempo needs to continue. Full court game. No fouls.
6:31 Auburn 68 Tennessee 53
3:54 Auburn 75 Tennessee 57
1:17 Auburn 81 Tennessee 64
Final Score: Auburn 84 Tennessee 64
Unbelievable!
No only winning, but a blowout!
What a tournament in Nashville! What a victory! What a team!!!
Sunday, March 17, 2019
No matter what
No matter what happens today, it has been a satisfying Auburn weekend: Basketball plays in the tourney finals today, and the baseball and softball teams won their series.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
To the Finals of the SEC Tournament
Whadda you know? The Tigers will be playing in the SEC Tournament Finals for the first and only the second time since 1985. I remember well that '85 game as Sonny Smith with Person and Barkley beat Alabama 52 to 48.
The Tigers just beat UF 65 to 62 after erasing Missouri and South Carolina. This team has a slot of character. This team has character. This team has a strong bench. This team has Jared Harper. Our diminutive guard hits a three today and a free throw at the end to clinch the victory. With the game on the line, give Harper the ball and let him go, and that's what Coach Pearl wisely does.
I write as Kentucky and Tennessee tip off. Either team should be heavily favored tomorrow. Win or lose tomorrow, this is a great Auburn team, so much fun to watch.
I read on Auburn Undercover that we were in title game in 2000. I have no memory of that game.
The Tigers just beat UF 65 to 62 after erasing Missouri and South Carolina. This team has a slot of character. This team has character. This team has a strong bench. This team has Jared Harper. Our diminutive guard hits a three today and a free throw at the end to clinch the victory. With the game on the line, give Harper the ball and let him go, and that's what Coach Pearl wisely does.
I write as Kentucky and Tennessee tip off. Either team should be heavily favored tomorrow. Win or lose tomorrow, this is a great Auburn team, so much fun to watch.
I read on Auburn Undercover that we were in title game in 2000. I have no memory of that game.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
What a Game
Auburn upsets No. 5 Tennessee in Tigers' game of year
AUBURN, Alabama — Back and forth they went on Auburn's Senior Day.
Auburn senior Bryce Brown and junior Jared Harper came up big, and so, too, did breakout star sophomore Chuma Okeke.
The 84-80 victory against No. 5 Tennessee was not only huge for the Tigers' outgoing seniors, it was big for the program. The Tigers are assured a No. 4 or 5 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament and sent Tennessee to only its third loss in the SEC.
And Auburn (22-7, 11-7 SEC) remained undefeated in the month of March as the Tigers won their fourth straight game in a game that looked more the part of a heavyweight fight in a game that featured seven lead changes.
It was the most energetic crowd of the season at Auburn Arena, and for good reason: Tennessee and Auburn went back and forth throughout the second half after the Tigers fell behind as many as 11 points in the first half.
Auburn opened the second half with a 7-0 run to cut into Tennessee's lead, but in the end it was Auburn's seniors stepping up: most notably the late-game hero of many games: Harper.
He broke a tie with a 3-pointer with 3:28 remaining, hit another with 2:46 remaining and the Tigers held off the Volunteers with four more free throws by Harper and a pair to ice it by Samir Doughtywith six seconds remaining. Tennessee coach Rick Barnes believes one of Harper's 3-pointers in the final minutes was tipped in by Anfernee McLemore and should have counted as two.
"It should have been a two-point play," Barnes said. "That’s what everyone has said as walked here."
The play was not reviewable and stood as a 3-pointer.
Tennessee's Jordan Bowden was forced along the out-of-bounds line near the Auburn student section with less than 10 seconds remaining and the Vols trailing by two. The steal was forced by Okeke, the star of the game for both squads. He scored 22 on 9 of 14 shooting, hit three 3-pointers, grabbed five rebounds and also had four steals. The forward matched up well against Tennessee's player of the year candidate, Grant Williams. He finished with 25 points, but when Auburn placed Okeke on him, he struggled more often to get in position offensively and that was a huge difference in the game.
Auburn will be the No. 4 seed if South Carolina loses its regular-season finale today or it will be the No. 5 seed if the Gamecocks win.
Beating Tennessee
What. A. Basketball Game!
The Tigers beat Tennessee 84-80 in Auburn Arena to conclude the regular season. Great basketball game with two great teams. Tennessee is a very, very good basketball team. They look like final four material to me.
This is as exciting a game and win as I can remember in a long time.
Great crowd especially given that it's the start of spring break week at Auburn.
Tennessee led 41 to 35 at the half. I thought at that point they would probably win because the Vols are simply a good team. Auburn takes control with the lead late in the game. At one point our shot gets blocked; Samir Doughty gets the block and makes the three as the shot clock expires to give Auburn a 6 point lead. That was the play of the game.
We see on TV with ESPN there Auburn Arena rocking after the game. Great finish at Auburn Arena for our seniors. That makes 11 and 7 in the conference and 22 and 9 overall.
What a game!
The Tigers beat Tennessee 84-80 in Auburn Arena to conclude the regular season. Great basketball game with two great teams. Tennessee is a very, very good basketball team. They look like final four material to me.
This is as exciting a game and win as I can remember in a long time.
Great crowd especially given that it's the start of spring break week at Auburn.
Tennessee led 41 to 35 at the half. I thought at that point they would probably win because the Vols are simply a good team. Auburn takes control with the lead late in the game. At one point our shot gets blocked; Samir Doughty gets the block and makes the three as the shot clock expires to give Auburn a 6 point lead. That was the play of the game.
We see on TV with ESPN there Auburn Arena rocking after the game. Great finish at Auburn Arena for our seniors. That makes 11 and 7 in the conference and 22 and 9 overall.
What a game!
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Auburn sweeps UAT
Players enjoy the season sweep of UAT.
Sweeeeeeeeeeeep! 🧹 #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/rXbGxpYkP0— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 6, 2019
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Beating Alabama Again
Beating Alabama in anything never gets old. Beating them twice in the same season in basketball is sweet. Overcoming a 34-23 halftime deficit, the Tigers win in Tuscaloosa 66 to 60.
As the game wound down, the Tigers go on an 18 to 2 surge to take over the game. Coach Pearl gets a technical to ignite the team. Okeke scores in the paint and Harper drives to the basket. With the score tied at 60, Auburn scores the final 6 points in the game.
We're told that Alabama desperately needed the win to maintain their shaky chance at an NCAA bid. Didn't happen tonight. Perhaps their bubble has burst. I hope so.
As the game wound down, the Tigers go on an 18 to 2 surge to take over the game. Coach Pearl gets a technical to ignite the team. Okeke scores in the paint and Harper drives to the basket. With the score tied at 60, Auburn scores the final 6 points in the game.
We're told that Alabama desperately needed the win to maintain their shaky chance at an NCAA bid. Didn't happen tonight. Perhaps their bubble has burst. I hope so.
Monday, March 4, 2019
Going Forward
We are told that Auburn is a lock for the NCAA tournament. Maybe so, but finishing strong for the best seeding is a good thing. Beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa tomorrow night would be a good start. The Tigers have now won 20 game the last two years for the first time since 1999-2000.
Our baseball team is competitive but gosh, the SEC is so tough. I anticipate an NCAA bid there, but hosting a regional might be too much to expect.
I can't tell about the SB team. Again, competitive but the conference is brutal. We need an NCAA bid here also for a successful season.
Our baseball team is competitive but gosh, the SEC is so tough. I anticipate an NCAA bid there, but hosting a regional might be too much to expect.
I can't tell about the SB team. Again, competitive but the conference is brutal. We need an NCAA bid here also for a successful season.
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