BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Third in a series previewing SEC basketball teams
Auburn senior guard Frank Tolbert can remember what practices were like three years ago.
For the Tigers back then, it was more about surviving than striving.
Auburn was down to seven scholarship players because of transfers and injuries. First-year Coach Jeff Lebo practiced with his players so there would be enough bodies on the court.
"From then to now, it's a drastic change," Tolbert said at SEC Basketball Media Days. "My first year, we basically were just out there playing.
"Now everybody on the court can play. We're out there playing for spots. On any given day, somebody can take your spot if you're not giving your best."
Competitive practices make for a competitive team.
"When you know that you're going to play no matter what, you don't work on your game as hard in practice," Tolbert said. "You can just coast through it.
"But once you know somebody is coming at you, you've got to come back at them."
Tolbert is among five returning starters who averaged between 8.2 and 12.5 points last season when the Tigers finished 17-15 for their first winning record in four years. Overall, 13 lettermen are back.
"It is nice finally to have a group of experienced guys and enough of them that we can go out and have a college practice where the 41-year-old coach doesn't have to be out there playing, too," said Lebo, a former North Carolina point guard. "I knew I was in trouble my first year at Auburn when I practiced and got 25 points. I knew it wasn't going to be a good year.
"I can still score on this group, but not 25."
Lebo, who has a 158-111 record in nine seasons as a head coach at Tennessee Tech, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Auburn, said it's vital that players compete in practice.
"The best teams I've ever been associated with had enough [talent and depth] where if you didn't bring it every day in practice, youwere going to sit," Lebo said. "I love that. It puts a lot of pressure on them daily to practice hard and do the things the coach wants to earn more playing time."
In addition to Tolbert, the Tigers' other returning starters include junior point guard Quantez Robertson, junior forwards Korvotney Barber and Josh Dollard and junior guard Rasheem Barrett.
"We know what it takes to win and how the system goes, so we can teach the younger guys what to do and what not to do," Tolbert said. "That means a lot.
"I know when we came in, we didn't have anybody in the upper class to show us the way. We were just thrown in there, and we had to learn on the run."
Auburn will continue to be a team that relies on its quickness and three-point shooting, but the 6-7 Barber has developed into a consistent inside scorer and Boubacar Sylla, a 7-1 freshman from France, should help with interior defense and rebounding.
"He's a work in progress, he'll have an adjustments to make," Lebo said of Sylla. "But at 7-1 and 280 pounds, he's something to work with.
"That kind of size is something we haven't had since I've been here. His height and length is just incredible. We're excited about having a big guy that I have to look up at in the huddle."
The next step for the Tigers is to get back to postseason play for the first time since the 2003 team made the NCAA Tournament.
"It feels good to come into a season feeling very confident," Tolbert said. " That's the mindset of our team right now, that we can win.
"We know what to do to win. We found our groove last year. It's carrying over into this year."
Next: LSU
Sports, Pages 21 on 10/29/2007