With Jeff Lebo's Auburn Team, Only Time Will Tell the Tigers' Success

The 2009-10 Auburn basketball season has already started, but any indications about this team are still too early to tell.

Jeff Lebo has had the challenge to come up with a quality group to play against the rough and tough play in the SEC. 

Early indications are that Auburn's success will somewhat lie on Dwayne Reed's shoulders.

In two games so far this season, Reed has played 74 out of 80 total minutes. He has become the de facto leader for yet another young Auburn squad.

Frankie Sullivan showed much promise last season and now has been thrust into a full-time starter role. Fan favorite Lucas Hargrove also takes over a full-time starter role at forward.

What could help Auburn's low post game is center Brandon Knox, who filled in part-time for Barber last season. A true center that stands 6'10" will help Auburn find the basket down low when the jumpers just aren't falling.

Freshman Earnest Ross burst onto the starting scene, impressing the coaches early during the preseason.

What plagues Auburn yet again is depth amongst the bench. Auburn's biggest problem during the Lebo years has finding that sixth man off the bench to provide that spark against tougher opponents.

With the new arena finishing up right across the street from old Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum, one has to wonder when the basketball team will finally step up for contention for consistent postseason play. 

Traditionally, Auburn has not had a consistent presence in the SEC as far as basketball—a few glory years here and there, but nothing major to show for it except some Sweet 16 appearances. 

One has to wonder if the basketball team will ever get to a point of relevance for many years instead of seeming falling short.

Auburn has the talent and size to make some noise in the conference this season. It will be interesting to see how they will match up against fellow members in the SEC, as well as their non-conference schedule.

As for now, let us begin to transfer indoors as the temperature drops outside but begins to heat up inside Beard-Eaves for one last time.