Auburn Basketball: Is Jeff Lebo's Time Up With The Tigers?

There has been many rumblings around the Plains about head basketball coach Jeff Lebo and his job.  This season has been a bit of a disappointment as far as starters that were returning and quality of play. 

First off, lets look at the facts:

Lebo's first year, the '04-'05 season, he finished with a record of 14-17, 4-12 in the conference.  That was with basically a brand new team due to some players transferring after former head coach Cliff Ellis was fired. 

Lebo's second year he went 12-16 with the same 4-12  conference record. 

In Lebo's third year, he managed Auburn's first winning season since 2003 with a 17-15 record and 7-9 in the SEC. 

Lebo's fourth year, which was plagued by player injuries, went 14-16 overall, 4-12 in the conference. 

His best year was last year, going 24-12 overall, 10-6 in the conference, and reaching the elite eight in the NIT. 

This year has not been so kind, as the Tigers sit 12-13 overall, 3-7 in the SEC.  

The resume is not the best if you compare it to other Div. I coaches (.486 winning percentage, including this season), but one has to remember where Lebo started. 

Lebo basically started from the ground up.  He had to create a basketball program from the old, creaking hardwood of Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. 

Now in the sixth season and after last year's run in the NIT, like other fans, I was also expecting better things from the Tigers. 

Auburn has played it close to the chest all season, and they only have three conference wins to show for it. 

The biggest problem personnel wise is that no one off the bench is contributing with points.  The starters have had to play more minutes just for Auburn to hang in the game. 

What makes it even more difficult is those bench players will be starters next year.  Auburn will lose four starters. DeWanye Reed, Brendon Knox, Tay Waller, and Lucas Hargrove all will be moving on in life. 

Those four starters account for 51.6 points per game, which is 68 percent of Auburn's total points per game (75.7 points per game). 

Now look back to Lebo, who  recruits these players.  Does one think that Auburn will be able to be competitive next season with those players leaving?  Signs point to no. 

Unofficially, I haven't heard about much movement from the athletic department.  If there was a move to look for a new head coach, now would be the time to start. 

My opinion is that with the amount of turnover from last season in Div. I head coaches, if Auburn was to start looking, they wouldn't have a cream of the crop list to choose from. 

Also, this is Auburn basketball.  The men's program does not have a deep of history compared to other Division I programs.  Historically, the Auburn women's basketball team has a better record, reaching the NCAA final three straight times from '88-'90. 

The men haven't been past the elite eight.

My best guess is that Lebo will be around to see the new Auburn arena.  With the players he is losing this season, I can't tell you how much longer he might be around. 

Though it looks like that Lebo will be around at least one more season.  I'll be shocked if Auburn moves on him after this season.