With Dollard gone, where does that leave AU basketball?

By Mike Szvetitz
Sports Editor, Opelika-Auburn News
Published: July 31, 2008

Jeff Lebo’s seat just got a little bit warmer, and the Auburn University basketball season doesn’t tip off for another four months.

Thursday’s dismissal of Josh Dollard from the Tigers’ hoops team has caused some restlessness among the natives, with matches being lit up and down the Loveliest Village.

The reason AU gave for Dollard’s dismissal Tuesday was officially labeled as a “violation of Auburn University Athletic Department policy.”

Here’s what Lebo had to say in a statement released by AU:
“Auburn supplied Josh with all the resources for him to be successful. Josh understood his requirements and responsibilities to be an Auburn student-athlete, and he has fallen short in fulfilling what was clearly communicated to him.”

Here’s what Dollard had to say:
“I have had the opportunity to be successful on and off the court at Auburn. Due to certain circumstances, I am unable to continue my career here at Auburn. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in my career at Auburn, and I would like to wish my teammates, coaching staff and Auburn family much success in the future.”

A couple things are clear here:

First, Dollard was given some chances to get his act together. He didn’t. And now he’s gone.

Second, Lebo really wanted Dollard to play this year. He needed Dollard to play this year. Dollard was Auburn’s leading scorer (12.5 points per game) and rebounder (7.0) as a sophomore in the 2006-07 season. Dollard sat out all of last season with what Auburn called “medial issues.”
Whatever that means.
But Lebo, as he pointed out in his comments, couldn’t keep giving Dollard chance after chance after chance.

Third, this is the ninth player signed by Lebo, and the 14th overall since his arrival in 2004, that are no longer a part of the program for one reason or another.

Fourth, Lebo needs this year’s incoming class of freshmen and transfers to contribute right away or that seat might catch fire.

When Lebo took over AU’s program in 2004, it was on probation. There was an exodus of some players left over from former head coach Cliff Ellis, namely Marco Killingsworth (who transferred to Indiana).

Lebo, no doubt, had his hands tied. And when you’re trying to build a program at a school that’s not known for basketball, with the facilities Auburn has, it’s hard to bring in recruits.

So, Lebo took some chances on guys, who, if they worked out, would have help the team. And if they didn’t work out ... well ... now, you’re seeing that side of the coin. The turnstile doesn’t stop.

And that’s the catch. Lebo gambled because he needed to compete. And it hasn’t worked out.

But let’s face it, Auburn’s never going to be able to bring in blue-chip recruiting classes every year. Or even ever couple years. It’s just not that way. Not at Auburn.

The new arena will help out a lot from the recruiting aspect. And sure, the coach recruiting the players has a major role in getting them into school.

But what it really comes down to is winning. That’s really all that matters.

Win and the recruits will come. Struggle, and, well, you’ve got to do what you can to put a competitive team on the floor.

Lebo’s teams have struggle to win. But that hasn’t been for the lack of trying.