This is about as big as the national spotlight is going to get for Auburn during its non-conference schedule.
The Tigers host Virginia tonight in their first televised game of the season. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum, where the teams will face off in a rematch of sorts from last year’s nailbiting Auburn victory in Charlottesville.
“It is an ACC team coming in here to play so it is a big game for us and a big game for them,” coach Jeff Lebo said. “Hopefully, we will come out and compete.”
The game can be seen on CSS (Channel 35 in Lee County). More than 10 NBA scouts will be in attendance as one of the ACC’s premier players, Virginia guard Sylven Landesberg, will be taking the court for a much-improved Virginia team.
“They have size and strength inside, and they have an experienced team now,” Lebo said. “They are a much better team than they were last year.“
That team from last year seemed pretty good to Auburn, as the Cavaliers, who ended up finishing 11th in the ACC with a 10-18 record, rallied late in their meeting with the Tigers and almost snuck away with a victory. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Tay Waller and DeWayne Reed and a highlight Reed block on the other end, though, stifled the comeback and gave Auburn its only non-conference road win of the season.
Landesberg, who was named the ACC’s Freshman of the year, had 22 points in that game and has kept up the pace this season. He averages a team-high 16.4 points per game and has been dangerous enough from behind the arc to keep defenses honest.
Landesberg has been even more dangerous slashing to the hoop and getting to the foul line. He averaged nearly seven free-thrown attempts per game his freshman season and is close to six this year, while cashing in on close to 80 percent of them.
Coming off a game in which they allowed Troy’s Brandon Hazzard to go 7-of-10 on 3-point attempts, the Tigers will obviously have to do better this time around against a team’s No. 1 threat.
“They present a lot of problems,” Lebo said. “Landesberg can get by you and slash and use his size in the painted area. He is good at getting fouled and getting to the foul line.”
Footage from Friday’s surprising home loss to Troy has been processed and digested, Lebo said. The damage wasn’t pretty.
He counted 12 missed layups total, eight alone from Lucas Hargrove, who went 4-of-16 from the field.
It didn’t cut it then and it certainly won’t cut it tonight against significantly stiffer competition.
“We just could not put the ball in the basket,” Lebo said. “You are supposed to win those games.“
agribble@oanow.com | 737-2561
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