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247sports.com Thompson excited about Gonzalez return for Tigers Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—Friday was a big day in the return of Auburn redshirt junior RHP Joseph Gonzalez following a shoulder injury that ended his 2023 season after just a few innings last February when he got back on the mound in a scrimmage setting for the first time in nearly a year. After having surgery to clean up some issues in his shoulder that had been bothering him since his high school days in Puerto Rico, Gonzalez has been on the road to recovery since that day that has seen him put in plenty of extra work to be prepared to pitch in 2024. “You never know, but I think he’s going to be really, really healthy, healthier than he’s been in a long time with some of these things nagging since high school in the same spot,” coach Butch Thompson said. “I think he’s healthier than he’s been in a long time. We’ll cautiously bring him along. His body has never looked better. He’s absolutely worked his body in a better place, so that adds value to him. There’s a look in his eye like I have never seen before. I gravitate to him. It’s exciting to see that light switch go on and him be hungry. It’s pretty exciting.” The road to recovery really got started when Thompson brought on former MLB pitcher and minor league pitching director Everett Teaford to be Auburn’s pitching coach last summer. When Gonzalez decided to return to the Tigers, they put together a plan that saw the big righty begin his rehab with the plans to throw throughout the holidays and ramp up to the season. After throwing to hitters three different times in the last two weeks in short stints, on Friday Gonzalez pitched in a live game setting for the first time since last year’s season opener. Throwing 40 pitches in nearly three innings of work, he allowed four runs in the first frame but settled in to throw much better in innings two and three. It was just the first step of a process that Thompson said will take some time as Gonzalez gets back into the swing of things on the mound. “Our biggest challenge, and it may be a challenge, is he’s throwing noticeably harder,” Thompson said. “His calling card of identity was a true sinker. I feel like the industry may be working back to that where it can play more than maybe it did when we played all this vertical stuff. It’s not sinking as much and he’s throwing a lot harder. Is the ball going to be elevated more and not sink as much because he’s throwing harder? Is this a new identity? “Will he settle back and it start sinking again with the more pitches that he throws or is he going to be in an identity crisis? I think that’s the first thing I’m looking at now because he’s come back healthier. I’m excited about him. I’m excited about where he’s at, but those are the things we need to tweak and look at to see if this is great or concerning. Have we gotten away from identity and do we get back to it, or are we marching towards a potential new identity. That’s the biggest thing with Joseph right now.” Making 20 starts and 37 appearances in three years, Gonzalez heads into the 2024 season with a record of 10-7 and an ERA of 4.07 in 125.2 innings.

247sports.com PMARSHONAU Road trip leaves Tigers staggering Phillip Marshall 8–9 minutes Auburn entered the week as a top-10 team and 5-0 in the SEC, and now exits with consecutive losses for the first time all season — and a pair of missed opportunities for quality victories on the Tigers' resume. In a rock fight of a game, Auburn was outmuscled on the glass and couldn't find much consistent offense against the best defense it's faced so far this season, falling 64-58 at Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon. "They're both Quad 1 teams and we've lost to the best teams on our schedule," Bruce Pearl said postgame of Auburn's 0-2 week on the road. "There's something to be said for beating the people you're supposed to beat. We've done that. Not many people are going to come in and beat Mississippi State. Tennessee didn't. Alabama did, but there won't be many people that'll win in here. We'd like to think that we could have. We'd like to think we had a shot at it. But we didn't get enough step up. You have to step up and be able to make plays." Here Auburn Undercover's five takeaways, as the Tigers are still without a Quad 1 win this season. REBOUNDING PUTS AUBURN AWAY Pearl admitted this week that his “No. 1 concern” about his team moving forward in its SEC schedule was on the glass. And Auburn’s opponent Saturday is one of the most physical squads in the SEC. Mississippi State completely punished Auburn on the boards in the early going, with as large as a 21-8 advantage overall. But the biggest killer was the Bulldogs’ ability to crash the offensive glass. Cameron Matthews had five offensive rebounds all by himself in the first half, which led to a trio of second-chance baskets. Matthews was a bruiser late, too. Auburn tightened up a bit after Mississippi State’s early rebounding onslaught, not allowing an offensive rebound in the final 4:35 of the first half, and only three in the second half. But the Bulldogs' first and second offensive rebounds of the second half, though, were brutal for the Tigers, as they put Matthews (14 points and 11 rebounds) on the line for two shots with 3:50 remaining. He missed the first, then got his own rebound off the second and put the ball in for an easy basket to put Mississippi State up by 4 points with under four minutes to play. Josh Hubbard (17 points) also had a big 3-pointer late for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State outrebounded Auburn 45-30 for the game. "It was as physical as we thought," Pearl said on postgame radio. "They're a really athletic team. ... When you get outrebounded like we got outrebounded — it was just something." Denver Jones' 3-pointer kept things a one-possession game, but Jones couldn't later convert a baseline drive to the basket, and the Bulldogs made 8-of-10 free throws late in a game where they shot just 9-of-18 from the line. CARDWELL'S ABSENCE FELT Adding to Auburn’s rebounding troubles was Dylan Cardwell’s foul trouble, as the backup center picked up two fouls less than eight minutes into the game. And when Cardwell came back in to spell Johni Broome for the final few minutes of the first half, he was almost immediately hit with a touch foul on a rebounding attempt, sending him back to the bench with three personals in four minutes on the floor. When he came in for the first time in the second half, his fourth foul come on his second defensive possession. Broome is one of the most skilled big men in the conference, but Cardwell’s strength and physicality at the 5 position was missed by Auburn, as the Bulldogs continually skied overtop for offensive rebounds and putback points in the first half. Broome had to play 35 minutes, his most in a game this season. In an anticipated battle down low against Tolu Smith, Broome limited the Mississippi State fifth-year senior to just 9 points, his fewest in eight games this season since returning from injury. DEFENSIVE CLINIC ON BOTH ENDS For most of the first half, Auburn shot the basketball poorly, and rebounded the basketball dreadfully. And yet, the Tigers were tied 21-21 heading to the locker room. In a defensive clinic for both teams, Auburn’s making for tough shots by the Bulldogs was key while the Tigers slogged through their other issues. Turnovers were key for Auburn to keep things close with its defense, scoring 16 points off 14 takeaways. A steal-and-score by Tre Donaldson, followed by a made free throw after the contact, gave Auburn a 46-45 lead with 7:51 remaining — its first lead in the game since the 14:56 mark of the first half. With both teams in front of their bench after halftime though, Mississippi State was much crisper offensively in the second half, making 10 of its first 15 shots, including a trio of 3-pointers that helped keep Auburn at bay. Auburn opened the game shooting just 7-of-25 from the floor and were 33.9 percent for the game, its lowest mark all season. "Obviously they played really good defensively," Pearl said. "We didn't do well. We didn't execute very well." Coming off the bench for the first time in SEC play, Aden Holloway struggled a bit with three turnovers but had a couple timely 3-pointers — tying the game at 21-21 right before halftime, and 33-33 in the second half. Johni Broome had all of his team-high 14 points in the second half. But it felt like every time Auburn was in position to take the lead, trailing by one possession, the Tigers either turned it over or were limited to a tough shot attempt. Auburn shot an improved 39 percent after halftime but had eight turnovers in the second half. "Johni hung in there," Pearl said. "Again, Tolu Smith had 9 points. What kind of a job did Johni Broome do in there? Yeoman's work. Played great defense, played hard. They double in the post, so it was hard to get him touches on the inside. And I'm sure he was a little frustrated. He had some great baskets and some great plays himself on the inside. We probably could have done a better job of getting it to him — because he's 5-of-7, and the team is shooting 34 percent." BRIEF LINEUP CHANGE FOR AUBURN Pearl went with new starters in the backcourt for the first time since early in the season, with Tre Donaldson starting at point guard over Aden Holloway, and K.D. Johnson in over Denver Jones at the 2-guard. According to the SEC Network broadcast, the lineup changes were due to a “violation of team rules.” Pearl confirmed as much postgame but did not go into details. For Johnson, Saturday marked his first start since the 2022 NCAA tournament. Mississippi State also debuted a first-team starter in the backcourt, with the freshman Hubbard taking the place of Dashawn Davis. Both Holloway and Jones checked in at the under-16 timeout, after Johnson grabbed two steals and Donaldson scored a breakaway basket. PEARL DISPLEASED WITH SHOT SELECTION Pearl has always been the type of offensive coach at Auburn who implores his players to shoot the ball when opportunities present themselves. So it takes a lot for Pearl to show the kind of frustration he did Saturday about his shooters. Mississippi State is one of the best defensive teams in the country, so it wasn't going to come easy, but the Tigers shot just 25 percent from long range. And Broome shot 5-of-5 in the second half, but everyone else for Auburn was just 7-of-26 from the floor (26.9 percent). Holloway, K.D. Johnson, Chad Baker-Mazara and Chris Moore combined to shoot just 4-of-22 for the game. "I've got some guys that just are struggling to shoot the ball, and they need to stop," Pearl said. "They just need to stop shooting if they can't make it. As a result, the ball will move and maybe you'll have a chance to get him more than seven shots. But we can't, because the ball is just getting chucked up there." *** Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more *** *** Get Auburn news straight to your inbox with the Auburn Undercover newsletter ***

247sports.com That was a classic rock fight as Bulldogs rock 8 Auburn 6458 David H. Murray 5–6 minutes STARKVILLE – A new-look lineup and an old defensive identity made Mississippi State a winner again. The Bulldogs baffled visiting and #8-ranked Auburn into missing two-thirds of their shots, while making efficient use of a revamped offense for a 64-58 final. Mississippi State improved to 14-6 and 3-4 SEC, and quieted some questions of where this season was heading. By taking down the Tigers, Mississippi State notched a second top-ten win on the season to go with an earlier upset of #5 Tennessee. Auburn dropped a second road game on the week and left 16-4, 5-2. Though clearly underdogs, the Bulldogs gave this game added emphasis in terms of both SEC record and NCAA status beyond. Yes, it was that important to program plans. “The way we prepared, the way we practiced, this was a must-win for us, for sure,” guard Shakeel Moore said. Their coach was saying similar things including to his son. “I didn’t tell anyone else that, but it was a must-win in my mind,” Chris Jans said. “We need more Quad 1 wins, and this was a really good Quad 1 win because of how high they’re ranked.” The preparation Moore mentioned was also unusual in that Jans relaxed actual practices after the road trip to Florida. He wanted to refresh the minds and bodies both. “I don’t know if that helped or not but I thought they played like we feel for the most part is how we need to play to win games.” That way? Defend, rebound, and avoid playing to Tiger strengths in a fast-paced affair. Because, as forward D.J. Matthews said, “Our identity is defense and toughness. That’s what we can always rely on.” It worked. Auburn ended up shooting just 34%, beaten badly on both backboards, and all around frustrated by a Buldog bunch that got down and got dirty. “That was a classic rock fight,” Jans said, adding later “It wasn’t for the meek.” It was the right time to make a lineup move, too. Jans had considered guard Josh Hubbard everything but a starter up to now, with his minutes and scoring. This time, the freshman was told “about 90 minutes before the game” he would be on the tipoff team. Hubbard wasn’t rattled or for that matter over-amped. “Not really. Coach Jans always tells me starting lineups are just getting started for the game. Only difference is I’m just getting my name called first.” Literally so in this case as Hubbard was announced first, the home crowd responding loudly before the name was even called. The SEC’s top-scoring freshman rewarded everyone with a game-best 17 points, poised ball-handling, and even aggressive defense. His high point came on an inbounds pass he threw and got back, after Auburn cut State’s late lead to a lone point. Falling off to his right with a defender on his left, Hubbard swished the off-balance threeball. “He looked at me like he’d scored on me!” Jans said. “It was pretty stone cold and made me feel good.” Mississippi State had to feel good or at least alright with how the first half developed. Auburn tried rushing things against a gritty defense and ended up with as many turnovers than baskets early on. Bulldogs were forcing Tigers to start their offense farther out than even Auburn likes and this resulted in a couple of shot-clock violations. But State’s offense wasn’t taking full advantage, missing 11 of 12 treys tried. Auburn was doubling up on Tolu Smith, which had the senior stepping out to take and make a ten-footer. Halftime showed a 21-21 scoreboard with top Tiger shut out entirely. He took care of that to open the next half with a pair of buckets. But Hubbard, held out much of the second quarter by fouls, kept State on pace and better by hitting his shots. The Dogs were up 33-27 at 14:36 as Auburn’s Caldwell got his fourth foul. Even when consecutive Tiger treys evened the scoreboard, Hubbard had the outside answer of his own and then laid in a full-length inbounds pass. Hubbard came out at 12:03 with a slight limp so in his absence Shawn Jones provided five fast points and a 45-40 lead. Nor was this only a slowed rock fight as Jans told the team just surviving Auburn’s pressure after made shots wasn’t good enough. “So a couple times we ran some home-run type plays and that helped alleviate some stress.” When Tigers did miss State was able to get the defensive rebounds out faster because Auburn was sending everyone to the glass. Hubbard’s in-your-face trey slowed any Auburn rally, as did misses on their end. This time, too, a squad struggling at the stripe came through. Moore and Matthews made five free throws down the stretch to seal success. Forward Cameron Matthews had 14 points for State but also 11 rebounds, and was key to steadying everyone else down in breaking the inbounds presses. “He’s our engine, our personality,” Jans said. Moore scored a dozen and while Jeffries only netted five points his 12 rebounds were crucial. Auburn never led by more than a basket, and only by a point for 24 seconds of the last half. Broome got all his 14 points in the last half with seven rebounds, with 12 more from guard Jaylin Williams. The Tigers were 6-of-24 at the arc and whipped 45-30 on the glass. “All this week (Coach) was talking to us about getting grounded, out-tough them and play defense,” Jeffries said. “That’s what we did.”

si.com Takeaways: Auburn Basketball Loses 64-58 At Mississippi State Lance Dawe 2–3 minutes The Auburn Tigers lost their second-straight game on Saturday afternoon. Auburn (16-4, 5-2 SEC) has now lost two SEC games in a row following their defeat at the hands of Mississippi State. Here are takeaways from the loss. Second-chance points Mississippi state snagged 14 offensive rebounds and came away with 12 points. It's not a massive eye-catching stat, but compared to the Tigers' six offensive boards and three second-chance points, it proved to be crucial in a six-point loss. Bruce Pearl emphasized the importance of keeping State off of the glass. They just couldn't do it in the biggest moments down the stretch. That miss free throw putback with time winding down was devastating. Lack of focus Auburn seemed sluggish, careless with the basketball in important moments, and just tired. The Tigers would gain momentum, cut the lead to one or tie the game, and then lose all intensity and toss the ball off of feet or out of bounds. Eight of their 11 turnovers came in the second half. The biggest question throughout the season is whether or not Auburn can put together two really good halves. They've been extremely dominant at times this year, but not for an entire game. Second half lull Speaking of not being able to tie together two periods of play, Mississippi State whipped Auburn in the second half. The Bulldogs shot 57.7% from the floor and 44.4% from deep. Four of their five threes were in the second half. They had 12 fast break points in the final 20 minutes. Here's a fun stat from Nathan King of 247Sports: In the final 5:22 of Auburn's loss at Alabama, the Tigers allowed four offensive rebounds, leading to 6 second-chance points. In the final 4:03 of Auburn's loss at Mississippi State, the Tigers allowed three offensive rebounds, leading to 4 second-chance points. Auburn has to focus up. Is this a wake up call? Maybe two straight losses is what Auburn needs to wake up. The Tigers feel like one of the better teams in the SEC. But when are they going to start showing up on the road against good competition? It's a difficult thing to win on the road. It's another to sleepwalk through nearly an entire contest. The Tigers need to wake up.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Recap: Auburn loses second straight in Starkville Brian Hauch ~2 minutes The Plains weren’t the only thing that looked flat in Auburn on Saturday. Bruce Pearl and the No. 6 Auburn Tigers barely showed up for their seventh SEC tilt against Mississippi State, losing 64-58 to the Bulldogs. The Tigers shot just 35% from the field in the game. Forward Johni Broome was efficient but overall not very productive on an afternoon where his team desperately needed him, as the junior finished with a team-high 14 points on just 7 attempts from the field. Auburn’s backcourt struggled once again on the road, as Trae Donaldson, Aden Holloway, and K.D Johnson combined for just 13 points in the contest. Mississippi State came into the game with a ferocious defense, especially at home, but Auburn’s inability to score the basketball for the second straight road came is definitely cause for concern. As for Mississippi State, star forward Tolu Smith arguably outplayed Broome in this game. The senior not only shut down Broome on the defensive end, but also contributed 9 points and 8 rebounds in the game. He was a key cog in the Bulldogs defensive stand to hold off Auburn’s comeback attempt as well. Smith also helped Mississippi State out-rebound Auburn by 15 in the game. Auburn’s second-straight loss drops the Tigers to 5-2 in SEC play. They’ll go back to the drawing board before returning to Neville Arena to host Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Why Bruce Pearl believes Auburn's recent road games were lost 'kind of the same way' Updated: Jan. 27, 2024, 6:17 p.m.|Published: Jan. 27, 2024, 6:10 p.m. 4–5 minutes Auburn Basketball ‘We lost both games kind of the same way’: Pearl identifies similar woes in Auburn’s pair of losses Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, right, instructs Dylan Cardwell (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/James Crisp)AP Auburn was trailing Mississippi State by one point with just more than four minutes to play when Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard hurled up a deep 3-point attempt, which rattled off the rim and off the backboard. Underneath Mississippi State’s basket was Auburn’s Johni Broome, KD Johnson, Jaylin Williams and Tre Donaldson. For the Bulldogs, Tolu Smith III was the only one under the basket, while the rest of Mississippi State’s players stayed scattered about the perimeter. It was four orange Auburn jerseys to one white Mississippi State jersey. Yet it was Smith in the white Mississippi State jersey who came down with the rebound, making for one of the Bulldogs’ 14 offensive rebounds against the Tigers Saturday afternoon from Starkville’s Humphrey Coliseum. Less than 15 seconds later, Mississippi State’s Cameron Matthews found himself at the free throw line, where he went 1-for-2, missing his second attempt but gathering his own rebound and converting on a second-chance layup. Matthews alone finished the afternoon with six offensive rebounds and three second-chance buckets as he led Mississippi State with 14 points and 11 rebounds. On Saturday, that 15-second sequence alone helped paint the picture of what led to Auburn dropping its second-straight road game in a low-scoring, 64-58 loss to the Bulldogs, who out-rebounded the Tigers 45-30. “When you get out-rebounded like we got out-rebounded, it was something,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said during the post-game radio broadcast. Auburn’s struggles on the glass came just one day after Pearl harped on the matter. During his press conference Friday, Pearl called the Tigers’ defensive rebounding efforts his “No. 1 concern.” “I hate to be right sometimes,” Pearl said. “But my concern of where we were with our defensive rebounding — that’s a big part of it.” Against Mississippi State, Auburn allowed the Bulldogs pull down 14 offensive rebounds while the Tigers logged 24 defensive rebounds — meaning Mississippi State gathered its own missed shot 36.8% of the time. To make matters worse, the Bulldogs found scoring success after collecting their own rebounds as Mississippi State tallied 12 second-chance points — of which five came in the final 3:50 of play. “In the second half, while we were better offensively, we gave up too many second-chance points,” Pearl said. Conversely, Auburn managed to come down with a rebound on just 16.2% of its own misses and tallied a less-than-impressive three second-chance points. And if watching Saturday’s performance on the glass felt familiar, it’s because it was familiar. In its win streak-snapping loss to Alabama on Wednesday, Auburn also experienced rebounding struggles — particularly on the defensive end as the Crimson Tide tallied 16 offensive rebounds, which led to 21 second-chance points. In the Tigers’ last two times out, they’ve allowed their opponents in Alabama and Mississippi State to come down with an offensive rebound 36% of the time, which has led to Auburn giving up 33 total second-chance points. All the while, the Tigers tallied just 15 combined second-chance points against he Crimson Tide and Bulldogs. “At the end of both games, we didn’t get stops, we didn’t get rebounds,” Pearl said. “That’s what cost us at Alabama. And that’s partly what cost us at Mississippi State. Free-throw check out, we don’t get it. I think, in some ways, we lost both games kind of the same way.” If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

al.com After second straight loss, Bruce Pearl says No. 8 Auburn’s guards need to shoot less Published: Jan. 27, 2024, 6:27 p.m. 5–6 minutes MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS - JANUARY 27 - Auburn’s Chad Baker-Mazara (10) during the game between the #8 Auburn Tigers and the Mississippi State at Humphrey Coliseum in Mississippi State, MS on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn TigersZach Bland/Auburn Tigers Throughout No. 8 Auburn’s 11-game win streak between a Dec. 3 loss to Appalachian State and Wednesday’s loss to Alabama, one of the strengths of this team had been its point guard play. Essentially splitting duties at point guard, Aden Holloway and Tre Donaldson combined to form one of the most productive and efficient duos in the nation. But that praise had turned to frustration as Auburn head Bruce Pearl reacted to his team’s loss to 64-58 loss to Mississippi State. It was the second straight loss for Auburn as it finished its two-game road trip 0-2. Auburn is now 16-4 this season and 5-2 in the SEC. Pearl’s message shifted after the loss. He previously encouraged players to keep shooting, and he believed they would eventually hit the big shot. “You gotta trust him,” Pearl said of point guard Aden Holloway after Auburn’s loss to Alabama. “Know that he’s gonna make a shot.” After the loss to Mississippi State, he said his players need to be more selective, and for some, maybe not shoot the ball at all. “We continue to struggle to shoot it on the road,” Pearl said. “And we continue to, unfortunately, take some of those same shots that we’re just gonna have to either have to make, or some guys are going to have to just put it away. Because it’s hurting our offensive productivity when we’re launching and missing like we are on the road.” In previous road games, Pearl has said Auburn’s poor shooting performances could change over time, knowing that Auburn was just a few misses on open shots turned to makes from getting an ever-hard-to-come-by win on the road. But now, five true road games in, bad shooting has become more of a trend. As a result, Auburn missed two chances at a Quad-1 road win this week. A Quad-1 win of any kind has continued to elude Auburn this season. In Auburn’s three losses in true road games, Auburn has shot a combined 73-189. That’s 38%. Auburn shot 34% in the loss to Mississippi State, which was the lowest rate from the field in any of the three losses. Separate it for just 3-pointers and the numbers are worse. Auburn is 14-76 in its three road losses. That’s 18%. Holloway and Donaldson struggled going a combined 7-25 from the field against Alabama and Mississippi State this week. K.D. Johnson took six attempts from beyond the arc this week. He made none of them. Denver Jones responded by shooting 2-3 on 3-pointers Saturday after going 1-5 against Alabama. Chad Baker-Mazara, who plays a blend guard/forward role, was 4-14 this week and 1-5 on 3-pointers. Jaylin Williams, a forward who had been arguably Auburn’s best player during the 11-game streak, shot 3-11 against Mississippi State including 0-4 of 3s and two missed layups. “Yeah, more selective for some, put it away for others,” Pearl said when asked about the team’s guard play. It’s hard to win, and nearly impossible to win on the road, with shooting numbers like that. Auburn is now 2-3 in its five road games. When it scored 80 or more points, it won. When it didn’t hit that mark, it lost. Poor shooting has been a common denominator in the losses, and that is in part due to poor decision-making, which Pearl now plans to work on curbing based on his postgame comments. There are few things tougher in college basketball than winning on the road. Auburn lost to Alabama and Mississippi State by a combined 10 points this week. Giving up opportunities with its own shooting makes that even tougher. So Pearl will look to help Auburn become more selective, and more efficient. “I’ve got some guys that just are struggling to shoot the ball, and they need to stop,” Pearl said during his postgame radio appearance. “They just need to stop shooting if they can’t make it. As a result, the ball will move and maybe you’ll have a chance to get him more than seven shots. But we can’t, because the ball is just getting chucked up there.” Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

did you leave off the H suga? lol you know i am crazy as hell...............grins

dag i am getting old. i am not in the best of health. i decided i would try to be remembered as crazy and a good guy than a dick. once we are dead we cannot correct our wrongs. in the past i have jumped people when i confused what they said. it is embarrassing to i am trying to be a better person.

word in the break room is you are a handsome fella. not accusing anyone of anything just throwing anything out there.......................

this was not an attack on you titan. you try hard to be fair and i see it.i did not care for you much at one time but i have grown fond of you. i think you are brilliant in some ways. i am not brown nosing just telling it straight. some of your posts on the pol boards are brilliant. i was talking about ANYONE talking down. by the way can we get that lastpoint removed on my profile?

they tell me if it is cancer it is slow moving and not life threatening at all. i intend to pursue all options if it is. thank you for your warm thoughts. i was wrong about you for a,long time but i saw the light and i enjoy your posts. you have more patience than most people realize. i would have been banned long ago.

Baseball America releases Pre-Season Top 25 Posted on 1/29/24 at 9:11 am 00 BA Top 25 Baseball season pain cannot get here fast enough. SEC Teams in BA Top 25 2. LSU 3. Arkansas 4. Florida 7. Vanderbilt 8. Tennessee 11. aTm 12. South Carolina 23. Auburn Wow. looks like the SEC is loaded this year.

i had one of those scans monday where they shoot radioactive stuff inside me because they believe i have kidney cancer. being the old ball i am i am disapointed i did not glow in the dark that night. by the way i have huge respect for what you do for a living. you have to be super smart.

i see a lot of people take shots at people all the time they just do it suttle like. after a while it gets old and people are human and do not take being disrespected on here well or even being talked down to. so they respond. i am sixty eight years old and i do not ever care to be lectured.ever. tell me what i did but if you talk down to me you are just as bad as folks starting fights. most of us try to abide by the rules.i do i have been guilty of stuff and i have no problem excepting my punishment if i deserve it but do NOT talk down to me. i understand mods and admins have a tough job because you will never make everyone happy. i appreciate your efforts but sometimes you need to talk to someone and ask them about something. i got in bad trouble for saying the word neggers and accused of being racist. i was talking about the red thumbs down as being negative. i am still upset about it.

i create a lot of work for the man and he never complains. i dreamed last night he had gotten carpal tunnel because of me and i am kinda sad. i want to thank you for your hard work in trying to keep some of us dummies from looking like morons.....................well most of the time anyway! i appreciate you sir!

do you ever have to wear those special suits like we see in the movies?

Auburn dubbed a ‘transfer portal winner’ by The Athletic Taylor Jones Sun, January 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM CST·2 min read 1 Auburn’s coaching staff is working hard to fill key areas with transfer portal additions, and are currently succeeding. The Tigers will have added a talented wide receiver, a sturdy offensive lineman, and several solid defensive additions which should help boost its stock in the upcoming 2024 season. The haul has been impressive so far, and outlets such as The Athletic are taking notice. Manny Navarro of The Athletic recently revealed his winners and losers from the SEC when it comes to their activity in the transfer portal. At the front of the “winners” list is Auburn. Navarro says the Tigers’ transfer additions have outweighed their departures. Auburn’s recruiting has been on the uptick since Hugh Freeze took over. The 2024 class ranks No. 8 after the early signing period and the Tigers are also bringing in quality talent in the portal. Among the notable additions are former Georgia State standout receiver Robert Lewis (70 catches, 877 yards in 2023), ex-Mississippi State left tackle Percy Lewis (seven starts in 2023), former Texas and Minnesota defensive tackle Trill Carter (31 career starts), ex-Duke linebacker Dorian Mausi (27 starts) and former Texas safety Jerrin Thompson (31 starts). Those pickups outweigh the losses of 2022 starting quarterback Robby Ashford (South Carolina) and linebacker Cam Riley and safety Donovan Kaufman, who both ranked in the top 11 on the team in tackles last season and haven’t found new landing spots yet. Antonio Kite (CB-Alabama), Jerrin Thompson (S-Texas), Percy Lewis (OT-Mississippi State), and rico walker (TE-Maryland) are the most notable transfer additions for Auburn so far, as they all join the roster as four-star transfers according to 247Sports. Joining Auburn as “winners” include Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Missouri. Arkansas and Florida were teams who “broke even”, while Alabama, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt joined the “losers” category. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__ Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

al.com Auburn women’s tennis coach abruptly fired after team makes ITA Indoor Championships Updated: Jan. 28, 2024, 5:21 p.m.|Published: Jan. 28, 2024, 4:01 p.m. 2–3 minutes during the match between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Auburn Tigers at Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, AL on Sunday, Mar 26, 2023. Jamie Holt/Auburn TigersJamie Holt/Auburn Tigers In a sudden change of course Sunday afternoon, athletics director John Cohen announced Auburn would be “parting ways” from women’s tennis coach Caroline Lilley in a decision that would be effective immediately. Lilley’s ousting comes at a questionable time as 14th-ranked Auburn is in the middle of its season and coming off a big win in Durham, N.C., where Auburn topped 15th-ranked Duke on Saturday, punching the Tigers’ ticket to the ITA Indoor Championships. By Sunday afternoon, Lilley’s name and image had already been removed from the team’s page on Auburn’s website. The team’s associate head coach, Megan Falcon, was also removed from the team’s website Sunday. However, Falcon resigned from her post and was not fired, an Auburn athletics spokesperson confirmed to AL.com. Falcon was brought on as associate head coach in 2021. Moving forward, with plenty left in the program’s spring schedule, Auburn’s women’s tennis team will be piloted via a shared effort between members of the men’s and women’s tennis staffs. “The program will be under the direction of members of the men’s and women’s tennis staff on an interim basis, as the search for a permanent replacement begins,” Cohen said Sunday. “We will work closely with members of our tennis staff to ensure they have all the resources necessary to support our student athletes throughout the remainder of the 2024 season.” Lilley was hired to lead the Tigers’ women’s program in 2019 and helped guide Auburn to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen in the last two seasons. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

al.com Senior Bowl 2024: Practice schedule, players to watch Published: Jan. 29, 2024, 6:00 a.m. 7–9 minutes It’s officially 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl week, as more than 100 of the country’s top NFL draft hopefuls descend on Mobile for several days of practice and other events leading up to Saturday’s annual all-star game. This year marks the 75th Senior Bowl, which is sponsored by the NFL Players Association. Practices — which are once again free and open to the public — run Tuesday-Thursday at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the South Alabama campus, with other special events set for Friday and Saturday. (A full practice schedule appears below). In addition to the top senior players from across the country, this year’s game for the first time features third-year juniors who have chosen to enter the NFL draft. More than a dozen juniors are set to take place in the 2024 Senior Bowl, making it arguably the most talent-rich in the game’s recent history. The Senior Bowl is also recognizing a 75th anniversary team, whose members will enter the stadium prior to kickoff on Saturday and be formally recognized at halftime. Among the big names on the team are Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Shaun Alexander, LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Owens, Michael Strahan, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Brooks and Pat McAfee (not all team members are scheduled to appear). Speaking of the Senior Bowl legends, the first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium on game day will receive one of five bobbleheads — Dan Marino, Cornelius Bennett, Shaun Alexander, Demarcus Ware or Aaron Donald. Former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander is a member of the Senior Bowl's 75th anniversary team. Alexander played in the 2000 Senior Bowl before embarking on a record-setting career with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. (AP Photo/Caroline Baird)AR- AP Mobile’s Jennifer Shirley will sing the national anthem prior to kickoff, with pre-game and halftime entertainment provided by Talladega College’s Great Tornado Band. The Saints Cheer Krewe will also be on-hand for game day festivities. There is once again a free concert in at Mardi Gras Park in downtown Mobile in conjunction with the Senior Bowl, but this year’s show — featuring Counting Crows — takes place on Saturday night after the game rather than on Friday as in the past. The Senior Bowl’s 75th anniversary gala is Friday night this year, as is the annual players Mardi Gras parade. Here’s everything else you need to know for the 2024 Senior Bowl (all times Central). Game information When: Saturday, Feb. 3, noon Where: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile TV: NFL Network Tickets: From $15. Visit www.seniorbowl.com/tickets. Format: Players are split into American and National teams. Most of the in-state favorites (including those from Alabama, Auburn and South Alabama) will play for the American team, though a few (including Bo Nix and the Troy players) are on the National team. Head coaches: Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Terrell Williams will serve as head coach of the American team, while New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will direct the National team. Cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, left, and defensive lineman Marcus Harris are among four Auburn players in this year's Senior Bowl. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com) Mike Kittrell/AL.com Who’s in the game Alabama players (3): DL Chris Braswell, DL Justin Eboigbe, K Will Reichard (Hoover) Auburn players (4): DL Marcus Harris (Park Crossing), CB D.J. James (Spanish Fort), CB Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson), SAF Jaylin Simpson Others from in-state schools (3): QB Carter Bradley, South Alabama; DE Javon Solomon, Troy; RB Kimani Vidal, RB Others with in-state ties (7): CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri (Spanish Fort); WR Javon Baker, Central Florida (Alabama transfer); OL Javion Cohen, Miami (Central-Phenix City/Alabama transfer); CB Khyree Jackson, Oregon (Alabama transfer); DL Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss (Davidson); LS William Mote, Georgia (Spain Park); QB Bo Nix (Pinson Valley/Auburn transfer) Former Washington quarterback Michael Penix, the 2023 Heisman Trophy runner-up, is set to play in this year's Reese's Senior Bowl. (AP photo Lindsey Wasson)AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson Other top players to watch • In addition to Nix, fellow Heisman finalist Michael Penix of Washington is also in this year’s Senior Bowl. Penix led the country in passing yards (4,903) this season, in addition to 36 touchdowns (third behind Nix and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels of LSU). • There are eight players from national champion Michigan in Mobile this week: tight end AJ Barner, wide receiver Roman Wilson, offensive linemen LaDarius Henderson and Trevor Keegan, defensive linemen Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor, linebacker Michael Barrett and cornerback Mike Sainristil. Runner-up Washington is represented by Penix, linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio and offensive linemen Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten. • All-American Cody Schrader of Missouri headlines the running back group along with Kentuck’s Ray Davis and Tennessee Jaylen Wright. Schrader, a former walk-on out of Division II Truman State, led the SEC with 1,627 rushing yards in 2023. • The offensive line is once again loaded with potential early-round picks, including centers Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon and Sedrick Van Pran of Georgia, guards Cooper Beebe of Kansas State and Christian Haynes of Connecticut and tackles Fautanu, Tyler Guyton of Oklahoma and Taliese Fuaga of Oregon State. • Top defensive linemen include Texas A&M’s McKinnley Jackson, Clemson’s Tyler Davis, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and the Texas duo of T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy. Sweat won the 2023 Outland Trophy as the country’s top interior lineman, while Latu won the Lombardi Award as the top on-ball defender and the Ted Hendricks Award as the top defensive end. • Other national award winners in this year’s Senior Bowl include Penix (Maxwell Award), Powers-Johnson (Rimington Trophy), North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson (Butkus Award, Chuck Bednarik Award) and Iowa punter Tory Taylor (Ray Guy Award). Nix won the Campbell Trophy, the academic equivalent of the Heisman. Former Auburn and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is set to play in this year's Reese's Senior Bowl. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com) Mike Kittrell/AL.com Tuesday, Jan. 30 National team — 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. American team — noon-2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31 National team — 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. American team — noon-2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 National team — 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. American team — noon-2 p.m. *— all practices are free and open to the public Grammy-nominated artists Counting Crows will perform this year's free Senior Bowl concert on Saturday night at Mardi Gras Park. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Amy Harris/Invision/AP Other events of note Wednesday, Jan. 31 Special Spectator Senior Bowl Reunion, featuring Philip Rivers (ticket required) Moe’s Original BBQ, downtown Mobile 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Fellowship of Christian Athletes Rally (ticket required) Mobile Civic Center 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 Senior Bowl Players Mardi Gras Parade (free) Downtown Mobile Entertainment District, Dauphin Street 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 Senior Bowl Fan Fest (free) Outside Hancock Whitney Stadium 9:30 a.m. Path to the Draft Team Walk Parking Lot 105 9:45 a.m. 75th Anniversary Team Entrance Parking Lot 105 11 a.m. 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl (ticket required) Hancock Whitney Stadium noon Senior Bowl Concert featuring Counting Crows (free) Mardi Gras Park, downtown Mobile 8 p.m. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.