LSU Coach Quotes after the loss to Auburn

[AUSportTalk 4]

*We*ve had a lot of respect for Auburn all year long.  I don*t

think there is anybody in our league, maybe not anybody in the country

that has played as good of basketball as they have in the last 45 days

to two months.  They are a lot like we are in terms of they*ve got a

group of seniors that are good players that have been through their

share of awards.  It*s real interesting from my standpoint.  Everybody

talks about Kentucky and Florida and some other teams in this league

being bubble teams and all that, and you don*t ever hear Auburn*s

name in the mix.  I*ve been through my share of teams, and been in my

share of postseason experiences.  That*s an NCAA tournament caliber

team.  They*ve given us as tough of a match-up as anybody has given us

all year long.  It would be nice if the ball would have gone down for

us.  This is the second game in a row, home and on the road, where we

had some guys that had some open looks.  The ball didn*t go down for

them so that happens and all credit goes to them. They did a good

job.*

On getting [sEC] teams* best shots as the season has progressed*

*No question.  We went through a course of a year here where during

the course of the year we*ve been the hunted and the huntee, but these

guy*s approaches have never changed.  They have always come out and

given maximum effort.  Again, I*ve only been head coach for 10 seasons

and I haven*t been around a more enjoyable group in terms of them

being receptive in a short period of time with what we ask them to do.

Yeah, we*ve been getting everybody*s best shot, but we*ve always

looked at it and concerned ourselves with ourselves going into games.

Not, we*re playing Baylor today or we*re playing this team today, or

we*ve got a league game.  We*re concerned at competing at a high

level and I think you saw that tonight.  Yeah, we*ve got the league

wrapped up, but don*t tell me we didn*t compete versus Vanderbilt.

The ball didn*t go down for us.  We competed, we battled this

afternoon.  The ball didn*t go down for us.  All year long our margin

of error has been slim and we*ve always been able to make plays.  It

always helps when you*ve got the best, or maybe second or third best

player in the league in terms of Tasmin Mitchell.  Then you*ve got

guys who are willing to do what you want them to.  Bo Spencer does a

heck of a job at running our team. Garrett Temple, as you all know and

have seen, is as good of a defensive player as there is in this league,

let alone the country.  Again, we*re getting people*s best shot, and

we fully expect that the rest of the year.*

On Auburn creating trouble with offensive rebounding*

*I mean, physically, they run long balls.  We hedge high, and they

slip them quick in our rotations and get there quick enough.  Let*s

face it, Barber is strong.  He*s good. He*s averaging a

double-double isn*t he?  He*s doing that against everybody.  He*s

a good player. Their guards are underrated.  Not by me, not by us, but

again, they are a good team.  They just beat us on the glass.  It

happens.  I want to say maybe this is the third time in the league,

second time in the league it*s happened that we*ve been

outrebounded.  So again, let*s give credit to them as opposed to what

we didn*t do or what they did do.  They*re good.*

[RunningBackU1345162763 0]

Wow, very gracious quotes.  Hopefully he is on the tournament selection committee.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

So their coach says "we're an NCAA tournament caliber team." I'm shocked we're alot of good things said about us. I thoughts its been open season on our teams. This feels really awesome.