Category: Auburn Tigers

Auburn gymnastics’ season ends in Los Angeles

An unconventional showing on bars led to the Tigers’ downfall in the Los Angeles Regional.

The Auburn Tigers’ season comes to an end after the team posted a 195.9, placing them in fourth in the afternoon session of the Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

“When you get to this meet, you have to be really good to move on,” Auburn coach [autotag]Jeff Graba[/autotag] said. “You can’t have an event like we did on bars. We picked a bad night to have our worst night of the year.”

Auburn got off to a strong start on floor. [autotag]Derrian Gobourne[/autotag] earned a 9.925 in the anchor role to earn a share of the session title for the event. [autotag]Gabby McLaughlin[/autotag] and [autotag]Olivia Hollingsworth[/autotag] both scored a 9.875. [autotag]Sophia Groth[/autotag] and [autotag]Cassie Stevens[/autotag] each posted a 9.85, bringing Auburn’s score to 49.375 which had the Tigers in second place.

The Tigers competed on vault in the second rotation. [autotag]Caroline Leonard[/autotag] led off with a 9.875, [autotag]Sara Hubbard[/autotag] followed with a 9.850. Hollingsworth and Stevens both took a 9.8 and Gobourne closed up with a 9.875. Auburn’s score after two rotations was 98.575.

Things started to go wrong for the Tigers on bars in the third rotation. After three straight falls at the beginning [autotag]Aria Brusch[/autotag] scored a 9.9. Stevens tied her career-high with a 9.925 and Gobourne anchored with a 9.85.

Auburn closed up on beam. [autotag]Hannah Hagle[/autotag] earned the top score for the Tigers with a 9.9.

“For (Hagle) to do that on beam was a huge deal,” Graba said. “Caroline on vault, going 9.875 on a 9.95 (start value) vault. Derrian (Gobourne) was great on floor. We got some really good performances, but as a group, not as consistent as we want.”

The Tigers will have a lot to build on going into next season but will return key pieces such as Sophia Groth, Olivia Hollingsworth, and Gabby McLaughlin.

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Auburn baseball picks up run-rule victory over UNA

Drew Nelson struck out seven batters in the complete game effort, while Ike Irish recorded four hits and five RBI.

A complete game from [autotag]Drew Nelson[/autotag] helped the Auburn Tigers (17-7-1, 2-4 SEC) get past the North Alabama Lions (5-18) 14-1 in a run rule after 6.5 innings in the second meeting of the teams this season.

“We were locked in to start the game and just kept flipping the lineup,” head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] said after Auburn’s win on Tuesday. “I’m excited about that lineup and excited about Drew Nelson and his growth. He’s kind of steadied himself, stayed in there and worked himself up the past few weeks.”

Nelson was the starter for Auburn the only arm the team used, pitching all seven innings and picking up his second win of the season. He only allowed one run off of three hits, walked one batter, and struck out seven.

“It feels good. I was able to prove myself a little bit,” Nelson said. “I’ve always known I’ve had it, and it has been showing up here recently.”

The Tigers’ offense got going early and never stopped as [autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag] hit a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning. Auburn added five more runs in that frame and proceeded to score in every inning except for the fourth.

[autotag]Ike Irish[/autotag] hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning, a three-run shot that also scored Foster and [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag].

Auburn will be back in action this weekend when the Tigers travel down to Gainesville, Florida for a three-game set with the No. 3 Florida Gators (22-4, 5-1 SEC). First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday and Saturday, then 12:00 p.m. CT on Sunday. All three games will be televised on SEC Network+.

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Is Auburn an option for Syracuse guard Joe Girard?

Auburn appears to be in contact with Syracuse’s leading scorer, who averaged 16.1 points per game for the Orange this season.

It has been a week since Auburn’s season came to an end at the hands of the Houston Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. The Tigers have not wasted any time, however, as head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] and staff have started to pursue players in the transfer portal.

Among these players is [autotag]Joe Girard III[/autotag], a guard for the Syracuse Orange who has made it clear that he plans to test the NBA Draft waters but will also enter the transfer portal to keep his options open.

Girard led Syracuse in scoring this past season, averaging 16.4 points per game. Girard also averaged 2.3 rebounds and three assists per game. The Glens Falls, New York native has played in almost every game for the Orange since joining the program in 2019.

In a tweet from New York Times basketball insider, Adam Zagoria, the schools that have reached out to Girard were listed. Aside from Auburn, Girard has been contacted by major programs such as Indiana, Tennessee, LSU, Florida, and Ohio State.

Landing Girard would go a long way toward building up the guard position for the Tigers. At this point, the only new face joining Auburn this fall is [autotag]Aden Holloway[/autotag], the No. 6 point guard in the class of 2023 according to 247Sports.

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Wendell Green unsure about future at Auburn

Auburn’s point guard has a decision to make regarding his future with the program.

After being the primary ball-handler for the Tigers in 2023, [autotag]Wendell Green Jr[/autotag]. maybe exploring other avenues.

In a recent episode of The Next Round, Green talked about Auburn’s time in the NCAA Tournament, as well as his future with the program. Green says that he is proud to be an Auburn Tiger, but has not made a decision regarding returning to the roster for the 2023-24 season.

“For me, I love Auburn,” Green said on The Next Round. “I haven’t thought about it too much yet…that’s a conversation I’m gonna have with my family and, you know, we’re gonna see what’s happening next”

Green has held a big role in the program for the past two seasons. The former Eastern Kentucky Colonel transferred to Auburn in 2021. He played in 33 games that season, starting four of them. Green saw his role greatly expand for the 2022-23 season, starting all 34 games.

Green averaged 13.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this season. His season-high was scoring 24 points in Auburn’s final regular season game, the 79-70 win over the Tennessee Volunteers on March 4th.

Auburn will have [autotag]Aden Holloway[/autotag], the No. 27 player and the No. 6 point guard in the class of 2023 according to 247Sports, coming in for next season. The Tigers will also be looking to make some additions to the roster via the transfer portal.

The junior from Detroit, Michigan has one year of eligibility remaining. Time will tell if he decides to use it with Auburn or explore other options that may be available for him.

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Jarquez Hunter listed among underrated SEC players

Hunter is considered an “under the radar” player to the outside world but could become a popular name in 2023.

Now that three-year starter [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] is preparing for the NFL, it is time for Jarquez Hunter to take the reigns of the top spot on the running back depth chart for the Auburn Tigers.

Hunter has made his mark on Auburn football in a short time. Hunter has rushed for 1,268 yards and 10 touchdowns off of 193 carries in two seasons at Auburn, he rushed for 668 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022. He is considered an “under the radar” player now but could become a popular name within the college football world once the season begins.

An article from Mike Farell Sports titled “Underrated Players: SEC Edition” was written by Luke Brumm and included Hunter as Auburn’s selection on the list. Brumm says that Hunter could etch his name into Auburn lore this season.

Jarquez Hunter was in Tank Bigsby’s shadow last season, but it’s his time now. The running back went for 668 yards on 104 attempts and added 7 touchdowns. I see him becoming a 1,000-yard rusher next season.

Bigsby will leave a big spot to fill in the Auburn offense, but Hunter will have some help. Hunter will be joined in the running back room by sophomore [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag], USF transfer [autotag]Brian Battie[/autotag], and incoming freshman [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag].

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Auburn walks it off in series opener with Georgia

Auburn trailed Georgia by three runs heading to the 9th inning, but a walk-off walk in the 11th inning sealed the come-from-behind win.

It took 11 innings, but it all came down to a walk in the Auburn Tigers series-opening 7-6 win over the Georgia Bulldogs.

“I didn’t ask for a lot this week,” head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] said following the game. “I just asked for these guys to kind of connect with one another. I asked the guys what it really means to stay in the fight and to keep punching back. We thought we took more punches than we really delivered last week. That ninth is a good symbol of hanging around and staying in there.”

[autotag]Tommy Vail[/autotag] got the start for Auburn. He pitched five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking two batters and striking out seven. [autotag]Will Cannon[/autotag] ended up with the win, pitching the final three innings. He allowed one run off of one hit, walked two batters and struck out three.

Kolten Smith got the start for Georgia. He tossed 3.1 innings, allowing one run off of two hits. Kyle Greenler ended up with the loss for the Bulldogs in 0.2 innings of work, allowing one run off of two hits and walking two batters, one of them being [autotag]Carter Wright[/autotag] to end the game.

Georgia took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. [autotag]Ike Irish[/autotag] got the scoring started for Auburn in the bottom of that inning with a double that scored [autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag]. [autotag]Connor Green[/autotag] tacked on another run for the Tigers in the fifth inning with a solo shot to left field.

Georgia added another run in the top of the sixth inning. [autotag]Bryson Ware[/autotag] hit a solo home run in the bottom of that inning to bring the Tigers within one.

The Bulldogs added on two more runs in the top of the ninth inning to extend their lead to three. Auburn refused to go down quietly, however. Ware doubled down the right-field line to score Foster and [autotag]Kason Howell[/autotag]. [autotag]Justin Kirby[/autotag] reached on an error that allowed Ware to score.

The next run came in the bottom of the 11th inning when Wright was walked,  allowing Irish to score.

RELATED: How to watch the Auburn-Georgia series

Auburn will be back in action tomorrow night for the second game of the series. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. CT.

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Report: Marcus Sasser to start against Auburn

Houston guard Marcus Sasser to start in their matchup with Auburn.

The [autotag]Houston Cougars[/autotag] are getting a boost in their Round of 32 matchup with the Auburn Tigers. College basketball insider Jeff Goodman reports that starting guard Marcus Sasser will start despite dealing with a groin injury.

“Houston’s Marcus Sasser (groin) will start,” Goodman tweets. “(And) will not have any minute restrictions today against Auburn, sources told Stadium. Sasser could have come back in (the) first-round game, but Houston coaching staff held him out.”

This season Sasser has played and started in 34 games for Kelvin Sampson’s squad. He averages 16.7 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 30.6 minutes per game. Against East Carolina in the conference tournament, Sasser poured in 30 points with five rebounds and 2 assists.

The Auburn defense will have to figure out how to limit the impact of Sasser if he is able to give them his usual output while playing through the injury.

Houston and Auburn will take the court at 6:10 p.m. CT and you can check out all the action on TBS.

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College Football Roundtable: Top 12 most anticipated games of 2023

College Wire’s 12 most anticipated matchups of the 2023 season.

While we await the start of spring football, the College Wire network is looking forward to the 2023 season.

One of the biggest storylines to follow will revolve around the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs. Can they win a third-straight title? That hasn’t occurred since 1934-36.

First-year head coaches will be looking to make an impact as well with Luke Fickell in Wisconsin, Matt Rhule in Nebraska, and Deion Sanders in Colorado among others. We even get to see Rhule take on Sanders this season.

Speaking of matchups in the 2023 campaign, three wire editors joined me in a roundtable to discuss our most anticipated games in the upcoming season. Do you agree with these 12 games broken down by Adam Dubbin (Gators Wire), AJ Spurr (Roll Tide Wire), and Tyler Nettuno (LSU Wire)?

Midweek Madness: Auburn Wire staff picks Auburn-Georgia, remaining SEC midweek games

How does the staff at Auburn Wire predict the first SEC midweek slate of games to pan out?

The first half of the College Basketball season is behind us, and it is now time for SEC teams to begin battling conference opponents.

Ten of the 14 teams within the SEC opened their respective conference slates last Wednesday, with Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Missouri, and Tennessee earning wins. Now that the calendar turns to January, those programs not competing in this season’s SEC/Big 12 challenge (Georgia, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt), will begin their conference schedules starting Tuesday evening.

With the first full midweek slate of SEC games upon us, Auburn Wire will now introduce a new series called “Midweek Madness”, where writers Taylor Jones, J.D. McCarthy, and River Wells will predict every midweek game on the SEC schedule, along with data analysis from ESPN’s Basketball Power Index matchup predictor.

Here’s a look at how the guys at Auburn Wire see this midweek schedule shaking out for Auburn, and the remaining SEC teams.

Auburn has 96% chance to beat Georgia State on Wednesday

Auburn hopes to return to the win column on Wednesday, and the ESPN Matchup Predictor suggests that it will happen.

The No. 18 Auburn Tigers look to bounce back this Wednesday night by hosting Georgia State for a 7 p.m. CT tip at Neville Arena.

Auburn suffered its first loss of the season last Saturday to Memphis at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, as part of the Holiday Hoopsgiving event. The Tigers could not connect on most shots, only succeeding on 38% of their attempts from the field. Auburn could not take advantage of Memphis’ turnovers, only scoring 11 points off of 19 turnovers.

Auburn’s [autotag]Zep Jasper[/autotag] said the intensity of practice leading up to Wednesday’s game has been on another level following the loss to Memphis, a game that didn’t have pop.

“I just felt like the intensity has been high level,” Jasper said Tuesday. “I just feel like we have been running up and down, communicating, going as hard as possible. It is different from last week.”

Auburn wants to regain momentum by earning a win over Georgia State on Wednesday, and ESPN’s Basketball Power Index suggests it will do just that. According to ESPN’s matchup predictor, Auburn has a 96% chance to beat the Panthers.

Georgia State enters the contest 5-4 with wins over Mercer, Texas A&M Commerce and UNC Asheville. The Panthers are ranked No. 277 in the latest ESPN BPI rankings, which leads only Arkansas State among Sun Belt Conference teams.

Auburn has three nonconference games remaining before SEC play opens. The Tigers are favored to win all three games according to the BPI.

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