Lucas Hargrove isn't just the top man off Auburn's bench. At times, he is the bench.
The Tigers' sixth man is the only reserve playing significant minutes entering Saturday night's game against Mississippi State and was the only one to make it onto the court in Wednesday's loss to Kentucky.
"I just feel like I've got a big role," Hargrove said. "I feel like I'm the sparkplug of the team. When we don't have any energy, I've got to bring energy. I just feel like when I get in the game, there can't be a stoppage of flow. I've got to step in and go with the flow of the game."
Auburn has three post players who have been out for all or most of the season and only seven healthy players on scholarship.
Hargrove, who plays both forward positions and occasionally center, is averaging 23 minutes, 9.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in SEC games.
Matt Heramb, the seventh scholarship player, is averaging five minutes a game in league play.
The 6-foot-6, 188-pound Hargrove seems perfectly content with his job as the sixth man on what is sometimes essentially a six-man team. It's pretty steady work.
"I'm not one of those guys that's real big on minutes, I'm big on wins," Hargrove said. "If I play one minute and we win, I'm happy. If I play 40 and we win I'm happy. Whatever I can do to contribute."
There's little chance of Hargrove being reduced to only one minute given the condition of Auburn's roster. The only potential relief is if Korvotney Barber is able to return from a broken left, non-shooting hand.
Hargrove missed four games early this season with a broken hand and still plays with a protective wrap. He said he feels like he is 100 percent recovered now, and has rebuilt his stamina since returning.
His shooting has been pretty good, too. Hargrove has made half his 30 3-pointers over the last 10 games. Plus, his nine blocked shots is tied for second on the team.
Hargrove has scored in double digits in eight of his 17 games. He has also been a fairly consistent shooter, making at least half of his shots in all but four games.
"He's playing pretty well for us," Auburn coach Jeff Lebo said. "He gives us energy, he gives us a defensive guy, he gives us a long athletic body out there. He's been a pleasant surprise. "He's done some good things for us. He's a very confident kid."
The Tigers can use all the help they can get. They have dropped four straight games, the last three by a combined 11 points. That includes Wednesday's 66-63 loss to Kentucky.
"A couple of plays here and there, and we win that game," Hargrove said. "We're going to pull things through. We've just got to get older and more mature as a team, and stuff will start coming."
USC's Gamecocks play at Auburn March 1st.
bshields/AP
2/8/2008 6:46:13 PM
