The Auburn University men’s basketball team finished up with a winning season and overall record of 24-13 this season. The coaching staff was pleased with the season while the players gained poise.

“The kids really got some confidence and really played very well coming down the stretch,” said Dave Lebo, senior assistant to the head coach for Auburn.

The Auburn Tigers defeated SEC contenders like Ole Miss, Florida, LSU and Alabama, but unfortunately fell to teams like Tennessee and Kentucky.

“We were a little disappointed that we didn’t get to the NCAA, but we were invited to play in the NIT and took advantage of that,” Lebo said. “But we are really pleased with the progress we made especially during the second half of the year.”

Unfortunately the men’s team will be losing four seniors this year from their roster. Yet, the recruitment has already been completed for next season.

“We’re losing four seniors, three of which were contributors on the floor and the other was Drew Smith who was a walk on,” Lebo said. “They’ve all been valuable contributors to our basketball team in many different ways, and they’ve certainly laid the foundation for the future.”

Four new recruits will be coming in for the 2009-2010 season, and most of them will be seeing playing time right away.

“We’re excited about the quality of young men we have coming to Auburn next year,” said Lebo.

Auburn recruiters are also on the lookout for players even farther in the future. They are hitting the road this summer to look at young guys still playing high school ball.

The team will be holding summer camps for high school teams this summer. There’s also going to be an individual camp, skills camp and father/son camp.

Coach Lebo is already looking forward to next year and like the fans, is anxious to see what it will be bring.

“I think the Auburn basketball team has made great strides, and we really look forward to the future of having exciting basketball at Auburn,” said Lebo.

The younger players are going to have to pull some slack now that they are minus a few of their key players.

“I think what the younger players on our team went through this year will carry on to next year,” said Lebo.