[hoopsmalone]

for some reason, auburn decided to spend 92 mil for a new arena, since, you know, they're such a basketball power.


http://auburn.rivals.com/default.asp?FP=2096

[bigsmooth]

they are more of a power than samford hey if you want to get top recruits you have to have better facilities. congrats to auburn and coach lebo.

[hoopsmalone]

the funniest thing is that if you talk to any of the alumni, they really don't want this.(My brother included). Everybody wants that money to go to football. I'm not sure who lebo fooled, but he did a great job.

[bigsmooth]

you would think auburn would want to try to get closer to the tide when it comes to hoops because they are way behind IMO. im sure war eagle nation is also a bit uneasy with the saban influence in tuscaloosa.

[HenryGale]

If you have ever been inside of Auburn's BB arena, you can certainly understand the need for a new arena. It is right beside a beautiful baseball and football stadium. The ugly step child reference comes to mind.

[hoopsmalone]

you would think auburn would want to try to get closer to the tide when it comes to hoops because they are way behind IMO. im sure war eagle nation is also a bit uneasy with the saban influence in tuscaloosa.

BE is pretty bad, I just don't think it needs to be replaced with an arena suited for a top tier program. For goodness sake, we're not talking about Duke,Kentucky or Kansas here.I lived in bama for about five years, and I can tell you that those people couldnt care less about basketball- auburn or alabama. Most fans, of either school, would probably prefer to see that money go straight into stadium /training room upgrades.
While the Saban hiring certainly fuels the flames of the rivalry, I don't think Auburn fans are extremely worried. Remember, Tubberville has fared pretty well against Saban. I'm not certain, but I believe he might even have a winning record against satan---saban, and that's when Saban had an entire state to himself. Now he's splitting in-state recruits with Tubb.

[bigsmooth]

uhhh hoops. have you been to tuscaloosa for a game? pretty darn good atmosphere when i was there for a few games. and it was sold out. they care about basketball. football will always be king, but to say bama fans are not into basketball is incorrect IMO..

[hoopsmalone]

First of all, just out of curiosity, which game did you see? Second, let me rephrase and say that both campuses have a great following in many sports, (Even gymnastics at UA)I was really speaking for the typical alabama sports fan you'd run into. I'm not dissing either school. I like both campuses and I have friends at both colleges. I'm not even saying UA doesn't have a loyal fan base, but they're a far cry from the type of hoops fans you get at an ACC campus.
Basketball just isn't talked about around there. It's not a hot topic, and it will ALWAYS be secondary to football. I lived in b'ham when bama made both of those deep tourney runs, and the talk radio was still focused on high school football recruits and spring practice. In the state's largest city, I could only find a handful of courts to play on.
Bottom line- I'm glad both schools are trying to enhance their basketball facilties, I'm just surprised Auburn is spending as much as a traditional power.

[Cider Jim]

auburn decided to spend 92 mil for a new arena, since, you know, they're such a basketball power.

2 words--Charles Barkley

[hoopsmalone]

auburn decided to spend 92 mil for a new arena, since, you know, they're such a basketball power.

2 words--Charles Barkley

I hope you're suggesting that he's one of the main donors,and you're not citing one player as evidence of a basketball power