Jan 9, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA: LSU Tigers guard Charles Carmouche (0) takes a shot over Auburn Tigers center Asauhn Dixon-Tatum (0) during the first half at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

The LSU Tigers (9-3, 1-3 away) began conference play against the Auburn Tigers (7-7, 6-3 home). Auburn is being lead by their senior guard Frankie Sullivan; he is leading the team in points per game and assists this season.

LSU’s bench man Shavon Coleman is leading the team in points 14.1 as well as rebounds 8.6. Johnny O’Bryant III is right behind him with 7.6 rebounds per game.

LSU started off slow in the first half but found themselves trailing 7-0 early in the game due to some quick buckets by Auburn’s Allen Payne. Anthony Hickey helped get the Tigers going with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Andre Stringer added two 3 pointers and a total of 8 points for the Tigers in the first half. Del Piero chipped in with 4 points 3 rebounds and 2 big blocks.

LSU settled down and got some stops defensively. Auburn cooled off and LSU played some great defense after the slow start. Although Auburn had control most of the first half the Tigers went into halftime leading the game 28-27.

Auburn went into the half and head coach Tony Barbee made some good adjustments and Auburn came out swinging. They took control of the 2^nd half from start to finish and never looked back.

LSU could not get anything going consistently and let the 1-point lead diminish and never return. Auburn proved to be the better team tonight and outlasted the LSU Tigers.

Auburn was lead by Allen Payne’s 15 points 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Frankie Sullivan adds 10 points and 5 rebounds to help Auburn hold on and win their first SEC contest of the season.

LSU really looked sloppy the whole game, it did not seem like they were hitting on all cylinders tonight. Most of the guys looked out of sync and missed shots they have normally made this season.

LSU had two scores at 13 points for the game Andre Stringer, and Anthony Hickey, Hickey also added 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

Charles Carmouche pitched in with 12 points 6 rebounds and 7 assists off the bench but his spark alone was not enough to help the Tigers.

Auburn wins this contest 68-63 at home against the LSU Tigers.

This is an exciting team to watch with Anthony Hickey leading the nation in steals all the way to Andrew Del Piero going from tuba player in the band to starter on the basketball team. This team gets up and down the floor quick and looks to score quickly in transition and shot the 3 pointers.

It is going to be exciting to see these guys compete against the conference teams which is set to start for the Tigers against the Auburn Tigers Wed. Jan. 9^th at 8 pm on CST and live on 98.1 the river.

STANDINGS	CONFERENCE			OVERALL
SEC	W-L	GB	PCT	W-L	PCT	STRK
#12 Missouri	0-0	–	.000	11-2	.846	W1
Ole Miss	0-0	–	.000	11-2	.846	W3
#13 Florida	0-0	–	.000	9-2	.818	W1
LSU	0-0	–	.000	9-2	.818	W2
South Carolina	0-0	–	.000	10-3	.769	W5
Texas A&M	0-0	–	.000	10-3	.769	W2
Arkansas	0-0	–	.000	9-4	.692	W5
Kentucky	0-0	–	.000	9-4	.692	W1
Tennessee	0-0	–	.000	8-4	.667	L1
Alabama	0-0	–	.000	8-5	.615	W1
Vanderbilt	0-0	–	.000	6-6	.500	W1
Auburn	0-0	–	.000	6-7	.462	W1
Georgia	0-0	–	.000	6-7	.462	W4
Mississippi State	0-0	–	.000	5-7	.417	W1 Jan 5, 2013; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers mascot Mike the Tiger during the second half of a game against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU defeated Bethune-Cookman 79-63. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 9, 2012; Tampa FL, USA; An NFL logo is seen on the field after a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

LSU has a list of guys set to leave this season and join the NFL ranks. This could easily be the best draft class that has ever come out of LSU. There is a group of talented seniors who are set to leave and another group of underclassmen set to take the next step. All underclassmen have not declared yet but here is a short list of the seniors and underclassmen.

Underclassmen Declared:

RB Spencer Ware

Punter Brad Wing

DB Tharold Simon

LB Kevin Minter

S Eric Reid

Expected to Declare:

DE Barkevious Mingo

DE Sam Montgomery

DT Bennie Logan

Seniors Leaving:

WR Russell Sheppard

PK Drew Alleman

Center PJ Lonergan

OG Josh Dworaczyk

OT Alex Hurst

DT Josh Downs

DE Lavar Edwards

The most LSU players drafted in one NFL draft is 8 but this was also back when the NFL draft was longer than 7 rounds. LSU has had several classes in the last 10 years have 7 players drafted. With the list given above I cannot imagine a scenario that at least 8 of these guys get drafted and more sign undrafted free agent contracts with others teams.

Some mock draft projections baring some of these guys declare which I fully expect them to, have as many as 4 LSU players being taken in the first round. Those players would be Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, Eric Reid, and Kevin Minter.