Dan Issel holds the record for career points by a UK men’s basketball player. In a recent vote by members of the media, Issel ranked fourth among the top SEC men over the last 75 years. Staff file photo
After Auburn lost in Thursday’s first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Coach Jeff Lebo entered the brave new world of post-season play.
The Tigers (14-16) pondered how to answer should a call come from the new College Basketball Invitational. The CBI will compete with the NCAA-sponsored National Invitation Tournament for leftovers after the NCAA Tournament makes its picks.
Lebo noted a possible quandary: Play on the road at, say, South Alabama in the NIT? Or play a home game in the CBI? And then there’s SEC icon C.M. Newton, who heads the NIT.
When asked if Auburn would agree to play in the CBI, Lebo said, “Would we? Yes, we’d go. Why wouldn’t we?”
The CBI format is 16 teams with an interesting twist: the finals are a best two of three.
“Here’s my question,” Lebo said. “Say the teams are Washington and St. John’s in the finals. Are you going to cross the country (twice) in the finals?”
The Gainesville Sun also asked its panel to rate the SEC arenas as facilities. Here’s the results:

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