1988–89 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team

The 1988–89 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team represented Auburn University in the 1988–89 college basketball season. The team's head coach was Sonny Smith, who was in his eleventh and final season at Auburn. The team played their home games at Joel H. Eaves Memorial Coliseum in Auburn, Alabama. They finished the season 9–19, 2–16 in SEC play. They lost to Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC Tournament.[2]

1988–89 Auburn Tigers men's basketball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1988–89 record9–19 (2–16 SEC)
Head coach
Home arenaJoel H. Eaves Memorial Coliseum
1988-89 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Florida135 .722  2113  .618
No. 20 Alabama126 .667  238  .742
Vanderbilt126 .667  1914  .576
LSU117 .611  2012  .625
Tennessee117 .611  1911  .633
Kentucky810 .444  1319  .406
Ole Miss810 .444  1515  .500
Mississippi State711 .389  1315  .464
Georgia612 .333  1516  .484
Auburn216 .111  919  .321
1989 SEC Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

The Tigers' season was beset with many problems. Junior forward John Caylor, expected to be a key contributor this season, was lost after five games due to a life-threatening blood clot in his shoulder.[3]

Junior guard Derrick Dennison, another key contributor from last season, quit the team over a feud with Coach Smith about a reduced role, but later returned. Additionally, forward Kelvin Ardister, a junior-college transfer, and freshman guard Johnny Benjamin were both dismissed from the team after seven games for violating team rules.[4] Prior to his dismissal, Benjamin had been arrested and imprisoned on two misdemeanor charges, criminal trespassing and third-degree theft of property, when he entered a student's off-campus apartment and took an undisclosed amount of money.[5]

After the season, coach Sonny Smith resigned and took the head coaching position at VCU.[6]

Roster

1988–89 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
F 22 John Caylor 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
JrMorristown West High School Talbott, Tennessee
C 25 Matt Geiger 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
SoCountryside High School Clearwater, FL
G 30 Keenan Carpenter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Sr Rutherfordton, Tennessee
G 24 Derrick Dennison 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
JrDouglass High School Atlanta, Georgia
G 3 Kirt Hankton 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
JrDe LaSalle High School New Orleans, Louisiana
G 12 Johnny Benjamin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
FrCentral Florida Academy Orlando, Florida
G 14 Reggie Gallon 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
FrMiami Edison High School Miami, Florida
F 15 Kelvin Ardister 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
JrSouthwest DeKalb High School Decatur, Georgia
G 20 Dustin Hester 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
SoCrestview High School Crestview, Alabama
G 21 Ronnie Battle 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
SoChavala High School Pittsview, Alabama
F 34 Robert McKie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
SoMiami Carol City High School Miami, Florida
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

References

  1. sports-reference.com 1988-89 Southeastern Conference Season Summary
  2. "1988-89 Auburn Tigers Schedule and Results". Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  3. Staff, Brian Schmitz of the Sentinel. "AFTER RECENT TRAGEDY, CAYLOR PONDERS FUTURE". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  4. "Auburn's second leading scorer, Derrick Dennison, quit the basketball..." UPI.
  5. Staff, Barry Cooper and Mike Huguenin of The Sentinel. "TROUBLED BENJAMIN JAILED IN AUBURN". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  6. Sentinel, Orlando. "SONNY TO VCU". OrlandoSentinel.com.
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