Frank never tanked

AUBURN -- Give Frank Tolbert credit.

Teammates transferred, but "Floor-Burn Frank" kept diving on the floor.

Teammates stumbled academically, but Floor-Burn Frank kept hitting the floor.

Teammates got injured, and so did Tolbert, but Floor-Burn Frank?

Tonight, the Auburn senior guard -- playing his power-forward role for the shorthanded Tigers -- takes the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum floor for the final time. This as Auburn (14-13, 4-10 SEC) plays host to Georgia (12-15, 3-11).

Forgive him if he has a moment or two tonight to think about what could have been.

“It was tough as far as getting in the win column, but I wouldn't change it for anything," he said. "I had a lot of great experiences here. The coaches were great, and I met a lot of great guys with my teammates.

"Even though it was tough out on the court, it is getting better."

Tolbert arrived in the fall of 2004. He might have been a part of a competitive team that season, but Marco Killingsworth, Lewis Monroe and DeWayne Curtis had transferred after a coaching change, and Brandon Robinson left the program before his senior year.

That left Tolbert with a 6-foot-6-and-under team that had to scrap for most of its wins during Tolbert's freshman season.

After Tolbert's first season, leading scorer Toney Douglas transferred. Tolbert remained with a freshman-heavy team that took its lumps during his sophomore year.

Then came Tolbert's junior season. Freshmen like Korvotney Barber, Quantez Robertson and Josh Dollard became sophomores, and Auburn jelled for a late surge.

The Tigers went into their final regular-season game at Ole Miss in a four-way tie for the SEC West Division lead. They lost, but things looked up for a team that won 17 games and was to return its top eight players.

Even after guard Kelvin Lewis transferred and signee Tyrell Lynch failed to qualify, Auburn had a core that entered preseason practice with expectations of 20 wins and an NCAA Tournament berth.

Dollard took a medical redshirt for undisclosed reasons. Archie Miaway slipped up academically. Barber broke a hand in December and was lost for the season. Freshman center Boubacar Sylla sustained a season-ending injury in the first home game.

Tolbert found himself playing for a senior-year team that resembled his freshman-year team ... undermanned and undersized. He has had to play like a power forward on defense, guarding the likes of Mississippi State big man Charles Rhodes.

“I think I want to be the four man whenever I go to the pros," he joked this week. "No, I would like to play the one or the two and get back to my natural position."

Even playing out of position, Tolbert has gotten it done. He enters tonight's game just shy of 1,200 career points and the respect of his coach.

Auburn coach Jeff Lebo saw Tolbert shed 40 points after the player's initial weigh-in at Auburn. He saw Tolbert hustle fanatically, ultimately learning how to do it while playing under control.
More than anything, Tolbert stayed.

"I have a lot of respect for Frank because he chose to stay here," Lebo said. "He didn't have to. A lot of kids were leaving. This is where he wanted to be and where he wanted to play. He has had a very good career for us. I am sad to see him go."