Two weeks into preseason practice, the Auburn basketball team has been concentrating on defense and has been battling injuries.

“We have been having some great physical days, but we have also had some injuries,” head coach Jeff Lebo said. “Rasheem (Barrett) has a really bad groin injury and hasn’t been in there and on Thursday Vot (Barber) got hurt and Frankie (Sullivan) had a high ankle sprain.”

With five newcomers joining the veterans, Lebo has been taking baby steps with the basics.

“It’s been slow,” Lebo said. “When we put all of the veterans together, things seem to go better. When you sprinkle in the new group with the old group, things don’t go as smoothly.  We have been working on the simplistic principles of defense.”

Auburn is just a week away from playing its first exhibition game against Morehouse College on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.  Admission is free.

“It will be good for the guys to play against different jerseys,” Lebo said.  “With a game situation, you don’t know what you get until you turn the lights on and see how some of the guys will react.”

The Tigers play their season opener at home against Missouri State at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14, the night before the Auburn-Georgia football game.