01/15 at 12:38 AM

Vot takes a charge.

Vot posts up a defender 2, 3, 4 inches taller.

Vot runs the floor.

Vot makes a basket.

Vot makes another one.

Vot gets fouled. Hard.

Vot blocks a shot out of the gym.

Vot’s knocked down again.

Vot gets back up.

Vot out-jumps everyone to grab a rebound.

Vot cramps up.

Vot hunches over.

Vot buries his head in a towel, fighting a losing battle against the beads of sweat that just won’t stop.

Vot slumps into the postgame interview room chair.

Vot puts his head down.

Vot’s tired.

Vot scored 14 points, 12 coming in the first half.

Vot grabbed seven rebounds.

Vot played 32 minutes.

Vot’s real tired.

Can you blame him? He plays … and plays … and plays. Hard.

He comes out of the game only when he’s too tired to get back down the court. If he’s lucky.

But even when he sits down, it’s only for what has to feel like seconds.

He returns, knowing it’s all about to start over.

Every night, Vot Barber takes a beating. Over. And. Over.

Why?

Because he’s a big man in the SEC? Yes, partly. But mostly because he’s the only one on Auburn’s roster to play that position and produce.

It’s lonely at the bottom … of the paint.

Like a colleague said to me minutes into Wednesday night’s 68-65 loss to Florida, “It’s a shame Barber’s had to play center for four years.”

It’s even more of a shame that he hasn’t had anyone to give him a break during games so he can be more effective.

At 6-foot-7, Barber’s not a full-time SEC center. But he plays it. Every day. Every game. Every second.

Barber’s talent allows him to do that. His drive and desire keeps him there. But the fatigue keeps Barber — and the Tigers — from being better.

That’s the way it is, though. And Barber’s not complaining.

“Height-wise, we don’t look at (as) an excuse anymore,” the senior said after the game. “We’re going to come out and fight. That was an excuse when we were freshmen.”

It’s his job. It’s what he’s expected to do. And he does it. Well, I might add.

Especially on a night like Wednesday, when the Tigers’ outside shooters were way, way off, forcing Barber to fight that much harder for position and rebounds.

But there’s no denying how much better he could be by playing — and doing — less.

Now that Johnnie Lett — at 6-8 — is cleared academically to play, that will help. But not soon enough.

Lett played seven minutes Wednesday. Barber still played 32. About seven too many.

But let’s be honest, that wasn’t the reason Auburn lost Wednesday. No way.

Auburn’s struggles against Florida came 15 feet away from the basket and beyond in one of the worst shooting performances of the season.

“Our shooting was so bad I don’t know how we were in this game,” Auburn head coach Jeff Lebo said.

But they were. And Barber was a big reason for that.

Imagine if he had some help.

MIKE SZVETITZ is sports editor of the Opelika-Auburn News. He may be reached at 737-2513.