Jeff Lebo did his best impersonation of a stumping politician Thursday.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had a simple message Wednesday for Auburn fans optimistic about the Tigers’ chances for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

TUSCALOOSA — DeWayne Reed stood still in between center court and the 3-point line with 40 seconds to play Tuesday, dribbling the ball up and down as Alabama’s defenders watched.

Lucas Hargrove earned his seat at Saturday’s postgame press conference because he gave the effort expected from a starter as a bench player.

Suddenly, the crowd that will pack Alabama’s Coleman Coliseum for tonight’s basketball game against Auburn has more reason to show up than the halftime presentation of the ODK Trophy, which goes to the Iron Bowl winner.

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State’s Ravern Johnson made the backdoor cut to the hoop, took the pass with no one within feet of him and went up for the two-handed dunk.

OXFORD, Miss. — Alabama reserve guard Anthony Brock was not supposed to show up for Saturday’s game against Mississippi. He had been excused to stay home with his family in Arkansas following the death of his grandmother on Thursday morning.

Two weeks ago, when Auburn and Mississippi State first squared off against each other, Jeff Lebo waited and waited. Inevitably, he thought, the sharpshooting Bulldogs would start hitting their shots.