Auburn senior forward Lucas Hargrove feels a sense of urgency.
The Richland Northeast High graduate and his Auburn teammates have struggled with inconsistency en route to starting the season 9-6. That concerns Hargrove with Auburn's SEC opener on tap Saturday against USC."When you're a senior, you really, really want to win," said the 6-foot-6 Hargrove, who averaged 13.2 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds through Auburn's first 12 games. "I think we can be very good if everybody plays well at the same time. But if everybody's on a different page as in some of the previous games, we're going to struggle."
Hargrove's concern about the Tigers' performance heightened after a 107-89 loss at home to Sam Houston State on Dec. 20.
"It wasn't that we lost, it was the way we lost that was most disappointing," Hargrove said. "They just dominated us in a lot of facets of the game. We can't have anymore outings like that. We have to come ready to play from the jump. Anytime we don't come ready to play, we know what can happen to us now."
Hargrove was named a team captain this season after starting 14 games last year and averaging 8.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Statistically, he has raised his level of play, but Hargrove said he still has work to do.
"I'm not satisfied at all with the way I have played," he said. "My level of expectation is way higher than how I'm doing right now. I feel like I need to get back to some of the basics and just let the game come to me."
Hargrove said he also needs to be a better leader.
"Sometimes, the team doesn't come out aggressive and ready to play, and I take some of the blame for that," he said. "I think it has something to do with leadership, too. I'm a captain, and I accept all the responsibility. It's something you just can't make excuses about. You just have to get better."
Hargrove, who will graduate in May with a degree in public administration, said he is still adjusting to his new leadership role.
"At times, I feel like I try to overcompensate for some of the younger players," Hargrove said. "I just need to stop and focus on how I can help the team. I just need to lead by example. When I do that, it seems like good things happen for us."
Hargrove says he has plenty of respect for South Carolina.
"Every game and every practice we have to stay focused because there are no pansies in the SEC," Hargrove said. "There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I think we're going to be all right. Coach (Jeff) Lebo is a great coach. and he's going to have us prepared for SEC play."
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