Tolbert brings energy to Tigers

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Posted 5:32PM on Friday, February 2, 2007

AUBURN, Ala. - It was a Frank Tolbert kind of play. The Auburn guard raced from the top of the key after a teammate's missed free throw, chased down the ball and flipped it off a South Carolina player out of bounds to save possession. Then he hit his head on a bleacher and still managed to drill two key free throws a few seconds later, completing a pivotal sequence in the final minute of the Tigers' 80-75 road win over the Gamecocks Wednesday night. ``That's just Frank,'' Tigers coach Jeff Lebo said. The high-energy Tolbert doesn't lead Auburn (14-9, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) in any category except perhaps number of dives after loose balls entering Saturday's game with Mississippi. He might just typify Auburn, a team that relies heavily on hustle and quickness. ``We're kind of a hustle team,'' Tolbert said. ``We get after it every game.'' Especially Tolbert, who outran four South Carolina players to the ball after Quantez Robertson missed the free throw. He made the play despite Auburn having set up for defense instead of the rebound with a two-point lead. ``That was just hustle and a great play by Frank,'' Lebo said. ``We had everybody off the line there, and he was just kind of standing in the back. What was amazing about it was he makes the save, throws it off the guy and he cracks his head on the back of the metal bleacher. ``He nailed it good, then had enough toughness to step up and make some key free throws.'' Maybe that's just Frank. He is averaging 11.5 points fifth on the team and 5.0 rebounds and hitting 37 percent from 3-point range. But Tolbert's biggest contribution to the Tigers might be his energetic play. ``He goes after loose balls. He's the Dennis Rodman of the team,'' forward Korvotney Barber said. ``We need Frank. If we didn't have Frank, then we'd be in trouble.'' The problem for Lebo is not getting Tolbert to play hard, but to slow down. Tolbert's fast-paced style sometimes leads to careless turnovers and fouls; he has fouled out five times this season. But the one-time 240-pound freshman is now a svelte 205-pounder with a bounty of energy. ``I feel like I can just go for days,'' he said. Maybe that's because he conserves his energy off the court, where he doesn't employ such a fast tempo. ``It's just basketball,'' Tolbert said. ``Most of the time I'm laying around asleep or watching TV or playing the PlayStation with my teammates. Any other day outside of basketball, I'm just real laid-back.'' Tolbert doesn't set himself apart with his high tempo alone. He also has a small extra finger protruding from the side of both hands, a birth defect called polydactyly. It doesn't give him any edge gripping the ball. ``People come up and ask me, 'Can I move it? Does it affect me?' I always just tell them, no,'' said Tolbert, whose father and grandmother also have extra digits. ``It's just there.'' He's not sensitive about the subject, laughing off the occasional heckling from opposing fans. He particularly liked one visiting fan's sign: ``Hey, Frank. High Six.'' ``It just makes me laugh,'' Tolbert said. ``I always joke around about my fingers anyway.'' The team's recent success is no joking matter for a player who had won only eight league games his first two seasons. Tolbert, a junior, is the only player remaining from Lebo's first team. Auburn has already matched its highest overall and league win total of his first two seasons, and the Tigers are harboring hopes of a postseason bid. ``It's real fun,'' Tolbert said. ``I've been through a lot with the Auburn program. I've been here in the bad days, and these days now are looking pretty good.''