1988 – 89 Auburn Tigers men 's basketball team represented Auburn University in the 1988 – 89 college basketball season . The team 's head coach was Sonny Smith , who was in his eleventh and final season at Auburn . The team played their home games at Joel H. Eaves Memorial Coliseum in Auburn , Alabama . They finished the season 9 – 19 , 2 – 16 in SEC play . They lost to Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC Tournament . The Tigers ' season was beset with many problems . Junior forward John Caylor , expected to be a key contributor this season , was lost after five games due to a life-threatening blood clot in his shoulder . Junior guard Derrick Dennison , another key contributor from last season , quit the team over a feud with Coach Smith about a reduced role , but later returned . Additionally , forward Kelvin Ardister , a junior-college transfer , and freshman guard Johnny Benjamin were both dismissed from the team after seven games for violating team rules . Prior to his dismissal , Benjamin had been arrested and imprisoned on two misdemeanor charges , criminal trespassing and third-degree theft of property , when he entered a student 's off-campus apartment and took an undisclosed amount of money .
SEC Tournament
1989 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
1988–89 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team