5 Games That Varez Ward Might Have Fixed at Auburn
Former Auburn basketball player Varez Ward has been indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of point-shaving during his time on the Plains. WSFA in Mobile reported that the indictment was released last Thursday.
Ward and teammate Chris Denson were suspended by Auburn on February 25, 2012, prior to a home game against Arkansas due to point-shaving allegations. Denson was questioned and later cleared to return to the team, but Ward hasn't returned to the school.
Take a look at the indictment for yourself.
We took some time to go back through the 2011-12 season to find games that raised red flags. Here are five to think about.
- 1
February 7, 2012 - Alabama 68, Auburn 50
Ward played 17 minutes in the home game, finishing with three points on 1-5 shooting from the field and 1-2 on free throw attempts. More importantly, he turned the ball over six times.
- 4
January 14, 2012 - Auburn 69, Ole Miss 68 (2OT)
Auburn picked up the home win in double overtime, but Ward didn't help the cause at all late in the game. The Tigers held a 55-51 lead with just over a minute remaining, but Ward proceeded to turn the ball over, miss a free throw, and miss the final jumper in regulation.
Of his eight points and five assists, only one of each came after the 9:25 mark in the 2nd half. That's not a lot of production over the next 19:35 of game time.
- 2
January 4, 2012 - Florida State 85, Auburn 56
The Tigers were run out of the gym in the first half to the tune of 50-16, which would go beyond one bad performance. But Ward did his part, missing all three of his free throws and 7 of 8 FGs.
- 5
January 25, 2012 - Arkansas 56, Auburn 53
This game was more about what Ward didn't do than what he did. He had been battling injuries in that 2011-12 season but left after playing just one minute when he took a knee to the quadriceps. The injury might have been legit, but it left the Tigers to play a 3rd-string point guard due to a depleted bench.
- 3
January 5, 2012 - Vanderbilt 65, Auburn 35
Ward was actually Auburn's second-leading scorer with six points in the SEC opener, but made only one of his four free throws. He seemed to just stay out of the way in this one, playing 30 minutes but only recording one rebound and two assists to go along with 2 turnovers and one foul.
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