Earnest Ross’ transfer sentences Auburn to more irrelevancy

It's no surprise two Auburn players are leaving the program since the Tigers needed to trim their roster to alleviate a scholarship crunch. What is a shock, however, is that guard Earnest Ross is one of the departures. Ross, Auburn's leading scorer and rebounder last season, will leave the program along with seldom-used power forward Ty Armstrong, Auburn announced Wednesday. The 6-foot-5 junior blossomed into one of the few bright spots for the Tigers last season, starting 27 of 31 games and averaging 13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds. "I have mutually agreed with Ty Armstrong and Earnest Ross for them to go in a different direction both academically and athletically," coach Tony Barbee said in a statement released by the school. "We wish them the best in their future." The departure of Ross short-circuits whatever momentum Auburn built at the end of last season when it rallied from an 0-6 SEC start to win four of its final 10 conference games. Granted the la...