Ole Miss vs. Auburn Men's Basketball
Auburn forward Cinmeon Bowers (5) reacts to a foul called against him during the Ole Miss game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/ jbennett@al.com)
(JULIE BENNETT)
Overworked and overweight last season, Cinmeon Bowers is doing his best to ensure his body can sustain one more year as Auburn's best option in the paint.
As a result of multiple injuries and an overall lack of team height, the 6-foot-7 power forward was forced to play out of position for the Tigers as a junior. He was often tasked with guarding centers who surpassed him by several inches, and his 278-pound frame simply could not keep up.
"I was tired," Bowers said Saturday during the League of Stars Pro-Am in Birmingham. "I played like 30, 35 minutes a game and didn't have a backup. I had Devin Wadell, but I got tired. I've never been that heavy."
To be exact, Bowers averaged 30.1 minutes per game last season and posted 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest. He's become determined to shed weight this offseason and has already dropped 20 pounds.
He says he has about 10 more to go.
"I feel lighter on my feet and my body feels good, so I have to keep working," Bowers. "Just eating a lot of grilled food, a lot of vegetables and staying away from soda and sweets, staying focused and mentally strong.
"I can go longer. My legs won't be as tired like last season. I can play better defense and finish around the bucket better."
During Monday's SEC coaches teleconference, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl praised Bowers' discipline and commitment when it comes to revamping his body.
"He's changed the way he eats, he's changed the way he sleeps, he's changed the way he trained and he's just making progress and maturing," Pearl said. "I think as a result he'll be quicker. He got tired at the end of last season because he had to carry us so much. I still think he's going to be a powerful player, and he's still an inside-out player."
According to Pearl, Bowers' biggest weaknesses on the court last season were his defense, his inability to finish plays and his struggles at the free throw line, where he converted just 47.8 percent of his attempts.
"That doesn't mean that there are not a lot of things that he does do that I like," Pearl said. "In other words, when he's able to get a rebound and push it, he's got other guys off the ball around him that makes plays and as long as he does so without turning it over and finishing at a higher percentage, I think he'll still be doing some of that, much to the chagrin of my fan base and obviously some writers."
Bowers' decline in productivity came to the forefront at the SEC Tournament in Nashville.
He was benched twice in the second half of the opening round game against Mississippi State and finished 0-for-6 against the Bulldogs. He improved against Texas A&M by shooting 4-for-6, but finished 3-for-10 against LSU before being suspended for the semifinal against Kentucky.
Following a two-month investigation, Bowers has since cleared of any potential rules violation and is good to go for the fall. He is eager to cap his college career "with a bang" by making the NCAA Tournament.
"I've been getting after it every day," he said. "It's going to be a good year."