Explainer: Inside the risky lineup gamble by Auburn coach Jordan Szabo in the Elite Eight — and how it cashed
Szabo made the call to scratch his No. 4 player before singles play of Auburn's Elite Eight match against LSU. Here's what the risky lineup shift did, why he made the move, and how it paid off.
It took just about every bit Auburn had on all six courts Friday to survive rival LSU on Friday in the Elite Eight.
It took a little bit from under the coach’s hat, too.
In a surprise move as Auburn and LSU moved to singles on Friday, Auburn head coach Jordan Szabo scratched usual starter and Court 4 regular Merna Refaat, in order to create favorable matchups for Auburn on Courts 4, 5 and 6.
The decision put freshman Eva Ionescu into the match off the bench — and allowed her to clinch the match with her victory on Court 6.
It was strategic decision and one that worked — but it was also a risky one, and there’s a lot more that goes into it than just a simple substitution, which it may seem to be on the surface.
Not only is the team’s No. 4 player pulled from the lineup, but the previous No. 5 now plays up a position against the opponent’s No. 4, and the same goes on Courts 5 and 6.
“I’ve got one thing on my computer and it says, ‘Trust your players,’ and, ‘Have faith in your players.’ They’re amazing players for a reason,” Szabo said in his post-match interview with ESPN+. “We wouldn’t have recruited them here. Just stepping up in the big moments when it matters — We’ve got a lot of options, for sure.”
Auburn needed three wins in singles after taking the doubles point, and got them.
The decision to shake up the lineup starts with Auburn’s history this season with LSU: