AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn basketball team is set to face another difficult non-conference schedule for the 2018-19 season, announced fifth-year head coach Bruce Pearl Monday.
Nine potential opponents on the Tigers' non-league slate made the postseason last year, including seven in the NCAA Tournament.
"This schedule is as tough as anybody's in the country," Pearl said. "The Maui Invitational has a historic field. South Alabama and Washington will be as tough of home openers as anyone has in the country. The schedule includes historic programs such as Dayton, Murray State and NC State, as well as NCAA Tournament teams from recent seasons in UNC Asheville and Saint Peter's. We are also traveling up to Birmingham to play UAB at the BJCC.
"It's all we want. Our job is to survive it and take advantage of it."
Following an exhibition against Lincoln Memorial, Auburn plays its season opener Nov. 6 against in-state foe South Alabama. The Tigers and Jaguars will meet for the first time since 2006.
Auburn then welcomes a new opponent to The Plains in Washington Nov. 9. The Huskies won 21 games and return their top seven scorers from a season ago.
The Tigers play host to Division II Mississippi College Nov. 14 before embarking on a cross-country trip for the Maui Invitational for the first time in program history, Nov. 19-21.
Auburn opens America's premier early season basketball tournament Nov. 19 vs. Xavier on ESPN2 at 1:30 p.m. CT (9:30 a.m. HT).
Auburn and Xavier are joined in the top half of the bracket by Duke and San Diego State. The bottom half features matchups between Arizona and Iowa State, as well as Gonzaga and Illinois.
What has been dubbed as the strongest field in tournament history, the eight teams in the 2018 Maui Invitational have combined for six national titles, 27 Final Four appearances, 197 conference regular season and tournament championships, 309 All-Americans and 382 NBA Draft selections.
The Tigers return to the mainland for three consecutive home games, beginning with Saint Peter's Nov. 28. The matchup will be the first in series history.
Auburn then faces a stiff test in UNC Asheville at Auburn Arena Dec. 4. The Bulldogs boast three consecutive 20-win seasons and postseason appearances each of the last three campaigns.
In the return of a home-and-home, the Tigers play host to Dayton Dec. 8. In last season's contest, Anfernee McLemore's double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Chuma Okeke's 15 points and eight rebounds highlighted five in double figures as Auburn emerged victorious, 73-60, at Dayton.
The Tigers make the short trip to the northern part of the state when they face UAB at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Dec. 15. Auburn has won the last five duels in the series, including two in Birmingham, as the teams will meet for the fourth-straight campaign.
In the first of a home-and-home series, the Tigers will travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face NC State Dec. 19. Auburn has met with NC State eight times on the hardwood, but will square off for the second time in 43 years this season. The Wolfpack made the NCAA Tournament last season behind a 21-12 record.
Auburn closes out its non-conference schedule with a pair of home games around the holidays. The Tigers host Murray State Dec. 22 before taking on North Florida at Auburn Arena Dec. 29.
In last season's duel in Murray, Ky., Auburn took the result, 81-77. Jared Harper scored 11 points in the final four minutes to ice the game away. The Tigers were the first team from the Southeastern Conference to play the Racers on the road since 1993.
Auburn and North Florida have faced each other twice with the Tigers taking both victories by double digits.
All of Auburn's games will be carried on the Auburn Sports Network. Television information and start times will be announced at a later date.
