Auburn to begin 2019-20 season in top 25

Auburn to begin 2019-20 season in top 25Auburn to begin 2019-20 season in top 25
Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Coming off the program's first-ever Final Four appearance, the Auburn basketball team is set to begin the 2019-20 season ranked No. 24 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll.

It is the sixth time the Tigers have been ranked in the annual preseason poll in program history and just the second time in back-to-back seasons. Auburn opened the 2018-19 campaign at No. 11.

The Tigers also accomplished consecutive preseason rankings before the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons at No. 10 and No. 12, respectively. Auburn was also ranked fourth in the 1999-2000 poll and 20th in the initial rankings prior to the 1975-76 campaign.

Picked to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference, the Tigers are one of four teams from the league ranked in the first poll of the season, joining No. 2 Kentucky, No. 6 Florida and No. 22 LSU.

Auburn is also scheduled to take on Alabama, Colgate, Davidson, Georgia, Mississippi State, NC State and Tennessee, who all received votes.

The Tigers begin the season Nov. 5 vs. Georgia Southern. Tip time is slated for 8 p.m. CT inside Auburn Arena. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network and the Auburn Sports Network.