AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) – The Auburn men’s basketball team opens the 2018-19 season ranked No. 11 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll. It is the highest the Tigers have been ranked to open a season since 1999.
Auburn is ranked in the preseason AP Poll for the fifth time in program history. The Tigers opened the 1999-2000 season at No. 4. Before that, Auburn began the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons at No. 10 and No. 12, respectively. The Tigers were first ranked in the annual preseason poll prior to the 1975-76 campaign when they were No. 20.
Picked to finish third in the Southeastern Conference, Auburn is one of five teams from the league ranked in the first poll of the season, joining No. 2 Kentucky, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 18 Mississippi State and No. 23 LSU.
The SEC’s five teams in the poll was second among other conferences, trailing only the seven representatives from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Along with the four ranked SEC opponents, Auburn is scheduled to face No. 25 Washington in the second game of the season Nov. 9 inside Auburn Arena.
The Tigers could also face two other highly-ranked teams in No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 4 Duke when they take part in the prestigious Maui Invitational for the first time in program history, Nov. 19-21.
Auburn’s loaded scheduled also includes Alabama, Florida, Missouri, NC State and Xavier who all received votes. Potential opponents Arizona and San Diego State also received votes in the first poll of the season.
The Tigers finished the 2017-18 season ranked No. 19 after winning their third conference title in program history and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Auburn begins its season Nov. 6 against South Alabama. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT at Auburn Arena on SEC Network and Auburn Sports Network.
