📡 Pearl: Auburn to play loaded non-conference hoops schedule - 247Sports

[SEC Sports]

Pearl: Auburn to play loaded non-conference hoops schedule

Auburn has announced its 2021-22 non-conference basketball schedule.

247sports.com

AUBURN, Alabama–Bruce Pearl said his Auburn basketball team will be challenged often prior to the start of Southeastern Conference play as on Wednesday the coach announced his team’s full pre-conference 2021-22 schedule.

“This is the most ambitious non-conference schedule in the history of Auburn men’s basketball and in my career,” Pearl declared. “There are nine high-major conference schools on the schedule outside of league play.

“This is an opportunity for our fans to travel,” Pearl said. “We’ll be playing in Tampa at Amalie Arena where the SEC Tournament is going to be and Saint Louis, which is a great Midwestern city. We’re looking forward to playing in Atlanta again where we have so many fans and alumni. These are great places and opportunities for our fans to travel.

“Playing two true road games and four neutral-site games are ways to improve your standing with the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee,” the coach added.

The Tigers will open the season at home on Nov. 9th vs. Morehead State and then play Nov. 12 at home vs. ULM. The first road game is a week later at South Florida before going to The Bahamas to open the Nov. 24-26 Battle 4 Atlantis vs. the UConn Huskies. Other teams in that event include Loyola-Chicago, Michigan State, Arizona State, Baylor, Syracuse and VCU. Tipoff for the UConn game is 1:30 p.m. Central Time with television coverage on ESPN.

On Dec. 1st the Tigers will take on UCF at Auburn Arena with Yale visiting three days later. On the 11th the Tigers will play the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Atlanta as part of the Holiday Hoopsgiving event, which features four games. The Tigers will play at home on Dec. 14th vs. North Alabama. The pre-Christmas schedule includes a trip to play St. Louis University on Dec. 18th and a home game vs. Murray State on the 22nd.

The final non-conference regular season game is Jan. 29th at the Tigers play host to Oklahoma in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.