AUBURN, Ala. – College basketball is back.
No. 15 Auburn will tip off its 2022-23 season Monday night at home against George Mason. Many will recognize the name from George Mason's magical Final Four run 16 years ago, but this is a team that had road wins at Maryland at Georgia just last year. The Patriots went into Kansas and hung with the Jayhawks for 40 minutes.
Next Game:
George Mason
Nov. 7, 2022
7 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"They are an experienced team," Auburn center Dylan Cardwell said. "They're not going to come in here and be scared or intimidated about the Jungle. They've been through it before. I just feel like we have to really be on our p's and q's for that matchup."
"They're a talented team. They're a really veteran team," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "When you think about our team, we've got a few veterans. But we also have some really young players. When Yohan Traore is out there, he's going up against a guy who is four or five years older than he is. Same thing would be true in a couple of other positions."
Traore, a true freshman, started last Friday in the exhibition win over UAH and scored nine points. It was his first taste of college basketball. Fellow freshman Tre Donaldson posted 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Both players are expected play significant roles this season for an Auburn team that can go up to 13 deep when healthy. Ten players scored at least three points in the exhibition.
"My starters won't love hearing this, but there hasn't been great separation between my starters and the players coming off the bench," Pearl said. "But the good thing is we don't drop off. We'll see who starts and who finishes, but it might not be the same every night.
"We've got to go to our strength, and I think that's our strength is our depth."
Since taking over as head coach at Auburn, Pearl is 8-0 in season openers. He'll look to make it 9-0 on Monday night. The game is schedule to tip off at 7 p.m. CT from Neville Arena.
Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The game will also be streamed exclusively on SEC Network+ with J.J. Jackson and Joe Ciampi on the call.
PLAYER TO WATCH: CHRIS MOORE
Junior forward Chris Moore made his first unofficial career start against UAH in exhibition play on Nov. 2. He has played in 50 career games for the Tigers and is one of the team's vocal leaders in the locker room. Nicknamed "C-Mo," he had a tremendous summer and preseason after returning to the court from shin surgery (10-12 week recovery) in April.
INSIDE THE SERIES: GEORGE MASON
Auburn is 1-0 all-time against George Mason, winning the lone meeting 79-63 on Dec. 3, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. In that game, the Tigers led 25-3 before George Mason rallied back to take a 52-49 lead at halftime. Mustapha led all scorers with 19 points for Auburn.
George Mason will be one of two Atlantic 10 opponents Auburn will play this season. The Tigers will also host Saint Louis in Neville Arena on Nov. 27. Auburn is 24-9 (.727) all-time against teams from the A-10.
SUCCESS IN SEASON OPENERS
Auburn is 85-31 all-time in season openers including a 41-7 mark in their last 48 opening-night games. The Tigers also are 8-0 in season openers in the Bruce Pearl Era and coming off a 77-54 victory over Morehead State in the first game a year ago.
PRESEASON ALL-SEC BACKCOURT
Preseason All-SEC Second Team selections K.D. Johnson and Wendell Green Jr. are the team's top two returning scorers averaging 12.3 points and 12.0 points per game respectively in 2021-22. Green, who dished out 5.1 assists per game last year, is on the watch list for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award for the second straight year.