Coach Tony Barbee and the Auburn basketball team are preparing for the opening of the new arena and are ready to start a new era.
The Tigers start practice Friday, the same day the University is hosting the grand opening of the Auburn Arena.
Auburn Arena will open its doors at 6:15 p.m. while the event will start at 7:00 p.m.
"What I've done these past six months is getting to know the area, getting to know the state, getting to know the fans, alumni, as well as the coaches around the state," Barbee said. "It's been a fun period of time, but the entire time I am doing it, I am looking down the road toward what is going to come on Friday, and that is working with my guys on a day-to-day basis and help them get better."
Barbee said he realizes his team is small and will have to rely on a tough and fast-paced game plan that brings pressure to opponents and forces turnovers.
"It is going to be an adjustment for me," Barbee said. "We are going to have to be a scrappy group. We are all going to have to be tough. We are all going to have to rebound. It is not like we are going to say 'the big guys, go rebound.' Everybody is going to have to rebound, since we don't have any big guys so to speak."
Both sophomore guard Ty Armstrong and junior forward Frankie Sullivan underwent knee surgery during the off-season and are currently going through rehab.
"You never know how an athlete is going to respond coming off an injury and going through the rehab," Barbee said. "Both Frankie and Ty have been working extremely hard every day. It is not a good thing they got hurt, but the fact that they both are going through the same injury and the same recovery, they are not on an island by themselves."
Auburn opens its season against UNC-Asheville Friday, Nov. 12 in the new arena. The team will play 11 NCAA tournament teams this season, including home games against Tennessee, Florida, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
Four of the five were NCAA tournament teams last season, but will be on the road against Auburn.
"We have the always-challenging SEC schedule, as well as some quality non-conference games," Barbee said. "It provides a difficult challenge for our young team, and one that we can grow from. The inaugural game in the Auburn Arena will be special as well as hosting a three-day tournament the second weekend of the season."
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