Auburn basketball is set to take on the 2024 Maui Invitational basketball tournament. This will be the second appearance in the tournament for the Tigers in their program history, and first since 2018 when they went 2-1 over the course of the week.
2024’s edition of the Maui Invitational features a loaded field that includes No. 2 UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State, No. 10 North Carolina, Colorado, Dayton, Memphis and Michigan State.
“We have a chance to play three great teams on a neutral site, and really find out, you know, where we’re at,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. “Also, potentially help our NCAA Tournament resume if we can be competitive.”
The first matchup for the Tigers will be against the No. 5 ranked Iowa State Cyclones. The Cyclones are 3-0 to this point in the season, but have not yet faced a high-major team. The strength of the Cyclones is their guard play, led by the trio of Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert.
“They’ve (Iowa State) got two of the best defensive guards, I think in the country in Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey,” Pearl said. “I think they are the best defensive backcourt in the country for sure, and they lead their teams in scoring as well.”
Depending on the results of the games, Auburn will then face either No. 10 North Carolina or Dayton. North Carolina is 2-1 with a hard fought loss to No. 1 Kansas on the road. The Tar Heels rely on their fifth-year guard and All-American RJ Davis, who is averaging 17.7 points through three games.
The Dayton Flyers had to replace lots of production in the offseason after losing All-American DaRon Holmes II to the NBA and 3-point specialist Koby Brea to the transfer portal. In their absence, fifth-year guard Enoch Cheeks has stepped up, averaging 15.0 points on 52.3%.
Auburn has its own All-American in Johni Broome who is off to a hot start on the season with 20.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and over three blocks a game. The Tigers have also found success through their new guards Miles Kelly and freshman Tahaad Pettiford.
Pearl believes that the further into the tournament the Tigers get, the bigger the advantage they have. The Tigers take pride in their depth and have 10 players who are averaging at least 15 minutes per game, seven of which are averaging at least seven points per game.
“I think one thing that should serve us well is our depth,” Pearl said. “You know, the first few games we played 11, the last couple games we played nine. I think that helps you on the back-to-back-to-backs.”
On the other side of the bracket looms the reigning back-to-back national champion UConn Huskies who also had to replace lots of production in the offseason. The Huskies were able to add key pieces in freshman Liam McNeeley, as well as transfers Tarris Reed Jr. and Aidan Mahaney.
The matchup for the Huskies and Tigers is far from certain, but the two teams could meet in the championship game if both can start the tournament with two wins.
No. 4 Auburn’s first game of the Maui Invitational will be against No. 5 Iowa State on Monday, Nov. 25 inside of Lahaina Civic Center. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. CST and will be televised on ESPNU.
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Marshall is a junior majoring in Journalism. He joined the Plainsman in the fall of 2024.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @marshalldow02
