The Auburn Tigers are in Hawaii and are ready for a taxing week at the Maui Invitational.
The Tigers join a stellar field of teams that includes North Carolina, UConn, and Dayton. The eight-team field has built a collective 31-2 record through three weeks of the college basketball season, with half the field earning a spot within the USA TODAY Sports’ top 25.
This season’s slate features a “March Madness” type of feel. Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl says this week’s tournament reminds him of the Tigers’ Final Four run in 2019.
“It sort of reminds me a little bit about the road to the Final Four in 2019. Somebody had to beat Kansas, North Carolina, or Kentucky along the way. Somebody has to beat Iowa State, North Carolina, Dayton, or UConn,” Pearl said ahead of his team’s trip to Maui. “That’s how we approach it. I’m looking at it as one game at a time. What would constitute a successful trip? We’d love to play great basketball against the best teams in the country and see if you can get a couple.”
Auburn will begin their stay in Maui by facing Iowa State at 8 p.m. CT. Click here to check out the entire Maui Invitational bracket.
Here are several key stats from every Maui Invitational participant ahead of this week’s action.
Auburn Tigers
2024 record: 4-0
USA TODAY Coaches Poll rank: No. 3
AP Poll rank: No. 4
Top scorer: Johni Broome (20.0)
Top rebounds: Johni Broome (11.2)
Top assists: Denver Jones (4.0)
Iowa State Cyclones
2024 record: 3-0
USA TODAY Coaches Poll rank: No. 5
AP Poll rank: No. 5
Top scorer: Curtis Jones (15.0)
Top rebounds: Dishon Jackson (7.3)
Top assists: Keshon Gilbert (7.0)
Colorado Buffaloes
2024 record: 4-0
USA TODAY Coaches Poll rank: NR
AP Poll rank: NR
Top scorer: Andrej Jakimovski (14.2)
Top rebounds: Trevor Baskin (7.0)
Top assists: Julian Hammond III (3.5)
Dayton Flyers
2024 record: 5-0
USA TODAY Coaches Poll rank: RV
AP Poll rank: NR
Top scorer: Enoch Cheeks (15.0)
Top rebounds: Enoch Cheeks (8.2)
Top assists: Malachi Smith (5.6)
Memphis Tigers
2024 record: 4-0
USA TODAY Coaches Poll rank: NR
AP Poll rank: RV
Top scorer: PJ Haggerty (22.5)
Top rebounds: Dain Dainja (7.0)
Top assists: Tyrese Hunter (4.0)
Michigan State Spartans
2024 record: 4-1
USA TODAY Coaches Poll rank: RV
AP Poll rank: NR
Top scorer: Jaden Akins (14.6)
Top rebounds: Jaxon Kohler (8.0)
Top assists: Jeremy Fears Jr. (6.2)
North Carolina Tar Heels
2024 record: 3-1
USA TODAY Coaches Poll rank: No. 12
AP Poll rank: No. 10
Top scorer: RJ Davis (17.7)
Top rebounds: Jae’lyn Withers (8.7)
Top assists: Elliot Cadeau (7.7)
UConn Huskies
2024 record: 4-0
USA TODAY Coaches Poll rank: No. 2
AP Poll rank: No. 2
Top scorer: Alex Karaban (16.2)
Top rebounds: Tarris Reed (9.8)
Top assists: Hassan Diarra (4.5)
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