Latest news with #PlayersEra
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn baskeball: Tigers to host A-Sun squad to close 2025 portion of schedule
Auburn baskeball: Tigers to host A-Sun squad to close 2025 portion of schedule The Dec. 29 contest will signal the second season in a row Auburn has hosted a team from the Atlantic Sun The Auburn Tigers played one of, it not the hardest non-conference schedule in program history a season ago. It paid off, with Bruce Pearl's squad racking up nation-best 19 Quadrant 1 victories on its way to the second Final Four appearance in Auburn history. While Pearl and his staff are unlikely to scheme up a schedule as difficult as last year's version, the Tigers will certainly hope to once again build up themselves before the grinding nature of the SEC season. That process, which has already included an appearance in a loaded 'Players Era' tournament field and home-and-home series contests against Houston, Purdue, and Arizona, continued this week, as CBS Sports Insider Jon Rothstein reported the Tigers are set to A-Sun program Queens to close out the 2025 portion of the schedule. The game, which is reportedly set for Dec. 29 at Neville Arena, will signal the second season in a row Auburn has hosted a team from the Atlantic Sun. Last season the Tigers beat the brakes off of in-state opponent, North Alabama, last November. The 102-69 victory was impressive at the time, but turned into an even more significant win after the Lions finished just a game shy of the NCAA Tournament last season. Queens on the other hand was not nearly as successful, although the 20-15 Royals did drive eventual A-Sun Champion Lipscomb to the brink with an 81-75 loss in the A-Sun Tournament semi-finals. Bruce Pearl's Auburn Tigers will likely be heavily favored in their final game before they ring in the new year, but the Royals, like North Alabama last year, play in a conference loaded with talent across the board. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter@TheRealBHauch
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kansas Basketball Turns Heads with Major Team News on Wednesday
Kansas Basketball Turns Heads with Major Team News on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It was a tough and frustrating 2024-25 season for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks. The 62-year-old head coach saw his team eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Advertisement This marked the third straight season Kansas failed to reach the Sweet 16 following its national title run in 2022. But Self, his staff and a revamped roster are ready to turn the page and gear up for the 2025-26 season. The Jayhawks recently posted their official non-conference schedule, and as usual in Lawrence, it's filled with high-level competition. Self is no stranger to tough early-season tests, and 2025-26 will be no different. Fan reactions summed up the anticipation: "This is a loaded Non-Conference schedule. Big props to Bill Self." said this commenter Jayhawk fan here loving the challenge: "North Carolina, UConn, and Duke? Bring it on." Advertisement "Louisville, UNC, Duke, UConn, mizzou, NCState and oh hey it's December 14." says this fan More tough competition talk: "North Carolina, UConn and duke are going to be tough games Border war should in Lawrence but I guess playing in Kansas City is fine I'm going to enjoy the burners (expletive) on Princeton those (expletive) nerds." "Guantlet." another adds here This fan knows it won't be easy: "Absolute mayhem." Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Sewell-Imagn Images The preseason tips off with a scrimmage against Pat Kelsey's Louisville Cardinals. Kelsey, in his first year, helped Louisville return to the NCAA Tournament last season. Kansas' first regular-season home game will be against Doug Gottlieb's UW-Green Bay Phoenix. From the Nov. 7 trip to North Carolina through a Dec. 13 visit to NC State, the Jayhawks will face one of the toughest slates in the country. Advertisement After visiting Chapel Hill on Nov. 7, Kansas hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Princeton before facing Duke in the Champions Classic on Nov. 18. That showdown will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Next comes the inaugural Players Era event in Las Vegas, a multi-game neutral site showcase with opponents to be announced later. Then it's back to Allen Fieldhouse for a high-profile home game against Dan Hurley's UConn Huskies on Dec. 2. The rivalry game against Missouri follows, this time played in Kansas City. Both the Huskies and Tigers made the NCAA Tournament last season. The non-conference schedule wraps up with a road game at NC State on Dec. 13, then home games against Towson and Davidson before Christmas. Advertisement Self addressed the ambitious schedule: 'Once again, we have a non-conference schedule that should be one of the most challenging anyone will play,' he said. 'We have a home game against UConn in early December, away matchups at North Carolina and NC State, neutral games like Duke in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden, the three games at the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, and another with Missouri in Kansas City. Those, along with the Big 12 competition, make this a very tough and demanding schedule." The Jayhawks remain one of college basketball's elite programs, with four NCAA championships and six runner-up finishes in school history. While recent seasons have fallen short of expectations, Self has a strong track record of bouncing back. The revamped roster and elite schedule should have Kansas battle-tested by the time Big 12 play begins. Related: 7-Foot College Basketball Recruit Makes Final Commitment Decision on Friday Related: 4-Star Transfer Decommits Just Three Days After Big Announcement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Viva Las Vegas: Auburn set to join talented Players Era field
Auburn basketball has climbed to the top of the polls due to its stellar performance against the nation's best teams. The trend will continue over the next three seasons as the Tigers have signed a deal to compete in the Players Era in Las Vegas. Last week, Auburn Athletics announced that Bruce Pearl's squad will compete in Players Era at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada against a challenging field over the next three seasons. Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Oregon, and Notre Dame are several programs that will return to Players Era next season while Baylor, Kansas, Iowa State, and Gonzaga are among those who will join Auburn as new participants. 'Auburn Basketball is really excited about being a part of the field at the Players Era Festival the next three years,' head coach Bruce Pearl said in a press release. 'It is an opportunity for our student-athletes to compete at a very high level and be included in this revolutionary concept of scheduling. It also ensures that we will be playing against the best teams in the non-conference in college basketball. Our fans will no doubt enjoy the opportunity to travel and be a part of this experience.' Auburn is no stranger to facing strong competition. The Tigers are currently 11-1 this season against 'quad-1 teams' and are 6-0 against SEC competition. Next season's Players Era tournament will further challenge the program, thus preparing for a run at the NCAA championship. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
