Auburn Basketball Has Begun Official Practices
The team enters the 2026 season following a championship victory in the National Invitation Tournament.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Basketball
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The Auburn basketball team held its first official practice on September 23, 2026. The squad prepares for the upcoming season with 10 new players on the roster and a busy slate of preseason exhibition games.
Why it matters
Coming off a 92-86 win over Tulsa in the NIT championship game, Auburn looks to build on its recent postseason success. The team faces the challenge of integrating a large group of newcomers to complement its returning core players.
Auburn added 10 new players to its roster during the offseason. Returning standout Tahaad Pettiford averaged 15.4 points and 3.8 assists per game throughout the previous season.
The players
Kevin Overton
He is a returning player for Auburn who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the National Invitation Tournament.
Tahaad Pettiford
He is an Auburn basketball player who averaged 15.4 points and 3.8 assists per game during the 2025-26 season.
The details
Auburn returns veterans Kevin Overton, Tahaad Pettiford, Simon Walker, and Blake Muschalek to anchor the roster alongside 10 incoming recruits. The coaching staff will test this new team dynamic during three preseason exhibition games scheduled for October.
Timeline
September 23, 2026: The team held its first official practice.
October 14, 2026: Auburn plays an exhibition game against Florida State.
October 22, 2026: Auburn plays an exhibition game against Alabama.
October 29, 2026: Auburn plays an exhibition game against Samford.
November 4, 2026: The season opens against Southeastern Louisiana.
The Big Picture
The current season preparations represent the team's immediate efforts to maintain the success established by their performance in the 2026 National Invitation Tournament championship.
Auburn faces Florida State in Birmingham on October 14, followed by Alabama on October 22, and Samford at Neville Arena on October 29. These exhibition matchups will dictate the initial rotation depth for the season opener against Southeastern Louisiana on November 4.
The takeaway
Fans can anticipate a highly experimental preseason as the coaching staff blends veteran talent with 10 new roster additions. Keeping track of the exhibition performance against major programs like Alabama will provide the best indicators for the team's outlook this year.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest team news on the Basketball page.
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