Maui here comes Bruce - 2018

Auburn basketball continues to move up in the eyes of those around the country. That was further cemented Wednesday, when it was announced Auburn would play in the Maui Invitational in 2018, one of the country's most prestigious early-season tournaments, for the first time in program history.

Along with Auburn, the 2018 field for the tournament includes Arizona, Duke, Xavier, Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa State and San Diego State. All 12 games of the event will air on ESPN.

"The Maui Invitational in the last 25 years has been college basketball’s most prestigious tournament in the country,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said in an official release from the athletics department. “It is reserved for the elite. I want to thank Dave Odom and the committee for taking my word on the fact that we would have our program ready and as important, fill up half the gym.

“That is the requirement to be invited to Maui, you have to fill up half the gym. That’s where we are headed. The field is one of the best they have ever had along with all of the Hall of Fame coaches, every NBA scout and NBA general managers who will be there. It is quite a festival.”