Expectations remain high for Auburn men’s basketball, as the Tigers are coming off a Southeastern Conference Tournament championship last season.

Auburn begins the 2024-2025 season ranked No. 11 in the AP top 25 preseason poll and the second highest ranked team in the SEC. Only Alabama is ranked higher, coming in at No. 2.

Nine total SEC teams are ranked in the preseason poll, with Tennessee at No. 12, Texas A&M at No. 13, Arkansas at No. 16, Texas at No. 19, Florida at No. 21, Kentucky at No. 23 and Ole Miss at No. 24 all joining Auburn and Alabama.

Auburn has nonconference games scheduled against No. 4 Houston, No. 5 Iowa State, No. 7 Duke, No. 14 Purdue and a potential Maui Invitational game against No. 9 North Carolina.

AP top 25: Preseason media poll

1. Kansas
2. Alabama
3. UConn
4. Houston
5. Iowa State
6. Gonzaga
7. Duke
8. Baylor
9. UNC
10. Arizona
11. Auburn
12. Tennessee
13. Texas A&M
14. Purdue
15. Creighton
16. Arkansas
17. Indiana
18. Marquette
19. Texas
20. Cincinnati
21. Florida
22. UCLA
23. Kentucky
24. Ole Miss
25. Rutgers

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com