The No. 4 Auburn Tigers will participate in the Maui Invitational for the second time. Auburn’s other appearance in the highly regarded event came in the 2018-19 season, the year the Tigers reached the Final Four for the first time in program history.

As always, the field is stacked in Maui. Along with Auburn, defending champion UConn, Iowa State, North Carolina, Dayton, Memphis, Michigan State and Colorado are participating in this year’s tournament.

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl believes participating in this event will be beneficial for the Tigers as they will compete against elite competition on a short rest, just as they would in the NCAA Tournament.

“The way I look at it is we have an opportunity to play three great teams on a neutral site and really find out where we are, but also potentially help get our NCAA tournament resumed, if we can be competitive be,” said Pearl.

First up for Auburn are the Iowa State Cyclones, ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll. The Cyclones haven’t faced a challenge like the one the Tigers faced against Houston, but were a Sweet 16 team last season and return some of their top contributors.

“Iowa State is a great defensive team. they are as good analytically and defensively as anyone,” Pearl said. “They force turnovers. They have, I think, two of the best defensive guards in the country in Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lispey. Those guys are both. There will be those who say this is the best backcourt in the country, but I certainly think it is the best defensive backcourt in the country. And they also lead their team in scoring.”

Auburn’s group may be the toughest in the tournament. If it beats Iowa State, it will face the winner of No. 12 North Carolina and Dayton. The winner of that game could face No. 2 UConn in the championship game.

“I think along with Iowa State, North Carolina and Dayton, it’s a great group,” Pearl said. “And if you look at it like you want to play the best teams in the country, we certainly have that opportunity. You could also look at it as having two of the top three teams in the country playing in the first round. But that’s Auburn basketball.”

Auburn will have Jahki Howard and Ja’Heim Hudson, the two players involved in the plane altercation, back after sitting out against Kent State and North Alabama.

“They were dressed and available for the last game against North Alabama,” Pearl said. “And so they travel with us and they are available.”

Auburn will take on Iowa State tonight at 8 PM CT on ESPNU.