FSU Battles Auburn
FSU Men's Basketball Faces Auburn in Annual Preseason Boutwell Event on October 18
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Florida State's men's basketball team will face Auburn in the annual Ballin in Boutwell preseason event on Oct. 18 in Birmingham, Alabama, according to Tallahassee Democrat. The game gives both programs a live competitive tune-up before the regular season tips off.
This marks FSU's second straight year at the event. Last season, the Seminoles faced Alabama in the same building. The event is presented by Nike and Hibbett and has drawn sellout crowds every year it has been held, St. Augustine Record reported.
Boutwell Auditorium Draws Sellout Crowds Each Year
The Ballin in Boutwell event is held at Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham. It has become one of the more notable preseason showcases in college basketball. Sellout crowds have packed the venue each year the event has run, according to Pensacola News Journal.
Nike and Hibbett sponsor the event, giving it strong backing from two major names in sports retail. The high-profile setting raises the stakes for teams that participate. Playing in front of a packed crowd before the season starts mirrors game-like pressure.
FSU Players See Auburn Game as a Season Barometer
FSU players believe the Auburn matchup will help them take stock of where the program stands. The game is expected to expose what the team does well and what still needs work before ACC play begins, The Ledger reported.
Facing a competitive SEC opponent like Auburn this early gives FSU a real measuring stick. Auburn is a program that regularly competes at a high level in the SEC. Playing them in October is a much harder test than a typical preseason scrimmage.
Second Straight Boutwell Appearance Signals FSU's Commitment
FSU's return to the event for a second year in a row is not a coincidence. The program is clearly invested in using high-profile preseason games to build readiness, according to Daily Commercial. Last year's game against Alabama set the tone for what to expect from these matchups.
Returning to the same venue also helps FSU build familiarity with big-game environments early in the year. The Seminoles get another chance to test themselves against elite competition before the regular season begins on Oct. 18.
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