Takeaways: Bruce Pearl hoping Auburn will 'grow' in season opener against No. 17 Baylor

AUBURN -- Auburn basketball is the only SEC team that will open the season against a top-25 opponent. Bruce Pearl and co. travel to South Dakota to face No. 17 Baylor on Tuesday night. "We're going to try and make history tomorrow night as we've never beaten a top-25 opponent in an opener," Pearl said on Monday. Why did Pearl and Auburn take a game in South Dakota against a program like Baylor to start the season? A season which features four transfers and a true freshman integrating themselves into the roster, creating some early-season unknown? "It's to try and stay relevant in college basketball which is hard to do," he said. "Baylor is a preseason top-20 team. We're not. Baylor has three guys that have been selected to various all-preseason teams. We have one in Johni Broome. They are a really good team." More from Pearl inside...