​AUBURN — For the second year in a row, Auburn basketball will begin its season in Birmingham, announcing Wednesday, July 15, it’d face Florida State on Oct. 14 at Boutwell Auditorium, in the second-ever Ballin in Boutwell showcase.The Tigers faced Oklahoma State at Boutwell last season, losing 97-95 in an overtime contest. The Seminoles are coming off an 18-15 season under first-year head coach Luke Loucks.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLike Florida State, Auburn embarked on a new era last year, with Steven Pearl taking over as head coach for his father, Bruce Pearl, weeks before the season’s start.The Tigers finished 22-16 overall, missing the NCAA Tournament but accepting an NIT bid. Auburn ended the year on a five-game winning streak, ultimately securing the program’s first-ever NIT championship.Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter. To support Adam’s work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn basketball returning to Boutwell Auditorium for preseason exhibition