Report: Auburn freshman Chance Westry won't play in season-opener vs George Mason

The No. 15 Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team will open things up at home versus George Mason on Nov. 7, but they’ll be without freshman guard Chance Westry, according to Bruce Pearl. The Tigers head coach shared the news with hoops insider Jon Rothstein on Thursday, revealing that Westry has played minimally this fall due to a knee injury.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound combo guard out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was a top-50 signee for the Tigers in the 2022 class. He was the No. 38 prospect overall in the nation, according to the On3 Consensus, and No. 7 at his position.

“He’s a few weeks away,” Pearl told reporters at the beginning of November.

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Westry had knee surgery in mid-October. Other than that, the Tigers are fairly healthy.

Auburn opens season versus George Mason

George Mason went 14-16 last season for a middle-of-the-pack finish in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

The 2021-22 season ended earlier than the Tigers wanted, losing in the Round of 32 to Miami in the NCAA Tournament. Pearl has Auburn consistently in the mix, however, and they have weapons returning in the backcourt like K.D. Johnson and Wendell Green Jr.

After the game versus George Mason, Auburn faces South Florida on Friday at 8 p.m.

Also going down in November for the Tigers – the 15th annual Cancun Challenge. Auburn is in an eight-team field with Bradley, Liberty, Northwestern, Eastern Michigan, Purdue Fort Wayne, Southern Miss and Winthrop.

Auburn hosts Winthrop at Neville Arena on Nov. 15 for a midweek matchup. Then, the event shifts to Cancun. At the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya the following week, Auburn plays Bradley on Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. CT.