Now, Auburn coach Tony Barbee says, the schedule starts getting “really real.”

The Tigers (10-3) are off to their best start since the 1999-2000 season and got their 10th win of a the year a full two months quicker than in Barbee’s first go-round, an 11-20 campaign.

But Auburn’s best wins of the year came over South Florida, a 52-40 decision on Dec. 14, and North Florida, and 84-71 win three days later.

The rest have come over teams that populate the bottom 100 of the RPI ratings, teams with a combined 28-76 record heading into Tuesday’s games.

The Tigers’ two tries against teams with good NCAA Tournament shots have not gone well, ending in an 81-59 loss to Seton Hall and a 64-43 loss to Long Beach State.

Florida State (8-5), which Auburn travels to take on Wednesday night, falls into the latter category.

The Seminoles made the Sweet 16 last year and were a popular pick to finish in the top three in the ACC this season.

Their losses, while more numerous than the Tigers, have also come to quality opponents: No. 10 Michigan State, No. 8 Connecticut (in overtime), No. 22 Harvard, No. 13 Florida and Princeton (also in overtime).

Those five teams are a combined 56-16.

“Florida State is a very physical team that is one of those teams who really take pride in their defense in trying to guard you and to take you out of what you want to do offensively,” Barbee said. “They are also very talented and score in a lot of different areas.”

The Seminoles have always played tough defense under coach Leonard Hamilton, and this year is no exception. Florida State is holding opponents to only 35.9 percent from the field and letting up 61.0 points a game.

Then again, that was the case last year as well, when the Seminoles came into Auburn Arena to take on an Auburn team that had started the season 6-7 against a similarly soft early season slate.

And they lost 65-60.

“There is no question they are going to be ready,” Barbee said. “We know we are going to get their best effort.”

Florida State springboards an especially brutal week for the Tigers, who open their SEC slate on the road against Vanderbilt on Saturday before returning home to take on No. 2 Kentucky on Wednesday.

Really real.

“It is going to be a big test for us going there and being on their home court is always tough,” Barbee said. “We are looking forward to continuing this winning streak, hopefully, and getting ready for SEC play.”


Auburn (10-3) at Florida State (8-5)

WHERE: Donald L. Tucker Center, Tallahassee, Fla.

WHEN: 5 p.m.

RADIO/TV: WKKR (97.7 FM)

PROJECTED STARTERS, AUBURN: F Kenny Gabriel, 6-8, Sr. (12.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.9 bpg); F Noel Johnson, 6-6, So. (2.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg); C Rob Chubb, 6-10, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg); G Varez Ward, 6-2, So. (10.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.5 apg); G Frankie Sullivan, 6-1, Jr. (12.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.7 apg)

PROJECTED STARTERS, FLORIDA STATE: F Xavier Gibson, 6-11, Sr. (8.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.5 apg); F Bernard James, 6-10, Sr. (10.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.5 apg); G Luke Loucks, 6-5, Sr. (7.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.7 apg); G Deividas Dulkys, 6-5, Sr. (6.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.9 apg); G Michael Snaer, 6-5, Jr. (13.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.8 apg)


NOTABLE

-- Auburn is 4-0 against teams from Florida this year.

-- Cedrick McAfee is on the shelf again after re-aggravating his right ankle injury from the preseason.

-- Gibson went to Dothan’s Northview High.