The Auburn Tigers have dominated college basketball all season, starting with their triumph at the Maui Invitational early in the year. With a roster full of experienced players, leadership has never been in short supply for the team.
Having a potential National Player of the Year on the squad only adds to their strength. Auburn possesses the ideal balance of talent, making their prowess undeniable. While there were concerns about their form heading into the tournament, head coach Bruce Pearl remained unfazed.
“Man, I’m really glad you asked me that question. We lost to Alabama, Tennessee, and at Texas A&M. Yeah, we’re panicked,” Pearl joked.
Since then, Auburn has won four consecutive games and secured a spot in the Final Four, putting them just two victories away from their first national championship.
However, star player Johni Broome sustained an injury in the Elite Eight. After the game, he provided an encouraging update on his condition.
“The doc said nothing’s wrong, you’re good, nothing serious. At that moment, I just wanted to help my teammates,” Broome told reporters.
By Tuesday, assistant coach Steven Pearl shared a more cautious update, raising questions about Broome’s availability moving forward.
“Johni is not going to practice today. He’s going to take today off and continue to rehab the seven different things that he injured on that one play,” Pearl said.
Broome may simply be resting before ramping up for the most significant game of his career. With Auburn reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2019, they will need their top player at full strength to capture the championship.
