ATLANTA — A heavy Auburn crowd, loud and raucous all recreation inside State Farm Area, abruptly fell quiet.
Johni Broome, the Auburn star and SEC Participant of the Yr, was grimacing on the ground, holding his proper arm. It seemed dangerous, each within the brief time period in opposition to Michigan State and, ought to they survive the night time, in the long run for the No. 1 seed Tigers’ higher championship hopes.
The stress felt prefer it would not ever let up, lower up solely by a younger boy near courtside yelling, with a deep Southern accent, “Hope you are Oh-kay, Johni.” As Broome walked off the court docket into the locker room, he mouthed “I am completed” to his teammates.
Auburn had dominated the sport from the beginning, led by Broome’s 20 factors and 12 rebounds within the first half-hour of the sport, however it felt probably perilous with out Broome in opposition to Tom Izzo’s Spartans that had been by no means going to surrender. The Tigers held a 10-point lead with lower than 11 minutes left within the recreation, however might it maintain up in opposition to a charging Jase Richardson and Co.?
Izzo was little question begging that it would not, however there was no panic from Auburn. The Tigers had been on this place earlier than. No, it wasn’t with a Closing 4 on the road, however Broome went down within the second half in opposition to South Carolina on Jan. 11 with a sprained left ankle and the Tigers nonetheless rallied to beat the Gamecocks. Auburn received its subsequent two video games, each in opposition to ranked SEC opponents, giving the crew confidence it might guide a ticket to San Antonio even with out its star huge man.
“Our guys had been extra fearful if he was OK and fewer so are we going to have the ability to win with out him,” stated Auburn affiliate head coach Steven Pearl. “We knew we might beat Michigan State with out him.”
2025 Closing 4: Evaluating Duke vs. Houston, Florida vs. Auburn as March Insanity reaches ultimate weekend
Cameron Salerno
Mentioned Auburn guard Chad Baker-Mazara: “That constructed slightly fireplace in us seeing our man go down. The fellows took pleasure in that and the bigs stepped up huge time.”
Greater than 5 minutes of recreation play later, there was Broome, doing his greatest Willis Reed impression, popping out to the crew bench. The Tigers held serve in his absence – each groups scored seven factors within the 5 minutes he was out – and maintained the 10-point lead.
Broome sidled as much as the youthful Pearl and instructed him, “I can play if you happen to want me.”
Earlier than Pearl might even course of what Broome was saying, middle Dylan Cardwell requested for a substitution and Broome was at halfcourt able to examine again in.
The gang grew louder and louder because it acknowledged what was taking place. On his second play again on the court docket, Broome grabbed a one-arm rebound, raced down the ground after which hit a three-pointer to present Auburn a 60-48 lead with 4:40 remaining within the recreation, sending the group right into a frenzy. Any real likelihood Michigan State had of pulling off the comeback died the second Broome’s shot fell via the web.
“We knew he was going to come back on the market with aggression as a result of I do know Johni,” Baker-Mazara instructed CBS Sports activities. “He by no means likes to go down. I noticed it in his face. He instructed me I bought you, don’t be concerned.”
Auburn held off Michigan State, successful 70-64, to present this system its second ever Closing 4 look, each achieved beneath head coach Bruce Pearl. The No. 1 general seed within the match will get a rematch in opposition to Florida, a crew that it misplaced to, 90-81, again on Feb. eighth.
Broome led the way in which with a game-high 25 factors and 14 rebounds whereas freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford was the one different Tiger in double-digits with 10 factors. Michigan State wished to remove Auburn’s three-point capturing and completed that — the Tigers went 7 of 25 for a measly 28 p.c — however had no reply for Broome. When it was throughout, Izzo marveled at how effortlessly Broome moved on the court docket, calling him “the actual deal.”
“That is why he is an All-American,” Izzo stated. “That is why he is a Participant of the Yr candidate. Did a helluva job.”
CBS Sports activities Analysis
Whether or not Sunday’s harm will influence Broome shifting ahead will likely be an enormous query for the Tigers forward of Saturday’s semifinal in opposition to the Gators (6:09 p.m. ET on CBS). Throughout any break in play, Broome may very well be seen holding his proper arm and grimacing, clearly nonetheless in ache. Within the locker room after the sport, he had an ice pack on his elbow after which spent a couple of minutes getting his arm wrapped up by a coach.
Broome was principally mum on particulars about how the harm occurred or what it might imply shifting ahead. Even earlier than the harm everybody noticed on the court docket, Broome had a coach have a look at his proper arm after subbing out of the sport. An in-game MRI decided there was no severe injury, in response to Broome, however Pearl anticipated to know extra in regards to the particular prognosis tomorrow.
“Whether or not it is a slight hyperextension or no matter it was, clearly the medical doctors had been in a position to decide there was no injury,” Pearl stated. “I wager you will probably be fairly sore tomorrow, although.”
Regardless of the prognosis will likely be, this crew is prepared for San Antonio. It has maybe essentially the most underrated huge man within the nation in Cardwell. It has guards like Pettiford, Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones — guys who can get sizzling at any second and go on private 10-0 runs. This crew is athletic, gifted and once more trying prefer it did when it was the No. 1 crew within the nation with a 27-2 report again in early March.
Auburn overwhelmed Michigan State virtually from the bounce. The Spartans held an 8-6 lead with 15:50 left within the first half, the final time they might ever be forward of the Tigers. From there, Auburn went on a 17-0 run and earlier than you knew it the rating was 23-8 and the Spartans seemed completed. It felt like an Auburn dwelling recreation with the Tigers crowd clearly having an influence on the sport, going completely wild after the Spartans missed three consecutive three-pointers on a single possession. When Broome ran down the ground and hit a three-pointer to present his crew a 15-point lead and celebrated along with his “Name God” transfer, it is arduous to think about the group might have gotten any louder.
“Each time we hit a shot it felt like we hit 10 pictures due to the group,” Baker-Mazara stated.
“The vitality was insane,” Jones stated. “I circled everyone standing up, my ears ringing from how loud it was. I really like Auburn, I really like the followers.”
Izzo’s group deserves credit score for by no means giving in and happening a couple of mini-runs to remain within the recreation, however it might by no means lower the result in lower than 5 factors after the Tigers’ first-half run. There was a transparent expertise benefit Auburn possessed that could not be overcome, regardless of how badly Izzo was attempting to will a crew he cherished so dearly to a Closing 4.
Auburn was inevitable Sunday night time, whether or not it had a wholesome Broome or not. A yr after getting bounced out within the first spherical by No. 13 seed Yale, the Tigers had been destined for San Antonio, and could not be happier. A crying Bruce Pearl hugged an equally emotional Hugh Freeze moments after it was throughout, marveling at what the second meant for the college.
The Auburn followers within the enviornment summed the second up properly with their well-known chant, “It is nice to be an Auburn Tiger,” with extra magical moments nonetheless potential for a crew that withstood a late March spell and appears as poised as ever, particularly if Broome is wholesome, to be the primary to deliver a nationwide championship again to the Plains.