Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl shared an update on star player Johni Broome ahead of the Final Four. Earlier this week, Pearl expressed confidence that Broome would play against Florida, emphasizing that his status is now primarily about getting enough rest.
Auburn has been one of the top teams all season, but its championship hopes may largely depend on Broome’s impact. With all four No. 1 seeds making the Final Four, the competition will be as tough as ever.
“All I can tell you is that he’s not gonna practice for a couple days,” Pearl said on Pardon My Take. “He needs to rest and recover. All year long he’s bounced back from injuries; a shoulder, an ankle. I have no doubt that he’ll bounce back from this but we probably won’t move him much until Thursday.”
Despite concerns about his status, Johni Broome still logged 29 minutes in the Elite Eight, delivering a dominant performance with 25 points and 14 rebounds. His return to the court was electrifying, especially when he drained a three-pointer that sent State Farm Arena into a frenzy. At that moment, Michigan State was mounting a comeback, but Broome’s shot felt like a dagger, shifting the momentum back to Auburn.
Regardless of how the season ends, Johni Broome is locked in a two-man battle for National Player of the Year alongside Duke’s Cooper Flagg. Both stars will be competing in the Final Four, and many fans are likely hoping for a showdown between them in the national championship game.
Todd Golden remains the only coach to defeat Bruce Pearl at Auburn this season, and that loss might still be on the Tigers’ minds. Florida handed Auburn a nine-point defeat on Feb. 8, a game where Johni Broome wasn’t at his best. While he still recorded a double-double, his 18-point performance fell just short of his season average. With a Final Four rematch on the horizon, Auburn may have a little extra motivation for payback.
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