Auburn men’s basketball team proved its mettle without Johni Broome, cruising to an impressive victory over Mississippi State on Tuesday. While the Tigers certainly showed they can thrive in Broome’s absence, they undoubtedly look forward to having their All-American center back for the grueling Southeastern Conference challenges ahead.
Coach Bruce Pearl kept things close to the vest during his Thursday news conference, not offering much in terms of a timeline for Broome’s return. He did confirm, however, that Broome won’t be participating in Thursday’s practice.
Broome, a key player for Auburn, sprained his ankle in the latter half of their tight 66-63 win over South Carolina when he inadvertently stepped on teammate Chaney Johnson’s foot. While Auburn quickly announced that no surgery would be necessary—certainly a relief to fans and the team alike—there’s still no official word on how long he’ll be sidelined.
Stepping up in Broome’s absence, Auburn didn’t miss a beat against Mississippi State, decisively winning 88-66 and maintaining control throughout. Chaney Johnson, who slid into Broome’s role in the starting lineup, put on an impressive performance by contributing 17 points and pulling down eight rebounds.
Looking ahead, Auburn faces another challenging matchup as they hit the road to take on ranked Georgia. The Tigers will tip off this critical game at noon on Saturday, with live coverage available on SEC Network. Auburn fans will be keenly watching to see how the team continues to adapt and perform during Broome’s recovery.
