Johni Broome injury update: Will Auburn star play in men's Final Four vs Florida?
Auburn men's basketball fans can exhale.
Citing Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman reported on Monday that Tigers star forward Johni Broome is expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday against Florida in the Final Four of the men's NCAA Tournament.
Broome briefly left Auburn's Elite Eight win vs. Michigan State Sunday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta with a leg and elbow injury. He returned for the conclusion of the game, which sent Auburn back to the Final Four for the second time in program history.
Goodman also reported that Broome hyperextended his right elbow, a diagnosis that Pearl told reporters during his postgame news conference in Atlanta he believed was the case with Broome.
Broome, a finalist for National Player of the Year, has been on a tear in the NCAA Tournament for the top-seeded Tigers. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging a double-double of 17.3 points and 13.3 rebounds in four games. He has recorded back-to-back double-doubles in the first half in Auburn's last two games against Michigan and Michigan State.
The SEC Player of the Year is averaging a career-high 18.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this season.
Here's the latest on Broome's injury:
Will Johni Broome play in Final Four? Auburn basketball forward's status vs Florida
Yes, Broom is expected to play in Saturday's Final Four against Florida, according to The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman.
"He's sore. We didn't practice today, and we'll practice tomorrow — but Johni won't practice. He's sore, but I fully expect him to play on Saturday," Pearl said according to Goodman's social media post Monday.
Johni Broome injury update
Broome sustained a left leg and right elbow injury in the second half of Auburn's Elite Eight game vs. Michigan State.
The injury came at the 10:47 mark of the second half during a play inside the paint following a missed layup from Michigan State's Freddie Fidler. Broome, who appeared to have gone up on the play for a block, landed awkwardly on the court and rolled over on his side favoring his right elbow.
After briefly sitting on the Tigers bench to receive treatment by members of Auburn's training staff, he was brought back to the locker room for further testing, including X-rays.
"Johni Broome is dealing with those two injuries," CBS' Tracy Wolfson reported on the broadcast. "He is in the locker room right now. Bruce Pearl asked Johni as he was walking off the court if he was okay and he looked at him and said no. He told his teammates to finish the game."
Broome would, of course, return to the game around the 5:26 mark of the half to resounding applause by Auburn fans. He'd hit a 3-pointer on his first shooting attempt after returning.
"Went to the locker room. We have a good support staff. I checked my arm out," Broome said after the game when asked about any level of concern on his injuries. "The (doctor) said nothing is wrong with it (or) anything serious, so at that moment I just wanted to help my teammates. And that is coming out and playing."
Added Pearl on Sunday: "I don't think we are going to really know until tomorrow whether it was a slight hyperextension or whatever that way. Obviously the doctors were able to examine it and determine there was no damage. I bet it will be pretty sore tomorrow though."
What is Johni Broome's injury?
Broome appeared to injure his left leg and his right elbow on his fall in the second half against Michigan State. His X-rays at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Sunday came back negative.
When does Auburn basketball play next?
Auburn will tip off against Florida at 5:09 p.m. CT in the Final Four of the men's NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 5 in San Antonio.
Johni Broome stats
Here's a year-by-year breakdown of Broome's stats at Auburn and Morehead State:
- 2020-21 (Morehead State): 13.8 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 57% from the field
- 2021-22 (Morehead State): 16.8 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 55.7% from the field
- 2022-23 (Auburn): 14.2 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 52.7% from the field
- 2023-24 (Auburn): 16.5 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 54.8% from the field
- 2024-25 (Auburn): 18.7 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game, 2.9 assists per game and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 51.2% from the field