Auburn Basketball

Auburn senior Johni Broome was announced as the recipient of the Karl Malone Award, which is given to the top power forward in the country, on Saturday.

Johni Broome has won the Karl Malone award for top power forward in the country 🏆 pic.twitter.com/BgjpyJjOIy

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) April 5, 2025

Broome is the first member of the Tigers to earn the honor.

The 22-year-old has averaged 18.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 35 appearances this season.

While his perimeter shooting has been inconsistent, he's still utilized his athleticism to remain an elite finisher around the rim. Broome is shooting 56.0 percent on two-point field goals throughout his 2024-25 campaign.

22 PTS, 12 REB AND COUNTING FOR JOHNI BROOME 😤 pic.twitter.com/lZAKppiyJp

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 30, 2025

He was previously announced as one of five finalists for the award on March 6.

Broome has operated as the leading scorer on an Auburn team that owns a 32-5 record and is currently set to face off against Florida in the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA tournament.

He's already earned the SEC Player of the Year award and was selected as a finalist for the Wooden Award, which is presented to the best college basketball player in the country.

Broome has earned praise from both his teammates as well as opposing coaches, with Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo complimenting him following Auburn's Elite Eight victory over the Spartans.

"We did most of the things we wanted to do except guard Broome a little bit better," Izzo said, per ESPN's Myron Medcalf. "It wasn't the points he scored that got us. We're used to giving up points and making sure they don't get 3s. They're a pretty good 3-point shooting team. We held them to 28%. It was just [Broome] was 10-for-13. That's why he's an All-American. That's why he's a player of the year candidate. He did a hell of a job."

As Broome prepares to face the Gators on Saturday, he took home some hardware first.

It seems like the Auburn men's basketball team is going to bring a bit of gold to its Final Four showdown with Florida on Saturday.

The Tigers teased some "new details" for their uniforms on Tuesday that included Gold Under Armour decals in different places on the jersey:

Some new details for the weekend 👀 pic.twitter.com/VdObhBX2tq

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) April 1, 2025

The changes to the Under Armour decals in particular are notable, as the apparel company seems to be planning something special for its last dance with the Tigers men's basketball team. After all, the SEC program will be playing with a new Nike contract when the 2025-26 basketball campaign begins.

As Matt Cohen of AL.com noted in May 2024, Auburn's contract with Under Armour will expire in July of this year. It will switch to Nike at that time, ending a partnership that dates back to 2006.

"I think Nike has set a certain standard on the American collegiate scene that we wanted to be a part of," athletic director John Cohen said at the time.

Auburn is two wins away from its first ever men's basketball national championship, which would be quite the way to go out for Under Armour. The football team also won a national title in 2010 while playing under the soon-to-be-expired partnership.

Ideally for the Tigers, the uniform switch will bring them better luck against Florida.

The Gators won the only regular-season matchup between the two SEC rivals in February when they came into Auburn and left with an impressive road victory. Florida also went on to win the SEC tournament, although both programs landed No. 1 seeds in the Big Dance.

Ultimate bragging rights for this season between the two teams will come down to Saturday's result, and Auburn is going to have a new look.

It wouldn't be a surprise if the Tigers replicated that look for Monday's national title game if they earn a victory against Florida.

Johni Broome posted 22 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Auburn men's basketball team to a 78-65 win over Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on Friday in Atlanta.

Johni Broome with a MONSTER Sweet 16 😤

🔥 22 PTS | 16 REB | 2 STL@AuburnMBB advances to the Elite 8 🐅 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/q1kIIDtd74

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 29, 2025

The No. 1 seed Tigers trailed 48-39 with 12:26 remaining in regulation before rolling off a 22-2 run. Denver Jones scored 11 points in that stretch, including eight straight to turn a 51-50 edge into a 59-50 lead. Tahaad Pettiford added five points and two assists.

Michigan big man Vladislav Goldin stopped the bleeding with a three-point play.

Goldin gets the hook shot to fall 🪝#MarchMadness @umichbball pic.twitter.com/4NXeV2AY2d

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 29, 2025

However, Pettiford later hit a three-pointer and a three-point play on back-to-back possessions for a 67-54 lead with 4:35 left.

TAHAAD. PETTIFORD. 😤#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/T5vodknAnk

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 29, 2025

PETTIFORD AGAIN ARE YOU KIDDING 😱#MarchMadness @AuburnMBB pic.twitter.com/ssmxCq4hot

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 29, 2025

Jones and Pettiford each scored 20 points. Auburn also dominated the boards, out-rebounded Michigan 48-33.

Danny Wolf's 20 points led the Wolverines, while Goldin chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds.

Auburn was firmly in the discussion of the best men's college basketball team for much of the season, but the Tigers sputtered down the stretch, losing three of their final four games before the NCAA tournament. Their resume was still worthy enough to land the No. 1 overall seed, though.

Since then, the Tigers have rediscovered their form, winning their first three March Madness games by a combined 45 points and all by double-digits.

On Friday, the trio of Broome, Jones and Pettiford led the way, and all three received much praise alongside the team as a whole.

Auburn. Has. Responded. This is awesome.

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 29, 2025

THAT Auburn team woke up tonight. The one that was destroying opponents in the first 29 games of its season and opened up at 27-2. With 12:26 left, it was 48-39 Michigan. Since then: 28-8 Tigers in 9:40 of basketball. Ridiculous response. Tahaad Pettiford is so, so special.

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 29, 2025

Auburn's turned up the defensive intensity in such a big way. Wolf needed to get a breather there after they got out to like a 7-pt lead and it totally took Michigan's offense out of rhythm (even once he was back in). Feels like Auburn felt that moment and ramped it up.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 29, 2025

Auburn is the ultimate in rhythm team.

Like a train - might take a second but once it gets goin…. Get out the way

— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) March 29, 2025

I recognize this Auburn. Very much so.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 29, 2025

I hope everyone is enjoying Auburn’s basketball clinic

— Lynden Blake (@LyndenBlake) March 29, 2025

Johni Broome is a man amongst boys

— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 29, 2025

Michigan’s bigs could be 8’1 and they still wouldn’t out-rebound Auburn. Broome and Cardwell just want it more.

— Clint Lamb (@ClintRLamb) March 29, 2025

Tahaad is getting all the love and it’s well deserved. BUT shoutout Denver Jones, dude put the team on his back and willed them out into the lead.

Thats our bucket getter🫡🪣

— JM (@jmcollard0426) March 29, 2025

The more you watch Denver Jones, the more you appreciate him.

— Kevin Scarbinsky (@KevinScarbinsky) March 29, 2025

TAHAAD PETTIFORD
📈📈📈📈📈📈📈 https://t.co/B4xsuCh7fU pic.twitter.com/6mVyBQYF8j

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 29, 2025

What a performance from Pettiford.

— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) March 29, 2025

Auburn will now head to the Elite Eight, where No. 2 seed Michigan State awaits Sunday after beating No. 6 seed Ole Miss 73-70 earlier Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. ET.

The top men's team in college basketball suffered their first conference loss Saturday—and it was very nearly a blowout.

No. 1 Auburn trailed by as many 19 points while conceding a 90-81 defeat to a No. 6 Florida team missing starting guard Alijah Martin.

TUBULAR MOVES BY BROOME😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/GGE6QyELmk

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) February 8, 2025

Florida's upset win, which came alongside a Wade Taylor buzzer-beater that lifted Texas A&M to a last-second win over Missouri, left some fans marveling at the strength of the SEC.

ESPN's most recent bracket projection predicts that 13 SEC teams will make it to March Madness, which would set a single-conference record for Tournament bids, according to ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf.

Auburn about to lose to Florida without Alijah Florida is the best basketball team in the SEC right now 💯

— Brandon Weatherspoon🥄 (@__bloading__) February 8, 2025

Want to know just how good the sec is this year? #1 Auburn, arguably the best team in college basketball is getting a root canal on their home court by Florida. pic.twitter.com/ClwiQ4F2Se

— KentuckyFan (@KentuckyF34638) February 8, 2025

Auburn might be the best team we’ve seen in college basketball in a long time

And they are getting drilled at home

SEC is just unreal this year

— BBN (@UofKbbn) February 8, 2025

SEC Basketball is insane. It was only a matter of time before it caught up to the other conferences.

— Trench (@TrenchPicks_) February 8, 2025

Auburn is being absolutely annihilated at home and Florida is missing one of their best players. My God is the SEC good at basketball this year

— FloridaBuckeye21 (@BuckeyeChi5) February 8, 2025

Auburn looked familiarly dominant in the first eight minutes of action as the home team cruised to a 20-11 lead to start the game.

That was when the Gators defense began to clamp down, allowing Florida to head into the halftime break with a 10-point advantage.

Auburn made a late push to tie the game, cutting Florida's lead to nine points with eight minutes left on the clock.

But the home team couldn't overcome Florida's shooting as the Gators went 31-for-64 (48.4 percent) from the field, and 13-for-33 (39.4 percent) from deep, while impressing fans in the win.

Florida a couple minutes away from the most impressive win in all of college hoops this season. This second half has been something else, keeping Auburn from getting it close

— Josh Veltrie (@JVeltrie) February 8, 2025

How many shots has Auburn missed at the rim today? Florida's size is a problem.

— Kevin Scarbinsky (@KevinScarbinsky) February 8, 2025

- can’t make a layup
- won’t rebound
- aren’t getting back on defense

Florida wants it 1000x more than Auburn

— Aubie’s son🦅 (@AubieSon) February 8, 2025

https://twitter.com/LonelyTalegater/status/1888362976643625221

I love the way Florida and Auburn play the game of basketball.

Two national title contenders, and we get to watch them in February!😁

— T3™️ (@T3Bracketology) February 8, 2025

Walter Clayton Jr. led Florida with 19 points in the win, while Thomas Haugh scored 16 off the bench. National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome was held to 18 points in Auburn's loss.

Auburn, whose only other loss this season came to No. 9 Duke, conceded a first SEC loss of the campaign. Now at 22-1 on the season and 9-1 in the SEC, the Tigers next hit the road to face Vanderbilt followed by No. 3 Alabama.

Florida meanwhile improves to 20-3 overall and 7-3 in the SEC. The Gators will hope to get Martin back in the fold soon while preparing for the team's next road game, this time against No. 22 Mississippi State.

Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome will not need surgery on his ankle injury, the school announced Sunday, but Jeff Borzello of ESPN reported the senior will be out "indefinitely."

Broome suffered a "significant sprain" during the team's 66-63 win over South Carolina, head coach Bruce Pearl told the SEC Network, via Borzello.

Broome exited the game with under 14 minutes remaining after stepping on a teammate's foot while contesting a shot on defense. He was unable to put weight on his foot and had to be assisted to the locker room.

Broome, a front-runner for National Player of the Year, is averaging 18.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 56.2 percent from the field. He has recorded 10 double-doubles this season.

The injury marks Broome's second of the season. He previously left the Tigers' 100-59 win over Georgia State just two minutes into the game with a shoulder injury. According to Pearl, Broome's shoulder "came out and came right back in," per Borzello. He did not miss any additional games because of that injury.

No. 2 Auburn is in the midst of an eight-game win streak, boasting a 15-1 record. Their only loss of the season came in a narrow 84-78 defeat against No. 9 Duke.

A tale of two halves may be a cliche phrase, but sometimes it is accurate.

Monday's game between No. 4 Auburn and No. 5 Iowa State was one of those times.

The Tigers men's basketball team defeated the Cyclones 83-81 in Monday's quarterfinals showdown at the 2024 Maui Invitational. Iowa State had a 49-33 halftime lead, but Auburn came charging back and outscored the Big 12 team 50-32 after intermission.

Johni Broome's putback after an offensive rebound in the final second proved to be the difference, and Iowa State's desperation heave did not fall.

NO. 4 AUBURN COMPLETES THE 18-PT COMEBACK AGAINST NO. 5 IOWA STATE 🔥

Auburn is the first team to have two AP top-5 wins in its first 5 games since 2001 👏 pic.twitter.com/LVMHcjYW2g

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 26, 2024

Broome proved to be the hero at the end, which was fitting since he led the way during the comeback. He posted 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks while controlling the glass and anchoring the interior defense.

It was far from a one-man show, though, as five Tigers finished in double figures.

Chad Baker-Mazara found his touch from deep on his way to 18 points, while Tahaad Pettiford provided a spark off the bench with 14 points. That helped counter Keshon Gilbert, who spearheaded the effort for Iowa State with 23 points while going 8-of-10 from the field.

However, Gilbert's turnover in the final seconds gave Auburn its final possession, which it turned into the game-winning basket.

While this was a quarterfinals game in the tournament, neither team will go home. Rather, Iowa State now heads to the loser's side of the bracket, while Auburn will head to the winner's side. The Tigers face the winner of the game between North Carolina and Dayton, while the Cyclones will face the loser.

Iowa State wasn't the only notable team to lose in Monday's Maui Invitational action.

Back-to-back reigning national champions UConn lost to Memphis in overtime in the day's first game, meaning there won't be a highly anticipated championship match featuring the Huskies and perhaps Auburn.

Instead, it may be a Tigers showdown if Memphis and Auburn continue to win.

Auburn basketball players Jahki Howard and Ja'Heim Hudson reportedly won't travel for the team's game against Houston on Saturday night following an altercation Friday.

On3's Justin Hokanson and ESPN's Jeff Borzello both reported that the Tigers will be without the reserve forwards.

Borzello previously reported that Auburn's scheduled flight to Houston was grounded Friday after two Tigers players got into a scuffle. The incident was said to have been "over before it escalated into anything serious."

Field of 68's Jeff Goodman characterized the antics as "some really strong-ass horseplay."

Howard is a 6'6" freshman from Boston who was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 61 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class.

In the Tigers' 94-43 season-opening win over Vermont on Wednesday, he recorded seven points, four rebounds, one block and one steal in 20 minutes.

Hudson is a senior transfer who played at Georgia State and SMU before making the move to Auburn this season.

After averaging 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest in 31 games at SMU last season, Hudson played 15 minutes against Vermont on Wednesday, registering two points, two rebounds and two assists.

Auburn is the No. 11-ranked team in the nation and it is coming off three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances under head coach Bruce Pearl. On Saturday, the Tigers will face their first major test of the season when they face a Houston team ranked No. 4.

The Cougars have won at least 28 games in four consecutive seasons and 30 or more games in each of the past three.

Head coach Kelvin Sampson has led Houston to back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances, as well as a Final Four appearance in 2021 and an Elite Eight berth in 2022.

Like Auburn, the Cougars are 1-0 so far this season, crushing Jackson State 97-40 on Monday.

The Auburn men's basketball team is set to face the Houston Cougars in an early-season showdown on Saturday, but the SEC team reportedly encountered some trouble getting to Texas for the contest.

Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 reported Friday that the team's flight returned home after about 45 minutes because of "horseplay between players on the flight that could have escalated into a fight."

One source said there was yelling and guys got in each other’s faces, but there were no actual fisticuffs. https://t.co/bl2wpWp5Zz

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 9, 2024

Goodman noted the expectation is the Tigers will still fly to Houston later Friday on a different flight.

NEW: Flight that appears to be the Auburn men's basketball team heading to Houston diverted back to Auburn this afternoon. Air Traffic Control audio we've obtained shows a pilot in that airspace telling ATC "we have a bunch of basketball players fighting"
We've reached out to…

— Jonathan Hardison (@WBRC6Hardison) November 9, 2024

It's safe to say this surely wasn't what the team had in mind when it posted "liftoff" as players were boarding the flight:

liftoff 🚀 pic.twitter.com/EHLjJAjpNd

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) November 8, 2024

Saturday's game is expected to be one of the best on the nonconference slate this season. Houston is No. 4 in the Associated Press Top 25, while Auburn is No. 11 and looking to earn a critical win away from home that could resonate on Selection Sunday.

The Cougars started with a convincing 57-point win over Jackson State in their opener, while the Tigers cruised in a 51-point victory in their first game against Vermont. Even against overmatched competition, the blowouts hinted at how much talent is available on each side in a season that should feature plenty of wins.

Saturday has the chance to be a measuring-stick contest for both teams, but this adds another storyline ahead of tip-off.

It is slated to start at 9:30 p.m. ET, but a late arrival the night before could alter the Tigers' overall schedule ahead of the game.

Houston is essentially the home team in this one, but it is not an on-campus game. Instead, the two teams will face each other in the Toyota Center, which is the home of the NBA's Houston Rockets.

Auburn freshman Aden Holloway is entering the NCAA transfer portal, per Travis Branham of 247Sports.

Heading into the 2023-24 season, Holloway was a five-star prospect ranked top-20 in the nation by 247Sports.

He finished his freshman season having averaged 7.3 points, 2.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 35 games, earning him a bid to the SEC All-Freshman team despite his struggles from behind the arc.

Holloway was a member of Auburn's starting five in all three conference tournament victories on the Tigers' way to the SEC Championship title.

His departure is another blow for the Auburn backcourt after guards K.D. Johnson and Tre Donaldson entered the portal.

Other schools including Miami, Tennessee and Wake Forest were recruiting Holloway before his commitment to Auburn, per 247Sports.

Now Holloway could potentially reconsider Wake Forest, which is located closer to his hometown of Matthews, North Carolina.

Holloway was a reliable ball-handler during his first college season, ranking fourth in the conference with a 3.03 assist-to-turnover ratio, per College Basketball Analytics (h/t Richard Silva of the Montgomery Advertiser.)

He was far less consistent, however, when shooting from behind the arc. The point guard went 11 games over the season without a single 3-pointer, despite regular opportunities in Auburn's starting five.

Holloway started spending pre-game warmups working specifically on shooting 3-pointers, per AL.com's Matt Cohen.

The effort paid off. After returning to Auburn's starting lineup with nine games remaining in the season, Holloway shot 33.3 percent from behind the arc.

"It was definitely a good feeling, just being able to see the ball go in the basket, especially after going through something like that," Holloway said after recording 15 points in a regular-season win over Georgia during this final stretch, per Henry Patton of AuburnSports. "I've never experienced that ever in my basketball career. Just a little adversity this year."

Holloway ended his first college season with an 0-for-5 effort from deep in Auburn's first-round NCAA tournament upset by Yale.

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl had expressed confidence in Holloway's ability to develop his shot, praising the freshman's shot selection and defensive responsibility during his shooting slumps, Cohen reported.

With Holloway having departed for the transfer portal, Pearl will have to turn his attention to developing another young guard instead. Tahaad Pettiford, ranked as the top point guard of the 2024 recruiting class by 247Sports, signed with Auburn in November.