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Tag: Auburns
Johni Broome injury: No. 1 Auburn’s national player of the year candidate returns vs. Tennessee
![NCAA Basketball: Tennessee at Auburn]()
USATSI
Auburn star big man Johni Broome returned to the No. 1 Tigers for Saturday’s showdown vs. No. 6 Tennessee after missing his team’s last two games with an ankle injury. Broome was deemed a game-time decision heading into the week and was listed as questionable to play on the official SEC Student-Athlete Availability Report, but entered the game with 17:20 remaining in the first half to applause from the sold-out crowd at Neville Arena.
Broome was the favorite to win national player of the year before going down with an injury against South Carolina earlier this month. The fifth-year senior is averaging 17.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the No. 1 ranked team in the country. Auburn is the only team in the SEC (5-0) that has yet to lose in conference play.
Broome twisted his ankle with 13:45 remaining in Auburn’s narrow 66-63 win on the road over South Carolina on Jan. 11 and had to be carried off the court. Broome officially suffered a lower-ankle injury (instead of an upper-ankle injury), which could’ve led to a longer rehab process.
The injury against South Carolina wasn’t the first time Broome exited a game this season following an injury scare. Just three minutes into a win over Georgia State last month, Broome checked out with an apparent injury to his right shoulder. He underwent an MRI but was cleared to return for the team’s next game against Purdue.
The Tigers have won their last 10 games since losing to Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in the ACC/SEC Men’s Challenge last month.
This story will be updated
After a brief scare with an injury, Johni Broome, the national player of the year candidate from No. 1 Auburn, is set to make his return to the court against Tennessee. Broome, who has been a dominant force for the Tigers all season, suffered a minor injury in their last game but has recovered quickly and will be back in action for this crucial matchup.Broome’s presence on the court has been instrumental in Auburn’s success this season, as he leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking. His ability to dominate in the paint and alter shots on the defensive end has made him a standout player and a frontrunner for national player of the year honors.
With Broome back in the lineup, Auburn will look to continue their impressive run and secure another win against a tough Tennessee team. His return will undoubtedly boost the team’s chances of coming out on top and solidifying their position as the top-ranked team in the country.
Fans of the Tigers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Broome will be back on the court and ready to make an impact once again. His presence will be crucial as Auburn looks to maintain their spot at the top of the college basketball world and make a deep run in the upcoming postseason.
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Johni Broome injury, Auburn basketball, national player of the year, Tennessee, college basketball, SEC, Auburn Tigers, NCAA, return from injury
#Johni #Broome #injury #Auburns #national #player #year #candidate #returns #TennesseeBruce Pearl identifies Chaney Johnson as Auburn’s hardest worker
As much success as Auburn is having this season, a lot is a result of a productive offseason. Bruce Pearl shaped his roster the right way, mixing in a lot of returning talent, some players from the NCAA transfer portal, and a highly rated recruiting class. One of the players to come back was Chaney Johnson but he appears to be a different human.
Pearl says Johnson put on 25 pounds this offseason, completely changing his body. In fact, nobody works harder than him according to Pearl. Whether it’s improving his physique or getting shots up, Pearl is confident everybody inside the program would agree with him.
“We looked at film of Chaney Johnson last year,” Pearl said. “His hair is a little different but the young man is 25 pounds heavier right now. He is a monster… I’ll say it again, Chaney Johnson is my hardest worker. It’s really hard. You go back, look at me for 10 or 11 years, when I say somebody is a hard worker, I always put a couple guys in because you don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings.
“Nobody on this team would argue it. Whether it’s developing his body, working on his jump shot, doing all the different things.”
These comments from Pearl come after Johnson had a great night in a blowout win against Mississippi State on Tuesday. Johnson finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. It’s also the first game of the season Johnson has started, replacing the injured Johni Broome.
In a big spot where questions were going to be asked of Auburn, Johnson was able to deliver.
He will need to continue to deliver, even when Broome is back in the mix. Next on the schedule for Auburn is Georgia, heading there as the No. 1 team per the AP poll. Johnson is likely to remain in the starting lineup.
Usually, hard work finds a way to result in some success. Pearl could not be more thrilled with the effort Johnson has put in but also gave out credit to team staff members for helping him out. An all-around effort that is paying off in the middle of January.
Auburn hopes the same will be true come March, looking to win the program’s first national championship game. If anything, we know it won’t be because of a lack of trying.
Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl has identified senior forward Chaney Johnson as the team’s hardest worker. Johnson, known for his relentless work ethic and dedication to improving his game, has been a standout player for the Tigers this season.In a recent interview, Pearl praised Johnson for his commitment to the team and his willingness to put in the extra effort both on and off the court. “Chaney is the epitome of a hard worker,” Pearl said. “He never takes a day off and always gives 110% in practice and in games. He sets a great example for his teammates and is a true leader on this team.”
Johnson, who is averaging double-digit points and rebounds per game this season, has been a key contributor to Auburn’s success. His work ethic and determination have not gone unnoticed by his coaches and teammates, who look to him for inspiration and motivation.
As the Tigers continue their march towards the postseason, Johnson’s work ethic will undoubtedly play a crucial role in their success. With his relentless drive and determination, there’s no doubt that he will continue to be a valuable asset to the team.
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Bruce Pearl, Chaney Johnson, Auburn basketball, hardest worker, player spotlight, SEC basketball, Auburn Tigers, college basketball, work ethic, dedication, standout player
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Could Auburn’s rotation expand in SEC play? Bruce Pearl isn’t ruling it out
Bruce Pearl admitted that two of his three preseason expectations about Southeastern Conference play were wrong.
“It’s not about just being humble, hungry and healthy. I was wrong about that. There’s going to be so much losing that there will be enough humility. No one’s gonna have to worry about being humble,” Pearl said on Friday ahead of Auburn’s SEC opener against Missouri. “And I think hunger is not gonna be a factor, either. So, I was wrong two out of the three, because I think everybody’s gonna be hungry.”
The one factor he remains confident in is the importance of staying healthy, something Pearl says might be harder than ever in the SEC this season.
“The league is so physical, so athletic that there are going to be more injuries than we had in the non-conference,” Pearl said. “That’s something I’m predicting. I don’t want it. It’s just that the reality is that benches are gonna become even more valuable.”
Auburn has always been known for playing a deep bench. Pearl even said before the season that he once again planned for the Tigers to play ten players double-digit minutes.
While ten players do currently average double-digit minutes, the rotation has more consistently featured nine players throughout the season, with players such as Jahki Howard, JP Pegues and Ja’Heim Hudson still seeming to be on the fringes of the rotation and not consistently getting significant minutes.
Pegues began the season as a starter, but his role has continually shrunk over the course of the season to where he’s only averaged 4.4 minutes over the last five games.
Howard and Hudson were also part of the rotation at the beginning of the season, but lost significant progress after being forced to miss time following an in-flight altercation on the team’s trip to Houston.
Howard has returned to a key role in the rotation, averaging 16.8 minutes over the last five games. However, Pearl hasn’t closed the door on him or any of Auburn’s less-frequent contributors earning more minutes.
“I try very much to be consistent with our minutes and reward the guys, and I don’t have knee-jerk reactions to starters or to too many trends,” Pearl said. “There is opportunity for the guys on the bench to be able to play and contribute more.”
Pearl noted that most of Auburn’s bench players are in their first season with the program, explaining in part why it could take them longer to earn bigger roles in the rotation.
“The room for improvement on our team has a lot to do with our bench,” Pearl said. “I think those guys have a chance to get better and help us more and more.”
Auburn’s SEC opener against Missouri is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. on Saturday. It will be streaming live on SEC Network.
Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com
As Auburn basketball gears up for SEC play, head coach Bruce Pearl is considering the possibility of expanding the team’s rotation. With a deep and talented roster, Pearl believes that adding more players into the mix could give the Tigers an edge in conference play.While Auburn has primarily relied on a tight rotation of key players so far this season, Pearl isn’t ruling out the idea of giving more players significant minutes in SEC games. By expanding the rotation, the Tigers could keep players fresh and potentially throw off opponents with different lineup combinations.
Pearl’s willingness to shake up the rotation shows his confidence in the team’s depth and versatility. With a mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers, Auburn has the potential to surprise opponents with a variety of lineups and playing styles.
As the Tigers face tough competition in the SEC, expanding the rotation could be a strategic move to keep opponents guessing and give Auburn an advantage. Only time will tell if Pearl decides to make changes, but one thing is for certain – the Tigers are ready to compete at a high level in conference play.
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Auburn basketball, SEC play, Bruce Pearl, Auburn rotation, college basketball, SEC expansion, Auburn Tigers, NCAA basketball, Auburn coach, starting lineup, player rotation, SEC tournament, college sports, basketball strategy, coaching decisions.
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