No. 1 seed Auburn punched its ticket to the Final Four of the men's NCAA Tournament, but it may have come at a cost.
The Tigers defeated Michigan State 70-64 in the Elite Eight Sunday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, advancing to the Final Four for the first time since 2019. However, star player Johni Broome sustained dual injuries to his left leg and right elbow in the vicory.
Despite Broome returning and finishing the game, his status for the Final Four matchup against No. 1 seed Florida Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET from San Antonio, Texas, is in the air. The 6-foot-10 forward and Auburn are seeking their first championship game appearance against a Gators team that beat them 90-81 earlier this season in Auburn, Alabama.
On Monday, The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman delivered good news for Auburn fans via Tigers' coach Bruce Pearl. The Auburn coach said the expectation is for Broome to be in the starting lineup in the Tigers' second ever Final Four game.
Broome, the SEC Player of the Year, is averaging a career-high 18.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this season. During the NCAA Tournament, he is averaging a double-double of 17.3 points and 13.3 rebounds in four games.
Here's the latest on Broome's injury and his availability against Florida in the Final Four:
Johni Broome injury update
On Monday, the Field of 68's Jeff Goodman reported that Broome hyperextended his right elbow against Michigan State. However, according to Goodman, Broome is fully expected to play Saturday against Florida in the Final Four.
Broome returned to Sunday's 70-64 Elite Eight win over Michigan State despite his injury. Broome left the game around the 10:47 mark in the second half ...
