When Johni Broome went down with an ankle injury, the question loomed: Could Auburn survive without their star player? At first glance, the answer seemed simple. Of course not. How could a team built around one of the SEC’s best possibly thrive without him?
And yet, Tuesday night’s jaw-dropping 88-66 demolition of No. 15 Mississippi State has me asking something that feels almost sacrilegious: Is Auburn actually better without Broome?
Think about it. Tahaad Pettiford, a freshman, set the arena on fire with that electrifying steal and windmill dunk. Chad Baker-Mazara stepped up, leading the team with a swagger and poise that screamed, “We’ve got this.” It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. A Quad 1 win so dominant that it forced us to reevaluate everything we thought we knew about Auburn basketball.
This team, now sitting atop the AP Poll, was my preseason pick to win the national championship for a reason: defense. They’ve been the nation’s best, averaging seven blocks per game. But here’s the twist—without Broome, they didn’t falter. They thrived, racking up nine blocks in the first half alone against a Mississippi State team poised for a deep NCAA run.
So, what’s the truth? Is Broome the engine of this team, or is his absence revealing something we never expected? A deeper well of talent? A chemistry that’s better without him?
I’m not saying Auburn should move on from their star. But after Tuesday night, I can’t help but wonder: Is there a version of this team—one without Johni Broome—that’s even scarier? The idea feels almost wrong. But maybe, just maybe, it’s right.
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