Is Johni Broome playing? Exploring Auburn star's availability vs Mississippi State (Jan 14)

Johni Broome won't play in Tuesday's contest against No. 15 Mississippi State. He sprained his left ankle in No. 1 Auburn's last game against South Carolina on Saturday, needing to be carried to the locker room as he was unable to put weight on the ankle. The injury will sideline him indefinitely, but surgery won't be needed to make a full recovery.

"I don’t know that we’re the best team in the country right now. Probably not right now, because we’re obviously not at full strength. Johni won’t play [Tuesday] against Mississippi State, but we’re still a really good team. So, we’ll prepare without him," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said.

Broome is progressing through the fifth season of his collegiate career. His performances throughout the 2024-25 season have elevated him to the conversation of National Player of the Year.

How Johni Broome performed for Auburn before the injury

Johni Broome's injury deals a big blow to an Auburn squad that finally took over the No. 1 spot in the latest AP Top 25 poll that was released on Monday.

Broome was averaging a double-double of 17.9 points and 10.7 rebounds on 54.7% shooting from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc. He also provided 3.3 assists and 2.7 blocks per game.

Despite the situation, Bruce Pearl remains confident in his team's ability to step up without their star player.

“Getting back to it, I have confidence that all our guys can step up their scoring. Dylan, Chaney, Chad, Denver, Miles, Tahaad, Jahki, and Chris,” Pearl said. “I just think, I think everybody has an opportunity. We have enough talent to be able to have everybody do a little bit more, I think that’s the best way to approach his loss.”

The Tigers stand tall with a 15-1 record on the season, including an active winning streak of eight games. They produce 86.6 points on 50.6% shooting overall and 37.7% from downtown, beating opponents by a convincing margin of 20.6 points per contest.

They face a Mississippi State squad that has a 14-2 record, featuring a 2-1 start in conference play. The No. 15 Bulldogs put up 83.9 points per game, having Josh Hubbard stand out as their leading scorer with 17 points.

After this game, No. 1 Auburn will prepare for their next ranked matchup against the No. 23 Georgia Bulldogs at the Stegeman Coliseum on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET.