On Saturday, with about 14 minutes remaining in the second half, Auburn saw their star player Johni Broome get injured. The game proved to be far more challenging than it appeared to be on paper, but a victory was overshadowed by the injury. Broome left the game with only six points, well below his season average. So, after the Johni Broome injury, what’s next for Auburn? What kind of player are they losing and how long will he be gone?
Johni Broome Injury: How Will Auburn Replace POY Candidate
The Injury
All Tiger fans held their breath as Broome couldn’t put any weight on his left ankle. A usually explosive athlete, Broome could do nothing but limp because of a sprained ankle. While he was defending South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles, he appeared to step on his teammate Chaney Johnson‘s foot. His ankle twisted harshly, and Broome immediately fell to the floor in pain. Athletic trainers surrounded him before eventually helping him onto his right leg. Broome put no weight on his left ankle and will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.
Broome’s Impact
Before Broome’s injury, he was a favorite for the Wooden Award. He was one of the most productive players on the offensive end of the floor. He leads Auburn with 17.9 points and 3.3 assists per game. Broome’s impact on the offensive end often leads to other players being open. Auburn will have a difficult time replacing their leading scorer, but with no other player on the team averaging three assists per game, they will need to find a playmaker to replace Broome on the number one offense according to KenPom.
His abilities on the floor spread to the other side of the court as well. Broome averages 10.7 rebounds per game, more than doubling the next closest player on Auburn (Chaney Johnson averages 5.3 rebounds). He also leads the team in blocks with 2.7 blocks per game. He ends many possessions for a defense that ranks 19th in defensive efficiency for KenPom. Add it all up, Broome is one of the most productive players in the country on both the offensive and defensive sides of the court.
Can Auburn overcome Johni Broome’s Injury?
The simple answer is…maybe? The uncertainty of Broome’s return clouds the rest of Auburn’s season. The Tigers have six players who average double figures in scoring. The roster is talented, but by simply examining the loss of other teams’ key players, such as Louisville and Notre Dame, one can see the impact often expands beyond the stat sheet. Broome opens the floor up just like somebody like Markus Burton does for Notre Dame. Stars affect the game in so many different ways, so it is impossible to truly quantify how Auburn will play without him.
Broome’s injury is perhaps the only thing that could slow down Auburn’s incredible run. They are currently the top-ranked team in the NET rankings and have already racked up seven Quad One (Q1) wins. Most of these contests were not even close. However, they will be put to the test without Broome. A team that already relies on scoring-by-committee, Auburn will need players like Chad Baker-Mazara and Chaney Johnson to overcome for scoring on top of their roles in rebounding and playmaking.
The Last Word on Johni Broome’s Injury
Auburn is one of the best teams in the country, but losing the best player in the country is a major blow. Broome’s bid for the Wooden Award will fall short if he is out for some time. However, with the strength of the SEC, Auburn will have plenty of opportunities to pick up more key wins. Unfortunately, their intense schedule means that they could find themselves losing multiple games without their star player.
He may not be out for the season, but Broome’s injury may just end Auburn’s chances for an SEC regular season title.
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