Auburn forward Johni Broome continues to solidify his position as one of the best players in college basketball. His latest dominant performance came against the LSU Tigers, contributing 26 points and 16 rebounds in an 87-74 win.
Is he actually in the conversation as the top player in the entire country?
Johni Broome’s Impact on Auburn’s 2024 Season
With 12 double-doubles this season, he leads the SEC in that category. Even after returning from an ankle injury, Broome’s influence on both ends of the court remains undeniable.
His season averages of 18.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game highlight his importance to Auburn’s success.
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As the team’s leading scorer and primary post presence, he takes advantage of matchups to maximize efficiency. His ability to consistently perform at a high level gives Auburn a reliable offensive and defensive anchor.
Teammate Chaney Johnson spoke highly of Broome’s contributions.
“I mean, Johni’s (the) National Player of the Year, in my opinion,” Johnson said. “One of the best big men in the country, one of the best players in the country.”
Johnson also emphasized Broome’s leadership and work ethic, which make him an essential part of Auburn’s system. Broome’s dominance in the SEC is unmatched, as no other player in the conference has more than six double-doubles.
He also became the first Division I player since Kenneth Faried in 2010-11 to record five games with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots in a single season. His ability to impact games on both offense and defense places him among the nation’s top players.
Adjustments and Game Planning Around Johni Broome
Head coach Bruce Pearl understands how opposing defenses approach Broome and adjust their game plan accordingly.
If teams decide to defend him one-on-one in the post, Broome takes full advantage of the opportunity.
Pearl even went as far as to elaborate on this.
“When you go into a scout and Johni hears these words, ‘they’re going to play you one on one in the post…’ You know you got to be careful when you say that to him, because he will take you at your word and you know, nobody’s going to play him one on one in the post,” Pearl said.
When teams send double teams, Broome uses his passing ability to find open teammates. Auburn’s offense benefits from having multiple perimeter shooters, allowing the team to capitalize on the defensive attention Broome attracts.
Earlier in the season, during the Maui Invitational, he surpassed Charles Barkley for 28th on Auburn’s all-time scoring list, showing his long-term impact on the program. Against LSU, he scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half, turning around a slow start in which he began shooting 3-of-14 and finished 7-of-9 from the field.
Auburn guard Miles Kelly highlighted Broome’s importance in the team’s offensive strategy: “If nobody can stop him, why would you stop going to him? I think that’s just what will happen. Nobody can really stop him.”
Auburn currently boasts 12 Quad-1 victories, proving their ability to compete at the highest level. With Broome as their centerpiece, the team remains focused on maintaining its undefeated conference record as it approaches the final stretch before March Madness.
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