In the somber aftermath of Auburn’s 79-73 loss to Florida in Saturday’s Final Four clash, Tigers star Johni Broome fielded questions about his physical condition. Despite visible discomfort and a noticeable decline in second-half performance, Broome remained composed.
“My elbow felt fine going into the game,” Broome said. “Obviously, here and there it would bother me a little bit, but nothing that I couldn’t play with.”
From Dominance to Decline: Broome’s Tale of Two Halves
The loss ended what many called “the greatest season in Auburn history,” with the Tigers’ first Final Four appearance since 2019 concluding in heartbreak at San Antonio’s Alamodome. Broome dominated early, scoring 12 first-half points, but Florida’s second-half adjustments—and Walter Clayton Jr.’s explosive 34-point performance—proved too much for Auburn to overcome.
Auburn’s early success was built around Broome’s interior dominance, helping the Tigers build a 46-38 halftime lead and outscore Florida 26-14 in the paint. The offense ran through Broome, who looked every bit the star that powered Auburn’s run—especially in his 25-point performance against Michigan State in the Elite Eight.
Johni Broome was asked how much his ankle and elbow injuries bothered him in Auburn’s loss to Florida. His response: pic.twitter.com/sASpuCn56F
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) April 6, 2025
But the second half told a different story. Florida’s defensive adjustments limited Broome to just three points after the break, as the Gators surged ahead. When asked about the shift, Broome was quick to credit Florida’s execution without assigning blame.
“I feel like we got the looks that we wanted to get,” he said. “I wasn’t able to capitalize and finish them.”
Florida’s second-half strategy transformed the game. The Gators forced 12 turnovers after Auburn committed just two in the first half, and they adjusted by switching bigger wings onto Broome while likely sending help in key moments. The result: Auburn’s primary offensive weapon was effectively neutralized.
Though Broome refused to blame injury, his mobility appeared reduced. He was seen limping on several occasions, suggesting that his ankle and elbow issues may have affected him more than he let on. Auburn, meanwhile, went cold—shooting just 8-of-24 from the field in the second half.
The loss marks a bittersweet end to Broome’s impressive tournament run.
MORE: Tahaad Pettiford Gets Emotional After Auburn’s Final Four Exit
Despite his insistence that injuries weren’t a factor, the stark contrast between his first- and second-half play will leave Auburn fans wondering what might have been—if their star had been at full strength during Clayton Jr.’s historic performance, the first back-to-back 30-point Final Four games since Larry Bird in 1979.
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