The Auburn Tigers’ 2024-25 season ended in heartbreak with a tough 79-73 loss to Florida in the Final Four, halting their championship hopes after a standout year led by Johni Broome.
The Tigers posted a strong 27-4 record and captured the SEC regular-season title, with Broome playing a pivotal role by averaging 18.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. He recorded 20 double-doubles and led a dominant run that included just one loss from December to March.
Auburn Legend Embraces Johni Broome After Heartbreaking Final Four Loss
Broome’s stellar season earned him the Sporting News National Player of the Year award—the first in Auburn history—along with SEC Player of the Year honors, cementing his place among the program’s all-time greats. Though the loss to Florida stung, Broome’s talent and leadership lifted Auburn to new heights and made this a season to remember.
Johni Broome and Chuck share a moment after the game 🧡💙#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/eLc7UMCCWb
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025
Following the Tigers’ loss, a poignant moment shared on the NCAA March Madness account showed Broome embracing Auburn legend Charles Barkley. Barkley, who led Auburn to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1984 before becoming an NBA Hall of Famer, has long been a symbol of the program.
For Broome, the embrace with “Sir Charles” felt like a passing of the torch—an emotional exchange that reflected the pride, resilience, and rich tradition of Auburn basketball. It was a moment that captured the powerful bond between past and present stars.
Broome’s college journey began at Morehead State, where he made an immediate impact, averaging 16.8 points and 9.0 rebounds as a freshman in 2020-21.
He led the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament with a career-high 27 points in the Ohio Valley Conference championship game. After transferring to Auburn in 2022, Broome quickly became a cornerstone of the program, helping elevate the Tigers to national prominence.
His development as a player and leader has left a lasting impression on Auburn basketball. Broome’s remarkable journey—from Morehead State to the Final Four—has not only cemented his legacy within the program but also set a new standard for future Tigers to follow.
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His story will continue to inspire on and off the court.
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