Johni Broome was the best player on the floor during Sunday’s Elite Eight game between Auburn and Michigan State, but a big injury scare in the second half had everyone holding their breath.
The Auburn senior Broome went down in a frightening moment with 10:37 remaining in the game. While trying to contest a shot at the rim by Michigan State’s Frankie Fidler, Broome appeared to suffer a hyperextended left knee. At the same time, Broome’s left ankle also seemed to turn a bit, and even his right elbow twisted awkwardly upon his landing (all occurring on the same play).
Here is the video.
Broome was able to get up and walk off without any assistance. But he went straight to the locker room and ended up missing over five minutes of game action.
Fortunately for Auburn, Broome somehow managed to check back in with 5:29 left in the contest. He then promptly hit a three-pointer to put to rest any immediate concerns about his health.
The 2025 SEC Player of the Year (as well as a consensus First Team All-American), Broome finished the game with a tremendous 25 points and 14 rebounds. He was also Auburn’s leading scorer during the season (with 18.5 points per game) and even led the conference in both rebounds per game (10.5) and blocks per game (2.1).
Auburn ultimately held on to beat Michigan State 70-64. They will now face fellow No. 1 seed Florida in the Final Four on Apr. 5, giving Broome a little bit more time to recover. While Broome may not be out of the woods just yet, especially with the potential for postgame swelling and soreness, it looks like the worst-case scenario was avoided for one of college basketball’s best (and funniest) players.
