Jan 11, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Chad Baker-Mazara (10) drives round South Carolina Gamecocks guard Arden Conyers (21) within the second half at Colonial Life Enviornment. Obligatory Credit score: Jeff Blake-Imagn Photographs Auburn rose from No. 2 to No. 1 within the Related Press Prime 25 on Monday, however the host Tigers will not have their greatest participant for his or her Tuesday night time Southeastern Convention recreation in opposition to No. 15 Mississippi State.
Ahead/heart and participant of the yr candidate Johni Broome was helped off the ground throughout Saturday’s 66-63 win at South Carolina with what coach Bruce Pearl termed a big ankle sprain.
An MRI on Sunday confirmed the post-game prognosis. Surgical procedure will not be required, however a timeline for Broome’s return is not accessible but.
Pearl is getting ready the Tigers (15-1, 3-0) to be with out their 6-foot-10 anchor, who leads the group in scoring (17.9 factors per recreation), rebounding (10.7), assists (3.2) and blocked pictures (2.7).
“With out our participant of the yr, it will be exhausting to seek out offense,” Pearl stated. “Johni’s unstoppable down there. It’ll be identical to it was for us within the second half — bought to be the following man up.”
Fifth-year senior Dylan Cardwell, who averages 5.5 factors, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocked pictures, would possibly get the primary shot at changing Broome. Cardwell made a key contribution to Saturday’s win with a late dunk that put Auburn forward 64-63 with 1:32 remaining.
With out Broome’s offense, the Tigers — who’ve gained eight straight video games — determine to get extra pictures for his or her 5 different double-figure scorers, led by Chad Baker-Mazara (12.7 ppg). Tahaad Pettiford (11.3), who sank the clinching foul pictures at South Carolina, may additionally see an elevated function inside Auburn’s offense.
It is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the Tigers can preserve their excessive stage of effectivity on offense when Broome is out. The Bulldogs (14-2, 2-1) are identified for his or her tenacity on protection as they power 14.6 turnovers per recreation and enter Monday tied for eleventh within the nation with 10.1 steals per recreation.
Mississippi State missed on an opportunity to make an early assertion within the SEC on Saturday night time when its usually staunch protection gave up 16 3-pointers in a 95-90 dwelling loss to No. 6 Kentucky. It was the Bulldogs’ 18th straight regular-season loss to the Wildcats courting to 2009. The defeat additionally snapped the Bulldogs’ eight-game profitable streak this season.
However coach Chris Jans stated the largest downside was on the offensive finish, despite the fact that the 90 factors marked the group’s most in opposition to an SEC opponent in his three seasons at Mississippi State.
“I used to be somewhat shocked by a few of our pictures,” he stated. “They only had been nearly like they had been shocked they had been open so I ought to shoot it. I assumed we’ve got a number of guys take some pictures that had been like, ‘We do not want that.'”
The Bulldogs fell in love with 3-pointers, taking 40, however the hoop did not fairly return that affection. Mississippi State made simply 12 triples, with the group’s main scorer this season, Josh Hubbard, managing 3 on 11 tries.
“I’ve bought unbelievable confidence in Josh,” Jans stated. “He is confirmed over the course of a year-and-a-half that he is a prolific scorer and he shoots pictures that typically would not be an amazing shot for another person simply due to his stature and his energy and his recreation.”
Hubbard averages 17 factors a recreation and has made 37.3 % of his 3-pointers, although he is taking pictures simply 30.8 % from distance over the past 12 video games.
The Tigers personal an 83-71 lead within the all-time collection and have gained 9 of the final 11 matchups.
–Subject Degree Media
