Bruce Pearl Says Johni Broome is a Game Time Decision, According to Report

Johni Broome
Auburn forward Johni Broome against Tennessee. Photo via Auburn Athletics.

We’ll have to wait until Saturday to know Johni Broome’s status for the Tennessee game, according to Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl on Friday.

The initial report from Jeff Goodman and The Field of 68 states that Broome will be a game-time decision on Saturday after practicing “some” on Thursday.

“Auburn big man Johni Broome will be a game-time decision tomorrow night against Tennessee, Bruce Pearl told The Field of 68,” Goodman tweeted on Friday afternoon. “Pearl said Broome practiced some yesterday and wants to play, but he’ll see how the ankle feels tomorrow.”

Broome’s personal desire to play is more interesting than just a passing comment, though. Auburn associate head coach Steven Peal spoke with The Next Round on Tuesday and revealed that the final decision will still rest in Broome’s hands if given the green light from the doctors.

“If the doctors say he is cleared and Johni doesn’t think he can be 100%, then we don’t want Johni to go,” Steven Pearl said on the show on Tuesday. “We don’t want Johni to come back until Johni is ready to come back.

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If Pearl’s statement that Broome wants to go is true, then it looks like all they’ll need is a checkmark from the doctor to see their player of the year contender return to the court.

The SEC player injury report is set to be released on Friday night and could provide more information on Broome’s status, but it looks as though the senior forward will be a game-time decision based on Pearl’s comments.

Johni Broome suffered an ankle injury on Jan. 11 in the Tigers’ game against South Carolina and didn’t play in Auburn’s following games against Mississippi State on Jan. 14 and Georgia on Jan. 18. Fortunately for the Tigers, Auburn did not have a mid-week game leading up to the Tennessee game, but it feels safe to say that Broome would not have been a participant if they had.

In 16 games this season, Broome is averaging 17.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Broome has solidified himself as a Naismith Player of the Year candidate despite missing time on the court, too. Broome is a dominant player on the court whose experience and maturity have helped lead Pearl’s veteran-heavy roster.

Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more on Broome’s status on the Friday night SEC injury report and a final update on Saturday night from Auburn, AL.

No. 1 Auburn will host No. 6 Tennessee at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night in Neville Arena. RTI will have live, on-site coverage of the game from Auburn, AL.

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