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 Area. Necessary 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 evening Southeastern Convention recreation towards No. 15 Mississippi State.
Ahead/heart and participant of the 12 months candidate Johni Broome was helped off the ground throughout Saturday’s 66-63 win at South Carolina with what coach Bruce Pearl termed a major 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 out there but.
Pearl is getting ready the Tigers (15-1, 3-0) to be with out their 6-foot-10 anchor, who leads the staff in scoring (17.9 factors per recreation), rebounding (10.7), assists (3.2) and blocked pictures (2.7).
“With out our participant of the 12 months, it may be laborious to search out offense,” Pearl mentioned. “Johni’s unstoppable down there. It is going to be identical to it was for us within the second half — acquired to be the following man up.”
Fifth-year senior Dylan Cardwell, who averages 5.5 factors, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocked pictures, may 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 will likely be fascinating 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 drive 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 evening when its usually staunch protection gave up 16 3-pointers in a 95-90 residence 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 successful streak this season.
However coach Chris Jans mentioned the largest downside was on the offensive finish, although the 90 factors marked the staff’s most towards an SEC opponent in his three seasons at Mississippi State.
“I used to be a bit stunned by a few of our pictures,” he mentioned. “They only had been virtually like they had been stunned they had been open so I ought to shoot it. I assumed we now have 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 staff’s main scorer this season, Josh Hubbard, managing 3 on 11 tries.
“I’ve acquired unbelievable confidence in Josh,” Jans mentioned. “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 excellent 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 p.c of his 3-pointers, although he is taking pictures simply 30.8 p.c 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.
–Discipline Degree Media
