Johni Broome injury update: Bruce Pearl makes encouraging statement on Auburn star vs. Tennessee

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl provided an injury update on star center Johni Broome ahead of the Tigers’ game against Tennessee Saturday night.

Pearl was asked on ESPN College GameDay Saturday morning if there is a chance that Johni Broome will be able to play against the Vols. He shared that there is definitely a chance.

“I think so. I think there’s a chance. Listen, he’s going to warm up. You know, you guys were at practice yesterday. He went yesterday, but he didn’t really push it,” Bruce Pearl said. “He wants to play. But if in warm ups he doesn’t feel good about it he’s not going to play.

“But I’m guessing, with you guys here, with these [fans] here, Johni Broome is going to take [the court]. That’s my guess.”

The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Broome has missed the past two games against Mississippi State and Georgia since suffering a significant ankle injury in the second half of the Tigers’ 66-63 win over South Carolina on Jan. 11. The talented big man went up for a rebound and landed on teammate Chaney Johnson’s foot, rolling his ankle in the process.

Broome scored 6 points with 3 rebounds and 2 blocks against the Gamecocks in 24 minutes prior to going down. Tahaad Pettiford led Auburn with 15 points against South Carolina, while Miles Kelly added 14.

No. 1 Auburn (17-1, 5-0 SEC) enters Saturday night’s SEC showdown vs. No. 6 Tennessee (17-2, 4-2) at 8:30 pm ET on ESPN having won 10 straight since the Tigers’ lone loss this season, 84-78, vs. No. 9 Duke on Dec. 4.

Despite missing time, Broome still leads Auburn in five major statistical categories this season, averaging 17.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.7 blocks, and a team-high 27.4 minutes per game. The ankle sprain is the second injury Broome has suffered this season. He also had a shoulder injury late in non-conference play.

Auburn hasn’t missed a beat since losing Broome, outscoring No. 15 Mississippi State by 22 (88-66) and escaping Athens with a 70-68 win over No. 23 Georgia last Saturday. Through it all, the Tigers have maintained their SEC-leading plus-19.6 point differential and 50.2 field goal percentage, while ranking third in the league averaging 85.7 points per game this season.

Auburn has played well without Johni Broome, but the Tigers would certainly like to have him back against Tennessee.