With a hard-fought 70-64 victory over the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday, the Auburn Tigers have secured a spot in next week’s Final Four, set to take place in San Antonio, Texas. This achievement marks a significant turnaround for Auburn, a team that struggled toward the end of the regular season, dropping three of its last four games before entering March Madness. However, the Tigers have found their rhythm at the most crucial time, stringing together four consecutive victories to advance to the national semifinals. This will be just the second time in the program’s history that Auburn has reached the Final Four, the first being in 2019.
That 2019 Auburn squad was a historic one, featuring standout performances that led to multiple players earning all-tournament honors for their respective region. Similarly, the 2025 iteration of the Auburn Tigers has seen two of its stars receive recognition for their stellar performances in the South Regional. On Monday, as the dust settled from the weekend’s bracket action, forward Johni Broome and freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford were named to the All-South Regional Team. Leading the honors, Broome was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the region, a distinction first reported by Taylor Jones of Auburn Wire.
Broome’s recognition is particularly noteworthy, as he becomes only the second Auburn player ever to receive the Most Outstanding Player award for a regional tournament, following in the footsteps of Jared Harper, who won the honor in 2019. This accolade is well deserved, considering Broome’s dominant performances throughout the tournament. Over the course of March Madness, he has posted remarkable averages of 17.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while maintaining an impressive 50% shooting efficiency from the field.
Despite a somewhat slow start in Auburn’s first two games against the Alabama State Hornets and Creighton Bluejays, Broome quickly found his groove when it mattered most. His breakout performance came in the Sweet 16 matchup against the Michigan Wolverines, where he recorded a stellar 22-point, 16-rebound effort. He followed that up with an even more dominant showing in Sunday’s Elite Eight battle against Michigan State, where he tallied 25 points and 14 rebounds while shooting an outstanding 10-of-13 from the field.
Broome’s impact extends beyond just statistics; as a fifth-year senior, his leadership and experience have been crucial in Auburn’s deep tournament run. Already recognized as the 2024-25 SEC Player of the Year and a two-time All-American, Broome is now just two games away from potentially leading Auburn to its first-ever national championship. The Tigers’ program, which has existed for 119 years, has never before captured a national title, making this moment an especially historic one for the school and its supporters.
Broome’s contributions have been complemented by the stellar play of freshman sensation Tahaad Pettiford, who also earned a spot on the All-South Regional Team. Pettiford has been an offensive force, averaging 17.3 points per game throughout the tournament and providing Auburn with a dynamic scoring presence in the backcourt. His emergence as a reliable contributor has added another layer of depth to the Tigers’ offensive attack, making them a formidable opponent heading into the Final Four.
As Auburn prepares for its Final Four matchup, the team will be looking to build on its momentum and continue the level of play that has carried them this far. The Tigers will face a significant challenge in their next game, as the competition only intensifies at this stage of the tournament. However, with Broome’s dominance in the paint and Pettiford’s scoring ability, Auburn has a legitimate chance to make history by winning its first national championship.
Looking back at the program’s journey, Auburn’s return to the Final Four underscores the continued growth and success of its basketball program. Under the leadership of head coach Bruce Pearl, the Tigers have transformed into a perennial contender in college basketball. Pearl, who was at the helm during the 2019 Final Four run, has once again guided his team through the challenges of March Madness, proving his ability to prepare his players for high-pressure situations.
Auburn fans have every reason to be optimistic as their team heads to San Antonio. With two more victories standing between them and a national title, the Tigers are on the verge of cementing their place in college basketball history. Whether they ultimately achieve that goal or not, this tournament run has already solidified Auburn’s status as one of the top programs in the nation.
As the Tigers gear up for their biggest test yet, all eyes will be on Broome, Pettiford, and the rest of the Auburn squad to see if they can complete this remarkable journey and bring home the first national championship in the history of Auburn basketball.
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