In college basketball, legacies are built in March.
Auburn’s mantra all season long has been to “Make History,” and Bruce Pearl’s squad was 40 minutes away from doing just that.
No. 13 Miles Kelly attempts a 3-pointer against No. 2 seed Michigan State in the Elite Eight inside of State Farm Arena in Atlanta on March 30, 2025.
With 15:51 to go in the first half, Auburn found themselves in an early 8-6 hole. The Tigers needed someone to step up, and the Atlanta native Miles Kelly answered the bell. Led by his seven points, he propelled Auburn to a 17-0 run which gave the Tigers a 23-8 advantage just over ten minutes into the game. The Tigers never relinquished the lead, punching their ticket to San Antonio for their second Final Four appearance in program history.
“I guess the first thought is there are four teams in the country that are left, and Auburn is one of them. So we couldn't be happier,” Pearl said.
In the Sweet 16 against Michigan, Auburn was sloppy with the ball in the first half, committing 10 turnovers. They had just two against Michigan State.
“We knew in this particular game that was not going to be an option. We got to our spot. We got our real estate,” Pearl Said.
With the season on the line, National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome showed America why Auburn was the No. 1 team in the AP poll for eight consecutive weeks.
Broome led the way for Auburn in their 70-64 victory with 25 points —17 of which came in the first half. The 6-foot-10 center racked up his 20th double-double of the year before halftime.
“Johni Broome stepped up again. Just keep doubting him, and keep thinking that he's not going to be able to get to another gear. One of the reasons why I'm on him and my son Steven's on him pretty good is because I know what he's capable of,” Pearl said.
Halfway through the second half, Broome went down with an apparent elbow injury. It was a scary situation for Auburn as it appeared that they would be without their superstar for the remainder of the game. However, the Tigers never wavered and Broome miraculously returned to the game with five minutes to go, drilling a clutch 3-pointer on his first shot back in the action.
No. 4 Johni Broome attempts a 3-pointer against No. 2 seed Michigan State in the Elite Eight inside of State Farm Arena in Atlanta on March 30, 2025.
“All glory to God. When I came back out, when I hit that 3 ball, I called on him again. You got to always call on him. He's always going to deliver,” Broome said.
The senior from Plant City, Fla. transferred to Auburn in the spring of 2022. Broome is in his third season on the Plains and has suffered some heartbreaking losses as well as triumphant wins.
“Man, words can't even describe it…To stand on top of the ladder in front of all the Auburn fans still being there, traveling and witnessing it, as well as looking down and seeing my teammates, the whole Auburn family, it just means the world to me,” Broome said on his feeling cutting down the nets.
The focus now shifts to San Antonio where Auburn will meet fellow No. 1 seed and SEC foe Florida. The Tigers will be looking for revenge as the Gators came into Neville Arena and escaped with the 90-81 victory in February.
“It's another team in the way of us getting to the National Championship. So we've just got to continue putting our head down, continue staying humble, continue staying hungry,” said senior forward Chaney Johnson.
From Maui to Lexington, to Atlanta, the Tigers are now etched in history and heading to their first Final Four since 2019.
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Rory is a freshman majoring in journalism sports production. He started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @RorymGarvin
