Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament run ended Sunday after a tough 70-64 loss to top-seeded Auburn in the South Regional Final at State Farm Arena. But the real drama wasn’t just the game—it was Johni Broome’s scary fall and what happened next.
In the second half, Broome went down hard, grabbing his leg in pain. He had to leave the floor, heading straight to the locker room. It looked like he was done for the night. Even as he spoke to teammates, the vibe was clear—Auburn had just lost a key player at the worst time. Then, out of nowhere, Broome came back.
The reason? Bruce Pearl. When asked about it, the Auburn coach kept it real. “I didn’t get any diagnosis. When Johni came out of the locker room, I hadn’t talked to the doctor, but I just asked him, ‘Are you good to go?’ He said, ‘I am.’ I said, ‘Well, get your a– in there.’”
Pearl’s approach is now…
