Auburn figures to upward push from No. 2 to No. 1 within the Related Press Best 25 on Monday, however the Tigers would possibly not have their absolute best participant for his or her Tuesday evening Southeastern Convention recreation towards visiting Mississippi State.
Ahead/middle and participant of the 12 months candidate Johni Broome used to be helped off the ground right through Saturday’s 66-63 win at South Carolina with what trainer Bruce Pearl termed an important ankle sprain.
An MRI on Sunday showed the post-game prognosis. Surgical treatment isn’t required, however a timeline for Broome’s go back is not to be had but.
Pearl is making ready the Tigers (15-1, 3-0) to be with out their 6-foot-10 anchor, who leads the workforce in scoring (17.9 issues according to recreation), rebounding (10.7), assists (3.2) and blocked pictures (2.7).
“With out our participant of the 12 months, it is going to be laborious to seek out offense,” Pearl stated. “Johni’s unstoppable down there. It will be simply find it irresistible used to be for us in the second one half of — were given to be the following guy up.”
5th-year senior Dylan Cardwell, who averages 5.5 issues, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocked pictures, would possibly get the primary shot at changing Broome. Cardwell made a key contribution to Saturday’s win with a overdue dunk that put Auburn forward 64-63 with 1:32 last.
With out Broome’s offense, the Tigers — who’ve received 8 directly video games — determine to get extra pictures for his or her 5 different double-figure scorers, led by way of Chad Baker-Mazara (12.7 ppg). Tahaad Pettiford (11.3), who sank the clinching foul pictures at South Carolina, may just additionally see an higher position inside Auburn’s offense.
It’ll be fascinating to peer if the Tigers can deal with their top stage of potency on offense when Broome is out. The 14th-ranked Bulldogs (14-2, 2-1) are recognized for his or her tenacity on protection as they pressure 14.6 turnovers according to recreation and input Monday tied for eleventh within the country with 10.1 steals according to recreation.
Mississippi State overlooked on an opportunity to make an early commentary within the SEC on Saturday evening when its usually staunch protection gave up 16 3-pointers in a 95-90 house loss to No. 6 Kentucky. It used to be the Bulldogs’ 18th directly regular-season loss to the Wildcats courting to 2009. The defeat additionally snapped the Bulldogs’ eight-game successful streak this season.
However trainer Chris Jans stated the most important drawback used to be at the offensive finish, despite the fact that the 90 issues marked the workforce’s maximum towards an SEC opponent in his 3 seasons at Mississippi State.
“I used to be a little bit shocked by way of a few of our pictures,” he stated. “They simply have been virtually like they have been shocked they have been open so I will have to shoot it. I believed we have now more than one guys take some pictures that have been like, ‘We are not looking for that.'”
The Bulldogs fell in love with 3-pointers, taking 40, however the hoop did not reasonably go back that affection. Mississippi State made simply 12 triples, with the workforce’s main scorer this season, Josh Hubbard, managing 3 on 11 tries.
“I have were given incredible self assurance in Josh,” Jans stated. “He is confirmed over the process a year-and-a-half that he is a prolific scorer and he shoots pictures that on occasion would not be a perfect shot for any individual else simply on account of his stature and his energy and his recreation.”
Hubbard averages 17 issues a recreation and has made 37.3 % of his 3-pointers, even though he is capturing simply 30.8 % from distance over the past 12 video games.
The Tigers personal an 83-71 lead within the all-time collection and feature received 9 of the ultimate 11 matchups.
–Box Stage Media
