For just the second time in the history of the sport, all four No. 1 seeds are dancing into the Final Four. And Auburn’s 70-64 win over Tom Izzo’s Michigan State played a key role in making that happen. The Tigers had a brief scare when Johni Broome went down with 10:37 left—but a few minutes later, he returned like nothing had happened. In reality, Auburn never looked like a team on the verge of an upset.

They simply confirmed what had been clear all season. Just like that, Auburn swept away Michigan State’s Final Four dreams. Or, more accurately, by Broome. Because Johni Broome wasn’t just playing; he was putting on a show. The SEC Player of the Year dominated the first half, then pulled off a Willis Reed-style comeback after suffering a second-half arm injury. Sure, he sat out for a stretch, but when he returned, he made it count. A clutch three. A monster rebound. And boom—25 points on 10-for-13 shooting with 14 rebounds. That’s how you punch your ticket to the Final Four.

MSU didn’t roll over, though. 

Jaden Akins knocked down three late threes, Jaxon Kohler drained another, and the Spartans made one last push. But their shooting struggles told the real story—7-for-23 from deep, 34.4% overall. Kohler was a bright spot with 17 points and 11 boards, but Tre Holloman was a brutal 0-for-10 night.  

And Broome started and closed the show. Wrapped-up arm and all, he drilled a three, grabbed a one-armed rebound, and sent Tigers fans, who made the 90-minute drive to Atlanta, into a frenzy. So, Broome’s the MVP, right? Well, fans aren’t so sure. Because, according to them, the real game-changers weren’t wearing orange; they were wearing stripes.

Was Auburn favored against Tom Izzo’s Spartans? 

One fan didn’t hold back, saying, “Auburn hasn’t done anything this second half. Just coasting and getting carried by the refs.” While MSU only led for a grand total of 22 seconds in the entire game, it can’t be ignored that 13 of their 18 total fouls came in the second half—when they needed every break they could get.  With Johni Broome out for Auburn (briefly, though), the Spartans had a golden opportunity, but instead, whistles started flying, and suddenly, any chance of a comeback was dead in the water. 

Another fan chimed in, clearly fed up: “I f—ing hate it when refs bail out a team. Auburn’s entire possession was sloppy and lazy all over the court, but the second they have to drive the lane, barely controlling the ball, there’s a foul against Michigan St.” And more than just the number of fouls, it was when they happened. MSU had a little spark, cutting Auburn’s lead to 35-30 early in the second half, but just as they tried to gain momentum, the calls kept rolling in, and, well, we know how that story ended.

A third fan added, “Don’t care what anybody says, Auburn is completely getting bailed by the refs. This team is so pampered by the zebras. Somehow gets every 50/50 whistle. Michigan State needs to make some shots.” The frustration runs deeper than just this one game.  Last round, Michigan fans were just as vocal when Auburn knocked out the Wolverines. That game saw similar drama. Michigan led early before a wave of three-pointers and questionable foul calls flipped the script.

So, is it just bad luck for Michigan teams, or is something else at play? Either way, MSU didn’t do themselves any favors either. With a razor-thin margin for error, the Spartans had to shoot efficiently, crash the boards, and keep Auburn from going on scoring runs. They did none of the above, and the scoreboard reflected it.

“As long as the refs keep calling it like they have… Auburn will be fine,” a fourth fan pointed out. And they were more than fine. But you know, if we look at the broader picture, officiating complaints have been all over the NCAA this season. Over in the women’s tournament, LSU Tigers could probably relate. Kim Mulkey’s squad fell in the Elite Eight, and, second-half officiating played a big role there too. 

One last fan put it bluntly: “Really sloppy refs tonight and Auburn is just getting every bounce their way. It’s just hard to beat this.” Many saw Auburn players travel multiple times with no call, but then again, missed travel calls in college basketball are basically tradition at this point. And when the officiating is against you, no matter how tough you play, things get tough.

Did it decide the game, though? Maybe not. But it sure didn’t help Tom Izzo’s case. The Tigers took control of the game from the start and, despite everything, are charging into the Final Four. And now, for the first time since 2008, we’ve got all four No. 1 seeds in the championship race.