Auburn is on fire under Bruce Pearl. The Tigers remain with the highest wins, fewest losses, and as the only unbeaten team in the conference wrapping up week 14. In the process, they have produced one of the greatest players of their program — Johni Broome. In the head coach’s eye, he is already the player of the year, poised to lead his team to its first-ever NCAA tournament win. But one hiccup and a freshman’s ability to cover any position and Broome is losing the NOPY race per an analyst.  

Auburn’s rise to the top has been driven by Bruce Pearl and his iconic sideline energy. He is not only a coach, but a program builder. In his decade in charge, Auburn has made five trips to the NCAA Tournament, two SEC championships, and an unforgettable Final Four run in 2019. While all of these are accomplishments, there is still one thing the Tigers are missing: individual recognition, especially for Johni Broome. While he inches closer to tick that box, Jeff Goodman isn’t adding to the hopes. 

During the latest episode of Field of 68: After Dark podcast, Goodman outright dismissed Broome’s chances for NPOY, instead giving the nod to Duke freshman sensation, Cooper Flagg. His reasoning? 

“I mean, I don’t think so. I think Cooper is clearly the player of the year. Johni missed a few games, number one. I mean, just look at everything this dude does…You could put him in the post; he can score in the post. He can score in the mid-post; he can do whatever you want him to do. He rebounds, he pushes, he wins, and he plays hard all the time. He’s on the court every possession. Again, Johni’s great; he’s a great runner-up, one of the best runner-ups we’re going to see, but Cooper Flagg’s the player of the year unless he gets hurt.” And just like that, the debate over Broome’s NPOY candidacy took a sharp turn. 

Goodman’s take rests on three key factors: availability, narrative, and efficiency. Broome, having missed two games in January due to an ankle injury, is up against Flagg, who has yet to miss a game. On top of that, Flagg’s freshman season has been nothing short of historic. Putting up impressive numbers like 19.5 ppg, 7.5 reb, and 4.1 assists per game. All while being in the spotlight as a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick. 

However, it’s not all one-sided. Broome’s supporters argue that it’s his leadership and impact on winning that sets him apart. Auburn’s only loss this season came to Flagg’s Duke in December. Since then, Broome has been nothing short of spectacular. Leading Auburn on a 14-game win streak to No. 4 Alabama (24 points, 7 rebounds) and LSU (26 points, 16 rebounds). LSU’s Cam Carter even admitted, “Johni Broome did a lot of damage. That’s probably the separator right there.”

Bruce Pearl maximizing Johni Broome’s potential

One thing about Bruce Pearl’s coaching style that stands out is how he has gotten the most out of Johni Broome.  The head coach’s system has allowed Broome to evolve into a versatile player. He is shooting 52% from the field and leads the team in scoring, rebounds, assists, and blocks. But what’s most impressive is how Broome has become a “stretch five”. Auburn’s offense benefits from his ability to hit 30% from beyond the arc, forcing teams to guard him all over the court.

Defensively, Auburn has been nearly unbeatable. Thanks to Broome and players like Baker-Mazara who disrupt opposing teams on the perimeter. The Tigers currently boast the No. 1 blocks (7.0 BPG) and third steals (7.5 SPG) marks in the country. 

Bruce Pearl has already established himself as Auburn’s second winningest coach, with 213 wins to his name. But this season could be his defining one. A crowning achievement would be if Broome wins NPOY as he leads the team to its first title. 

But as Goodman noted, Flagg’s unprecedented freshman year plus the legacy of Duke has changed the narrative. As it stands, Broome remains the heart of college basketball’s top team.