For just the second time in NCAA Tournament history and the first time since 2008, the Final Four will consist of all four No. 1 seeds. The Auburn Tigers capped off their remarkable run in the South Region with an Elite Eight victory over the No. 2 seed Michigan State Spartans.
Led by star player Johni Broome, Auburn outlasted the Spartans 70-64. Despite briefly leaving the game due to a concerning injury to his elbow and leg, Broome returned to finish with a game-high 25 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, shooting 10-for-13 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
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While Auburn moves on, it marks the end of a remarkable season for Michigan State, which continues to be one of college basketball’s premier programs under the legendary Tom Izzo.
The mutual respect between both coaches was clear following the game, as Bruce Pearl shared an embrace with Izzo at half court after their hard-fought showdown, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
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This marks Auburn’s second trip to the Final Four, with both appearances coming under head coach Bruce Pearl. Throughout the season, he has kept the team among the elite in the country, and despite a sluggish finish to the regular season, some speculated that Auburn might fall short in the NCAA Tournament.
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
However, Pearl remained confident in his group, and that confidence has paid off. Auburn now faces a familiar foe in the Florida Gators, who won the SEC Tournament, while Auburn claimed the SEC regular season title.
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The matchup in San Antonio is set to tip off on Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET on CBS. It will be the first of the two games, with Duke and Houston slated to headline the second game.
Related: Slow-Mo Video of Johni Broome’s Concerning Injury in Elite Eight Grabs Attention