AUBURN, Ala. — Johni Broome emerged from high school without any offers from power conferences. Chad Baker-Mazara moved through two mid-major programs before landing in junior college, while Denver Jones followed a similar path, spending time in junior college and then competing for two years in Conference USA.
Miles Kelly endured three tumultuous years at Georgia Tech, and Chaney Johnson honed his skills over three seasons at a Division II institution.
Auburn’s lineup is notably unconventional for a team that sits as the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and as champions of the Southeastern Conference’s regular season. This is particularly true in the unpredictable and transfer-heavy environment of college athletics.
“Consider this: Expectations for Auburn weren’t sky-high at the season’s start,” remarked head coach Bruce Pearl. “We were seen as a solid team, maybe not league champions, but a tournament contender. Suddenly, this team rose to No. 1 in the nation over six or seven weeks. Now, an underdog group from diverse levels must rise to meet those expectations.”
Despite tripping in their entry to the NCAA Tournament, having lost three of their last four matchups—all against ranked squads—Auburn (28-5) has the components necessary for a substantial tournament run.
The Tigers embark on their NCAA journey against either Alabama State or St. Francis (Pa.) on Thursday in Lexington, Kentucky.
Auburn plans to capitalize on its eclectic talent pool to aim for a return to the Final Four, which they last reached in 2019.
This mission begins with dominant center Broome, the SEC player of the year, who spent his initial college years at Morehead State. From the outset, Broome was confident in his ability to achieve the sport’s highest honors.
“I always believed I could become national player of the year through sheer effort,” Broome asserted, averaging 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists as a senior. “It’s been a goal since I stepped into college.”
Broome joined Auburn ahead of the 2022-23 season, a team that had just claimed an SEC title supported by former five-star talents and future NBA first-rounders Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler.
Following him, Baker-Mazara, known for his intense demeanor, brought his experience from Duquesne, San Diego State, and Northwest Florida State College to Auburn. Meanwhile, Jones, a combo guard who excelled as a top scorer at Florida International, quickly evolved into a dual-threat leader in the SEC.
Johnson, a dedicated forward, brought his talents from Alabama-Huntsville, enhancing the roster.
“This team is built on selflessness,” Johnson emphasized. “It’s our identity.”
Recent additions include blue-chip recruits Tahaad Pettiford and Jahki Howard, alongside returning fifth-year seniors Dylan Cardwell and Chris Moore. However, the most significant roster boost may be Kelly.
After spearheading Georgia Tech’s offense during challenging years, Kelly found a new role at Auburn, profiting from the attention Broome and his veteran teammates generate. “Playing with more skilled players gives me better opportunities,” Kelly mentioned, shooting a commendable 40% from three-point range in SEC matchups.
In a college basketball landscape marked by highly seasoned squads, Pearl and his team committed fully to this approach.
This strategy has already reaped rewards, with Auburn achieving a fiercely contested conference championship. Now, entering the NCAA Tournament as a top-seeded team, they carry the expectation to perform, even during a late-season decline.
“We weren’t anyone’s pick to win initially,” Pearl noted. “Look back at the pre-season rankings—teams like Duke and Houston were at the top. Not us. We didn’t merit it then. Yet, we do now.”
