Auburn enters the Final Four with a starting lineup composed entirely of seniors, anchored by standout forward Johni Broome. The 2025 SEC Player of the Year, first-team All-American, and South Region MVP, Broome is the centerpiece of the Tigers’ system. Despite briefly exiting the Michigan State game with a shoulder issue, he returned to showcase his versatility—scoring efficiently in the post, distributing with precision (second on the team with 102 assists), and stretching the floor just enough to keep defenses honest (28.4% from three on 88 attempts). He’s also one of the nation’s top rebounders on both ends (128 offensive boards) and a premier rim protector. Auburn runs its offense through him, reflected in his 14.2 usage rate, which ranks 37th nationally.
Broome finished second in KenPom’s Player of the Year rankings, trailing only Duke’s Cooper Flagg and narrowly edging Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. In their regular-season meeting, Florida successfully disrupted Broome’s rhythm by forcing him to his right hand, holding him to 8-for-19 shooting. Auburn is likely to adjust for that this time around.
Chad Baker-Mazara, a dynamic wing, contributes across the board—scoring at 51% from two-point range, over 37% from deep, and 79% from the free-throw line. He ranks third on the team in assists (100), but his emotional volatility has been costly at times, including a flagrant foul and early ejection in Auburn’s 2024 NCAA first-round loss to Yale.
Freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford, a 2024 McDonald’s All American, has emerged as Auburn’s third-leading scorer and assist man (109 assists vs. 59 turnovers), despite starting just once and logging the sixth-most minutes. His 70 made three-pointers (37.4% on 187 attempts) rank third on the team.
Dylan Cardwell adds physicality and athleticism in the post, complementing Broome with a different style. He’s highly efficient inside (69.9% from two) but struggles at the line (31.8%).
Miles Kelly, a transfer from Georgia Tech, is one of Auburn’s top perimeter threats, shooting 38.1% from three on a team-high 226 attempts. Denver Jones, named to the SEC All-Defensive Team, is a sharpshooter from deep (41.8%) and nearly automatic at the free-throw line (91.1% on 101 attempts).
Senior forward Chaney Johnson, who arrived via the junior college route, plays starter-level minutes and brings high energy in the paint, converting 63.7% of his shots from inside the arc while averaging 9.2 points and 4.1 rebounds.
