Auburn basketball: Johni Broome will be game-time decision vs. Tennessee

Auburn basketball star Johni Broome's availability will come down to the wire

It's shaping up to be a big weekend for the Auburn basketball program. The team will welcome No. 6 Tennessee to the Plains this Saturday for a highly-anticipated matchup, ESPN College GameDay will be in attendance, and it is the AUTLIVE game.

It will be another tough test for the Tigers, who are undefeated in conference play so far but spent several weeks stuck behind Tennessee in the AP Poll earlier this season. In the leadup to the game, all eyes have been on Johni Broome, who has been out since Jan. 11 with a sprained ankle he suffered in the second half of the Tigers' matchup against South Carolina.

In Broome's absence, the team triumphed over two ranked conference opponents— No. 15 Mississippi State at home and No. 23 Georgia on the road. It's clear that Auburn is a formidable team with or without Broome, but his return would greatly bolster the team's chances this weekend against the Vols.

According to Auburn Undercover, the big man was able to "work out a little" on Thursday, and his mobility will be a big factor in his return.

"He's doing well," Pearl told McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. "There's a little difference between the shoulder which doesn't bear any weight and carrying a 260-pound man around. Especially when you're jumping up and down the floor. And so it's going to be about mobility. That's going to be the biggest thing. It was great to see him moving... But it's going to all be about his ability to move."

On Twitter, Jeff Goodman reported that Broome is expected to be a game-time decision this Saturday.

The Tigers and the Vols tipoff from Neville Arena at 7:30 tomorrow, but we'll have to wait and see whether or not Broome will participate for Auburn basketball.