It wasn't supposed to end this way for the Auburn Tigers and Johni Broome. This team was built to win the national championship this season and end things in style. Unfortunately, that dream is no more, as the Tigers suffered a heartbreaking Final Four loss to Florida on Saturday night.
For Broome, this was the last time he'll don an Auburn jersey. He'll go down as the best Tigers player of all time over Charles Barkley. Even Sir Charles has said Broome owns that honor over him. Following the final whistle, No. 4 was understandably quite sad over the result, but Barkley was there to remind him that one loss doesn't change his legacy at all:
Charles Barkley with an embrace for Auburn’s Johni Broome. pic.twitter.com/VN69oT7trt
— Matt Young (@Chron_MattYoung) April 6, 2025
Charles Barkley and Johni Broome shared a warm embrace after Auburn's loss to Florida
As you can see in the video above, Broome's eyes were filled with tears and he had to lift his jersey over his head. He gave his everything to try and power the Tigers to the title game. Throughout the contest vs. the Gators, he was wincing in pain.
You've got to give props to Barkley for this move too. He knows that Broome had to be so sad that his career with Auburn has ended without a trip to the national championship contest. Broome indeed was hoping to have one more game for Auburn against either Houston or Duke.
That's not going to happen, however, as Walter Clayton Jr. put on a show with his 34 points to help Florida prevail. Broome was the SEC Player of the Year and while Cooper Flagg was named the AP Player of the Year, plenty of people still disagree with that call.
Broome was a total force on both ends of the floor and he's always going to be remembered around campus as a true superstar. On Saturday, he scored 15 points, doing so not even close to 100 percent. He's a warrior and Broome has nothing to be down about. He's a Tigers legend, no doubt.