Broome's health is a Final Four key but Auburn proved in March Madness it is more than a 1-man team

Johni Broome's performance in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 and Elite Eight showed why he's one of the nation's top players.

Auburn's play without Broome showed why the Tigers are more than a one-man team. That's especially important as Auburn hopes to have a healthy Broome against Florida in Saturday's Final Four showdown in San Antonio of Southeastern Conference teams.

Broome gave Auburn a major scare when he took a fall in the second half of Sunday's 70-64 victory over Michigan State and headed to the locker room. The 6-foot-10 forward's right arm was hanging by his side as he left the court, giving reason to wonder if the Tigers' championship hopes had been crushed.

After being given clearance by the team's medical staff, Broome returned to sink a 3-pointer, grab a rebound and finish the South Region final with 25 points and 14 rebounds.

Just as important as Broome's return was the Tigers' play without him. When Broome left with 10:37 remaining, Auburn led 50-40. The lead was 57-46 when he made his return with 5:29 remaining.

“When Johni was out, we hung in there,” said Auburn coach Bruce Pearl. “We made it difficult for Michigan State to score.”

Pearl said he remained confident even before knowing Broome would return because center Dylan Cardwell and backup Chaney Johnson provide quality depth on the front line.

“When Johni went out, I immediately thought about Chaney and Dylan, and neither of them went into foul trouble,” Pearl said. “I knew that we were going to be fine there.”

Broome, a two-time Associated Press All-America and this season's SEC Player of the Year, is the biggest reason Auburn (32-5) has set a school record for wins.

“Johni Broome stepped up again,” Pearl said after Sunday's win. “Just keep doubting him, and keep thinking that he’s not going to be able to get to another gear. ... You talk about delivering again at the biggest moments.”

Auburn already proved in the South Regional it also boasts scoring depth.

Broome was only one of three 20-point scorers for the Tigers in their 78-65 Sweet 16 win over Michigan on Friday night. Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones each scored 20 points while Broome took the lead as usual with 22 points and 16 rebounds.

Broome said despite the double-double he didn't feel he played well. When asked how he would rate his performance against Michigan State, Broome said he played "All right.

“I mean, we won, so I’m happy we’re still in this,” Broome said. “All glory to God again for allowing me to be healthy.”

Auburn will need inside and scoring depth against Florida. The Gators took a 90-81 win at Auburn on Feb. 8. Florida reached the Final Four by beating Texas Tech 84-79 in the West Region final.

“I mean, Florida has a great team,” Johnson said. “They were good enough to beat us at home, so we’ve just got to go game by game. It’s another team in the way of us getting to the national championship. So we’ve just got to continue putting our head down, continue staying humble, continue staying hungry. Just go out there and play with great effort and great energy.”

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Auburn guard Denver Jones (2) celebrates during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Michigan, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Auburn forward Chaney Johnson (31) watches the ball against Michigan State during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford (0) shoots against Michigan State during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) blocks the shot by Michigan State guard Jaden Akins (3) during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Michigan State guard Jase Richardson (11) shoots against Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) and Michigan State center Szymon Zapala (10) work for a rebound during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) sits on the court against Michigan State during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) is helped on the court during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Michigan State, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) reacts to play against Michigan State during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) cuts the net after the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Michigan State, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Pretty much every basketball fan has heard of Duke's Cooper Flagg. Nowhere near as many have heard of Houston's Joseph Tugler.

If the Cougars are going to spring an upset over the Blue Devils in the all-1-seed Final Four on Saturday, it will almost surely be because one of the country's best defenders, Tugler, played a big role in holding down the country's best overall player, Flagg.

“Take away his right hand, don't let him get into his spin move, make him earn his shot,” Tugler said, in ticking off Houston's version of a scouting report that is similar to what has been tried by Duke's 38 previous opponents, with minimal success.

And this: “I can guard anybody if I put my mind to it.”

Coach Kelvin Sampson has a gritty team full of players like that.

A team built around stifling defense might not put a ton of clips on the weekly highlight packages, the way Flagg and the Blue Devils (35-3) do.

But a better illustration of what makes Houston (34-4) click might come from a viral video that shows a loose-ball drill the team runs, usually early in the season or, as the coach said, whenever someone needs it.

It starts with a ball being pushed onto the court — or with a bricked free throw — and devolves into chaos, with players diving on the floor, jumping on each other trying to gain possession. Tackling, it appears from the video, is allowed.

Tugler suggested that the losing “team” has to run. Sampson was less concrete on the rules of the drill as its purpose.

“Everything is a competition,” the coach explained. “But like our kids say, it’s not for everybody. But it is for the ones that are here.”

Asked to analyze Flagg's game, Sampson — in his 36th year coaching and at his third Final Four and second with Houston — started mentioning players his teams have faced over the years: Carmelo Anthony, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce.

“This guy is right there with them,” the coach said. “It's hard to say what he's not good at.”

Flagg, the 18-year-old freshman who is averaging 18.9 points and 7.5 rebounds, picked up the AP player of the year award on Friday, along with the Oscar Robinson Award to add to his quickly filling trophy case.

He is virtually certain to be the top pick in the NBA draft later this spring.

Last weekend, Flagg played arguably the best game of his short college career — a 30-point, six-rebound, seven-assist masterpiece in a Sweet 16 win over Arizona. Two nights later, he was off target but still ended up with 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists in a 20-point win over Alabama.

Tugler's honors: Big 12 defensive player of the year and winner of the Lefty Driesell Award given by College Insider Inc. to the nation's best defensive player. Since joining the starting lineup in December, he's averaged 1.9 blocks a game.

Some other Houston stats say a lot. The Cougars are rated first in the KenPom defensive efficiency category. On offense, they are ranked 360th out of 364 teams in possessions per 40 minutes, a figure that plays into the defense because the long possessions shorten games and cause teams to expend energy defending them.

The Cougars lead the nation in field goal percentage allowed (38.2%) and points allowed (58.3).

Duke coach Jon Scheyer, who has seen Houston in a scrimmage two years ago and in a 54-51 Sweet 16 win last season — before Flagg arrived — says the numbers don't fully do it justice.

“They have good individual defenders,” Scheyer said. “But I think, by far, the best thing they do is how they have five guys always moving together.”

Tugler described it that way, too. Always helping. Always moving together. Great defenders might not get as much love as the guys jacking up 3s, but Tugler doesn't mind. He says Houston's version of the “3” comes when it stops a team on three straight possessions.

“We call that the ‘kill stop,’” Tugler said. “After we get that third one, we always feel like, ‘Let’s take this over.'"

Sampson reminisced about his first head-coaching job at Montana Tech. He left Jud Heathcoate's staff at Michigan State and went 7-20 without winning a conference game in his first season.

“Jud calls up and said, ‘Hey, Kel, I just want to congratulate you. You’re the only coach ... that possibly could have taken Montana Tech from obscurity to oblivion,'” Sampson said.

Scheyer was surprised to learn that Flagg's mom, Kelly, has entered a pact with other team moms to get tattoos to commemorate a Duke national title if there is one. Will the coach participate?

“I’m making my wife get a tattoo with them if that’s what’s going to happen," Scheyer said. “I would even consider getting one if we win.”

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.

Duke forward Cooper Flagg watches during practice at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Duke forward Cooper Flagg shoots during practice at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Houston forward Joseph Tugler shoots during practice at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson )

Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson speaks during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson )

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer watches during practice at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Duke forward Cooper Flagg shoots during practice at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)