QUINIX Sport News: Men’s basketball AP poll: Auburn jumps to No. 1, but how long can it last without Johni Broome?

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Iowa State survived a scare at Texas Tech, and Cooper Flagg broke a freshman scoring record at Duke last week.

Auburn forward Johni Broome dribbles the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
Auburn star Johni Broome is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. (AP/ Butch Dill)

We have a new top-ranked team in college basketball this week, but that change came at a cost.

Here’s everything you missed in Week 10 of the college basketball season, and the latest Associated Press men’s basketball poll.

Auburn overtook Tennessee to claim the No. 1 spot in this week’s ranking, thanks to the Volunteers’ stunning blowout loss at Florida. The Tigers, however, may be in trouble.

Auburn lost star Johni Broome in Saturday’s win over South Carolina. The Player of the Year candidate awkwardly rolled his ankle after he landed on teammate Chancey Johnson’s foot while jumping for a rebound in the lane. He left the game early and did not return.

Then on Sunday, the Tigers said that Broome will be out indefinitely with an ankle sprain. The good news is, however, that Broome will not need surgery. While it’s unclear how long he will be sidelined, the expectation is that he will be back on the floor at some point this season.

Broome has averaged 17.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game this season. While the Tigers can survive without him, they are entering a pretty tough stretch on their schedule where they will take on five ranked opponents in their next seven games. They will host No. 15 Mississippi State on Tuesday before traveling to No. 23 Georgia on Saturday. Broome will have a window to return after that game against the Bulldogs. Auburn will have a week off before hosting Tennessee, which dropped five spots to No. 6 in the rankings this week, on Jan. 25.

If Broome’s injury only keeps him out for a minimal amount of time, the Tigers should be fine in the SEC. But if it lingers into next month, they could have an uphill climb in the SEC as they approach tournament time.

Elsewhere in the college basketball world, Iowa State moved up to No. 2 in the rankings this week after their overtime win at Texas Tech. It marked their 11th straight win, and gave them their highest-ranking in program history. Duke jumped Tennessee, too, after Cooper Flagg dropped 42 points in the Blue Devils’ win over Notre Dame. That broke Zion Williamson’s freshman scoring record. Alabama and Florida then rounded out the top five.

 

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