The top seeded Tigers took down the No. 8 seed Ole Miss Rebels 62-57 to keep Auburn’s hopes of back-to-back SEC Tournament titles alive on Friday afternoon in Nashville, TN.
Below is reaction from players and coaches from inside the locker room as the Tigers advanced to the semifinal Saturday tomorrow.
Head coach Bruce Pearl:
Opening statement
"Just want to congratulate Ole Miss on a great season so far. That team is capable of going to the NCAA tournament and making some noise. Older team, group of veterans. They obviously play the right way. I think just a couple things. Our 3-point field goal defense has been pretty elite. The fact that I've got bigs that can get out there and guard the perimeter, guards that can go inside, physically be able to handle some things. When you hold a good offensive team like Ole Miss to 22 points in the first half, you obviously deserve victory.
"Denver was great in the first half. He's always the best defensive player out there on the floor. Then Johni carries us. He puts us on his shoulders and is one of the best competitors I think I've ever met. He hates to lose at everything. His teammates know that. It was a good team effort."
On Johni Broome
"He's old school. He's got old-school footwork. He's got great feet. I think one of the things, again, like the play where he saved the ball before it went out of bounds is a play that only a great athlete can make. But because he can't jump, they don't think he's a very good athlete. It has nothing to do with athleticism. Because of his athleticism, he's got such a good base. He's able to put you on his hip and go and spin off of you. Now, everybody knows he's a right shoulder, left hand cover. If you overdo it too much, he can go the other way. He's obviously an excellent passer, not just when the ball is in the post, but also on the perimeter. He has real good skills and real good feel."
On Auburn’s upcoming matchup
“Both games were last possession games and both games were much earlier in the season. Both teams have changed a great deal. Texas is a great offensive team. Tennessee is a great defensive team. As my dear friend Hayden Fry used to say, ‘we’ll just scratch we’re it itches.’
“Our guys came here to win a championship. It’s not going to be easy because Tennessee or Texas will be all we can handle and then on the other side there are two teams on that side that could be on the one line.”
Forward/Center Johni Broome:
On making it to the semifinals
“It feels good to have an extra game with this group. We’ve been trying to make history this whole journey. So, to have that game and to be able to fight for another championship. It’s enjoyable.”
On what it means for his teammates to have his back every game
“That’s how I play the way I play because I know they’ve got my back and I’ve got their back as well and they know that every night, right or wrong, I’m with them.
On why Auburn can win the SEC Championship
“Everybody knows what we do. We know what we do. We have that swagger and we bring it to the court every night so well.”
On his teammates trusting him with the ball late in games
“That’s what they expect me to do is step my game up when the game is close. I had a similar situation last week and I faded away. So, they trusted me.”
Forward Chris Moore:
On the fight and hustle Auburn displays
“We always preach that we’re not better than our weakest link. We always prove that it’s our 11 versus everybody's seven or eight. We’ve got to always play with unrelenting energy and it’s something we preach and it’s something we’ve got to continue to do throughout the tournament.”
On the tough guard play
“We’ve got some guys that are older and experienced. We’ve got some guys that are not willing to back down easily and go out there and give it their all. We know that we can control our destiny on the defensive end, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
On if the Tigers’ experience giving them an edge in the tournament
“The edge is probably small because the league has changed. The league has gotten better and it’s going to continue to get better every year. So it’s just all about us. Just know what we can do and control our own destiny.”
Guard Miles Kelly:
On the stout guard play needed in March
“It’s going to be very important. Every team has great guards, so it’s about who’s guards are going to be better. And today, we were better and that’s why we came out with the win.”
Point Guard Denver Jones:
Playing Ole Miss a third time
“It's pretty hard, especially in the conference we in. Obviously they scouted us both times we played them. Playing them a third time, they would have most of our players pretty much scouted.
“Ole Miss is a tough team to play, the way they guard, the way they run the offense. But we just came out with the victory today.”
On his fast start
“Just wanted to come out aggressive, just looking for my shot, just playing basketball. It just paid off today.”
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