Bruce Pearl has built Auburn into a powerhouse, with the Tigers becoming one of the best programs in college basketball. A big reason for their success this season has been Johni Broome, a 22-year-old forward. But in Saturday’s matchup at Rupp Arena against Kentucky, Broome had fans’ heads spinning with his first-half stat line — one point from the NPOY candidate — and X exploded with reactions.

Broome has 17 double-doubles this season and is one of the biggest reasons why Auburn has out-muscled its opponents in the SEC throughout the season. He’s been able to dominate games on both the offensive and defensive end in the paint, and though the margins have been tighter — Auburn’s win over Arkansas in its most recent outing comes to mind, as Broome led the Tigers with 16 points and 13 rebounds in a 7 point win — the senior forward’s leadership and composure has also shone through since games have started carrying more weight; recall his game-sealing basket against Alabama earlier this season, one of his many clutch plays this season.

Bruce Pearl has consistently lauded Broome for his professionalism and preparation, even labeling him as “patient and calculating” and giving him most of the credit for why Auburn has been so successful. Despite being held in such high regard by his coach, Broome’s case for NPOY suddenly seems shaky after a dreadfully bad performance against Kentucky.

But while Broome rode the struggle bus, Bruce Pearl’s team surged into a 49-34 halftime lead behind standout performances from Miles Kelly (17 points) and Chad Baker-Mazara (16 points). As the Tigers soared, Broome—who averages 18.8 points and 11 rebounds per game—was shut out from the field, picking up a single point and two fouls before intermission. Fans definitely took notice.

Fans double down after Johni Broome’s failed start

Social media lit up with reactions to Broome’s quiet first half, with many questioning his status as an NPOY contender. One fan sarcastically pointed out, “Auburn is up 15 at halftime at Kentucky and its national player of the year candidate has 1 point.” Another joked, “Scoring 49 points in Rupp Arena while Johni Broome has scored 1 point in a 15-point lead at halftime is objectively hilarious. Keep cooking, bros.”

The criticism didn’t stop there. One fan bluntly asked, “Johni Broome with 1 point in the first half 😂 and people think he should be NPOY?” For a player expected to dominate on big stages, this performance raised eyebrows.

While Broome struggled, some fans turned their attention to Kentucky’s inability to capitalize. One user noted, “Kentucky held Johni Broome to 1 point and 2 fouls in the first half and didn’t take advantage of it whatsoever.” Another broke down Auburn’s success: “Good news for Kentucky: Auburn’s Johni Broome scored 1 point in the first half. Bad news for Kentucky: Auburn’s Miles Kelly (17) and Chad Baker-Mazara (16) have combined for 33 points in the first half.” Kentucky’s failure to exploit Broome’s off-night only highlighted their defensive lapses and allowed Auburn’s supporting cast to shine.

Broome has been the centerpiece of Bruce Pearl’s Auburn’s season, but performances like this could hurt his NPOY campaign. While one bad half doesn’t erase his dominance this year, fans expect consistency from a player touted as one of college basketball’s best.