Auburn star Johni Broome sent a clear message to teammate Chad Baker-Mazara following Baker-Mazara’s controversial ejection during the Tigers’ narrow 93-91 loss to Alabama. While Broome remained supportive of his teammate, he emphasized the importance of avoiding such incidents in the future.
“My message to Chad is to learn from his mistakes. Want to change, want to do better for the team and for himself. We all love Chad, and we still had the opportunity to win the game without him,” Broome said, according to 247 Sports. “Obviously, he’s down on himself because he’d rather be out there with us. The message to him is to try to learn from his mistakes.”
The incident in question occurred during the annual “Iron Bowl of Basketball” rivalry game when Baker-Mazara was ejected for striking an opposing player with an elbow to the back of the head. Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl suggested the action may have been retaliatory, though he admitted he did not see the full play. Regardless of the intent, the strike was widely condemned.
“Under no circumstances should any physicality on a basketball court lead to an elbow to the back of the head,” Pearl stated after the game. “It’s dangerous and doesn’t belong on a collegiate basketball court.”
The ejection not only left Auburn shorthanded during the game’s most critical moments but also placed a cloud over an otherwise valiant effort by the Tigers. Alabama head coach Nate Oats weighed in on the situation, stating, “(Baker-Mazara) was no longer available for his team. I just told our team, don’t do anything dumb. Let’s just be the hardest-playing, toughest, most together team on the floor, and the score would take care of itself.”
Despite Baker-Mazara’s absence, Auburn pushed the game into the final seconds, showcasing resilience and grit. However, the loss marked the second consecutive season in which Auburn has suffered high-profile March defeats following Baker-Mazara’s ejections.
With the SEC Tournament and March Madness looming, the Tigers are eager to put this setback behind them. Broome, a Wooden Award candidate, remains optimistic that the team can bounce back and encouraged Baker-Mazara to channel this experience into personal and team growth.
The focus now shifts to ensuring Auburn maintains its composure during high-stakes games. For the Tigers, eliminating distractions and staying united will be essential as they aim to make a deep postseason run.
