Johni Broome and the Auburn Tigers show no sign of stopping with just 4 games left in the season. The dominance that Bruce Pearl’s team has shown this year has been unmatched. Going 25-2 is no small feat, after all. However, their recent matchups have been a lot closer than fans and analysts have been expecting. So, could their NCAA supremacy be slipping at the worst possible time?Against Georgia, the team looked quite normal. They might have won by 12 points, but the game wasn’t an outright show of dominance like Auburn games have been. The Tigers, who were earlier blowing opponents by massive points, saw their margin of victory shrink, their offense look disjointed, and their three-point shooting become erratic. It was Broome’s brilliance that led their team to victory, considering that they only managed to shoot just 27.3% from three, struggling to create quality perimeter looks.In a recent episode of The Field of 68: After Dark, analysts John Fanta, Jeff Goodman, and Rob Dauster talked about Pearl’s team. Dauster, in particular, raised a query about Auburn’s dwindling dominance. “Is this teams figuring Auburn out? Is this something where Auburn has said look we know we’re probably gonna end up winning the SEC, we don’t need to kick it into high gear to win all of these games.” He said, questioning whether it was an issue or strategic planning.Dauster’s concerns seem in the right place as while Johni Broome carried the team with a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds, the rest of the Tigers lacked the same spark that defined their earlier dominance. A similar pattern rose against Vanderbilt, where Auburn’s struggles extended into their shot selection and ball movement. Although they pulled away late, their efficiency showed a notable dip, and their defense allowed a Commodores team that has struggled all year to hang around for much longer than expected.However, Goodman brought up an interesting point. “It’s harder for them to get motivated every game.” He said, continuing with the likely notion. “If you’re Auburn, you’re tryna fast forward. You wanna get to the tournament now.” If true, this could be both a blessing and a curse. This does suggest that Auburn has another level they can reach when necessary, but it also raises concerns about whether they can flip the switch instantly once the NCAA Tournament begins.March is right around the corner for Bruce Pearl’s team. They’re definitely trying to keep some gas in the tank for the post-season. Goodman pointed out that though the team didn’t look good against Georgia or Vanderbilt, they played really good basketball against Alabama on the road. Their March futures look quite solid, but an analyst goes even further with his predictions.John Fanta on Auburn’s offense and post-season fortunesNational analyst John Fanta gave his insights on Auburn’s offense during the latest episode of The Field of 68: After Dark. He argued that the shakiness that Goodman pointed out for a few games could be because of another reason entirely.“I also think there was a degree of figuring out what Auburn’s offense is.” Fanta said. “Which was otherworldly for two months at the start of the season. Part of that is the regression to the mean, a little bit.” It was genuinely otherworldly. Auburn was blowing teams out by 40, giving no care as to what the other team might go through.Nov 9, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) reacts after a play during the second half against the Houston Cougars at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn ImagesWell, that is somewhat in line with what Dauster said and seems to make a lot of sense too. As defenses adapt and scouting reports become more detailed, teams are bound to find ways to disrupt Auburn’s offensive flow. Yet, One area where Auburn has remained steady is the performance of Johni Broome.Johni Broome is a huge piece of the puzzle. The NPOY candidate hasn’t given fans or analysts a reason to be upset, as he is currently leading the Tigers in nearly every major statistical category. Perhaps, relying on this factor, Fanta made his very strong prediction moving forward into March. “I guarantee that Auburn will be in the Final Four. They’re going to make the Final Four.” It seems like a given, but there are also always Cinderella stories. People like Jack Gohalke have their comeback stories in March, so no team is yet sure to win.The post Auburn’s NCAA Supremacy Slipping on the Brink of March Madness as Serious Red Flags Loom Over Bruce Pearl appeared first on EssentiallySports.