Bodda Getta Brew 3/19: March Madness Rupp Reprise

The No.1 overall seed, Auburn (28-5), plays 16th-seeded Alabama State (20-15) today at 1:50 p.m. CT on CBS and the Auburn Sports Network.

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Bodda Getta Brew Crew
March 20, 2025

Good Morning, Auburn Family. Returning to the site of his greatest game at Auburn, Miles Kelly prepared for a Rupp reprise during practice on the eve of the NCAA Tournament.  

“When they said we were coming back to Rupp and Lexington, my eyes lit up,” said Kelly, who made a career-high nine 3-pointers on March 1 to lead Auburn over Kentucky, the Tigers’ first win at Rupp since 1988.

Auburn faces a familiar opponent in Thursday’s first round in Alabama State.

“We know we have our hands full with a very quick, deep, athletic, well-coached basketball team,” Auburn head MBB coach Bruce Pearl said.

What else have we mixed into today’s steaming hot Brew? Check it out below!

⛳️ Brendan Valdes was named SEC Golfer of the Week
🏆 Track & Field’s Makanakaishe Charamba and Israel Okon receive SEC honors
🐅 And much, much more!

📹 WAREAGLE+: TIPOFF SHOW

The WarEagle+ Tip Off Show (NCAA Tournament)
The WarEagle+ Tip Off show previews Auburn's opening-round game in the NCAA Tournament with behind-the-scenes access and exclusive interviews from Lexington.

🔼 We Getting Tired Yet? Auburn MBB’s Johni Broome is everybody’s All-American as the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) honored the senior forward/center on its All-America First Team. The USBWA has named a men’s All-America team since its inaugural season of 1956-57, while the NABC All-America Teams were voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I.

The first team by both organizations was paced by three All-SEC first-teamers headlined by the SEC Player of the Year in Broome, who was a third-team All-American last season.

🔼 Major Success Reporting For Duty. Auburn senior men’s golfer Brendan Valdes was named SEC Golfer of the Week for the fifth time after a record-smashing performance at the General Hackler Championship that led the No. 1 Tigers to a second consecutive victory. Valdes finished 12-under at the Hackler, shooting 67-72-65 to win by one stroke. He accumulated 14 birdies and two eagles over the three rounds.  

In Sunday’s opener, Valdes made history as the program’s new leader for career rounds below par as he recorded his 69th to break a three-way tie with Jovan Rebula (2016-21) and J.M. Butler (2020-24).

🔼 Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way. Auburn senior men’s tennis player Will Nolan has been named SEC Player of the Week, his first since being named SEC Freshman of the Week in 2022. Nolan came through in the clutch to deliver the Tigers to a couple of 4-3 conference victories during the weekend over No. 18 Oklahoma and Ole Miss.

On top of the two straight set singles wins, Nolan and doubles partner Billy Blaydes also delivered a ranked win over Oklahoma’s Oscar Lacides and Bruno Nhavene. With the two singles victories, Nolan is now 13-8 overall this season and 6-5 in dual matches at the No. 1 position.

Charamba, an Olympic finalist in Paris last summer for Zimbabwe, won the SEC individual title in the 200m with a time of 20.13. His time was the fastest indoor 200m in the world this year and the world’s seventh fastest ever. Okon finished second overall in the 60m, crossing in 6.52. He was Auburn’s first freshman to run in the 60m at the indoor championships since Harry Adams in 2010. 

🔼 “Hungary” For More. It didn’t take long for Hungary’s Lora Komoroczy to grasp the importance of the Auburn-Alabama rivalry.

Six months on campus and 51.37 seconds in the pool at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center. That’s how long the Auburn freshman needed to swim the 100 backstroke Jan. 24 to lead Auburn to a dual meet victory over Alabama, the second fastest time in program history.

“It was so new because in Hungary, we don’t have these rivals,” Komoroczy said. “I think it’s so much fun.”

One of 12 Tigers competing in this week’s 2025 Women’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, Komoroczy qualified in the 100 back, 50 free and 100 fly, and will also compete in relays.

Go here for more on Komoroczy’s immediate impact on the team, her versatility and her goals.

🔼 Life By the Reins. Sophomore Avery Glynn and junior Alexia Tordoff were named Arion Sellier Riders of the Month for March by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA). The NCEA honor was a first for Glynn, who was awarded for her performances in Fences. Tordoff picked up her first NCEA honor in Horsemanship.

Glynn put together a perfect mark in Fences in March, going 3-0-0 in the event to improve to 11-0-0 overall for the season. Tordoff put an exclamation on an outstanding regular season in Horsemanship with three wins and one MOP in March.

🔼 Don’t Call It a Comeback … Well, Maybe. Facing a five-run deficit, No. 23 Auburn softball (21-8) used the long ball, including the walk-off winner from freshman AnnaLea Adams, to come from behind and knock off South Alabama 7-6 Wednesday night at Jane B. Moore Field. It was Auburn’s second comeback victory of the season when trailing by at least five runs and the Tigers’ 14th overall come-from-behind win of the year. 

Adams closed Wednesday 3-for-3 at the plate, adding a pair of singles. Anna Wohlers did most of the offensive damage as she slugged a pair of home runs, including a game-tying grand slam in the fifth, to drive in six of Auburn’s seven runs. 

🤓 TRIVIA QUESTION

Party of Three

Among his many accolades, Auburn MBB’s Johni Broome became just the third Associated Press SEC Player of the Year from Auburn, joining Charles Barkley and who else?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

🐅 ONE BIG THING

Butch’s Boatload of Dubs. ICYMI! Auburn baseball coach Butch Thompson got his 300th win Tuesday night against Alabama State. Relive the moment above!

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📅 ON THE DOCKET 

Thursday, March 20
🌊 Swimming & Diving @ Women’s NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Washington @ Noon CT
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Alabama State/Saint Francis @ NCAA Tournament @ 1:50 p.m. CT @ Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Kentucky - Richland Elementary School Day (K-2) @ 3.m. CT | Live Video | Live Stats

Friday, March 21
🌊 Swimming & Diving @ Women’s NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Washington @ Noon CT
🥎 Softball @ Texas @ 4 p.m. CT SEC ESPN+ | Live Stats | WEGL 91.1 FM
👟 X-Country/Track @ Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Vanderbilt - Spicy Hot Match Day @ 5 p.m. CT |  Live Video | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball @ Kentucky @ 5:30 p.m. CT | Live Stats | Listen

Saturday, March 22
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Creighton/Louisville @ NCAA Tournament @ Time TBA @ Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
🌊 Swimming & Diving @ Women’s NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Washington @ Noon CT
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Tennessee - Saugahatchee Day @ Noon CT | Live Video | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball @ Kentucky @ 1 p.m. CT | Live Stats | Listen
⚽️ Soccer vs. Mercer - Spring EXH @ 2 p.m. CT
🥎 Softball @ Texas @ 2 p.m. CT SEC ESPN+ | Live Stats | WEGL 91.1 FM
👟 X-Country/Track @ Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Alabama A&M - Saugahatchee Day @ 5 p.m. CT | Live Video | Live Stats

Sunday, March 23
🥎 Softball @ Texas @ Noon CT SEC ESPN+ | Live Stats | WEGL 91.1 FM
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Missouri @ Noon CT |  Live Video | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball @ Kentucky @ 1 p.m. CT | Live Stats | Listen

🧐 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Chris Porter!

Johni Broome, who is averaging 18.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, joined Charles Barkley (1984) and Chris Porter (1999) as just the third Associated Press SEC Player of the Year from Auburn.

🐅 Happy Thursday, Auburn Fam!