Earlier in the week, while discussing Auburn, I explained why I think the Tigers deserve their No. 1 ranking but acknowledged I also find it hard to believe they're actually the best team in the country without the injured Johni Broome.

Five Auburn players scored in double figures and the host Tigers, the top-ranked team in the nation, survived their first test without their best player, Johni Broome, prevailing 88-66 over No. 15 Mississippi State on Tuesday.

Chad Baker-Mazara scored 20 points, and No. 1 Auburn beat No. 15 Mississippi State 88-66 on Tuesday night in its first game without star center Johni Broome. Chaney Johnson, who replaced Broome in the starting lineup,

In a historic vote Wednesday at the NCAA convention in Nashville, the organization approved a plan to pay women's basketball teams for making the NCAA Tournament. Men's basketball teams have been reaping the benefits of the same revenue sharing plan for many years.

The organization approved “performance units” for women’s teams participating in March Madness after years of only paying men’s programs.

Women’s basketball teams finally will be paid for playing games in the NCAA Tournament each March just like the men have for years under a plan approved Wednesday at the NCAA convention