UNC basketball’s weakness was exposed by Auburn in the Maui Invitational

UNC basketball’s weakness was highlighted Tuesday in an 85-72 loss to Auburn in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational.

The 12th-ranked Tar Heels (4-2) faced the same problem against the fourth-ranked Tigers (5-0) as they did in their first loss of the season against No. 1 Kansas (6-0).

Johni Broome, like Hunter Dickinson before him, overwhelmed UNC’s front line and presented the Heels with a problem they couldn’t solve in six games.

Broome was dominant from the start, finishing the game with 23 points, 19 rebounds and five assists against the Tar Heels’ main post players. Jalen Washington, Jalen Withers and Ven-Allen Lubin combined for 22 points and 18 rebounds against Auburn, which led by as many as 19 points in a go-go win.