Stars such as Auburn’s Johni Broome and Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier will be on display in the first semifinal game of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Saturday afternoon in Nashville.No. 3 Auburn (28-4) and No. 8 Tennessee (26-6) had double byes to start the tournament, and the top players were ready to roll in their first games in the quarterfinals on Friday.Broome was selected the SEC Player of the Year after averaging 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds during the regular season. He surpassed those numbers with 23 points and 15 rebounds in the top-seeded Tigers’ 62-57 victory over eighth-seeded Ole Miss to start the postseason.”Johni just carries us,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “He puts us on his shoulders and he’s one of the best competitors I’ve ever seen. He hates to lose, and his teammates know that.”One of those teammates is SEC All-Defense guard Denver Jones, who helped lead an effort that held the Rebels to their lowest point total of the season.”Defense and rebounding win championships,” Pearl said, “and that’s obviously what carried the day.”The day almost got away from the Tigers because they committed 15 turnovers and were outscored 18-6 on points off giveaways. Pearl was concerned about those numbers as his team prepares to face the Volunteers and SEC Defensive Player of the Year Zeigler and All-Defense guard Jahmai Mashack.”We don’t win many games when we turn the ball over 15 times,” Pearl said. “We’ve got to do a better job of handling pressure and taking care of the basketball. It was almost a factor in us getting beat.”The Tigers almost dropped their regular-season meeting with Tennessee before prevailing 53-51 at home Jan. 25 behind a late 3-pointer from Miles Kelly.