Catching Up With #IUBB: Robert Johnson

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - With the 2014-15 academic year nearly complete, we sat down with rising sophomore guard Robert Johnson to get his thoughts on his freshman season and what he's working on for next year.

How has the summer been so far for you?
Johnson: "It's been good so far. Now that we know everybody's coming back, we've just started to move forward and prepare for next season in all the ways we can, being that it's this early. Everything is good right now."

How nice is it to have everybody back?
"I think that's really exciting. Any time you're in a situation like this, you put expectations on yourself for the upcoming year. I think it's exciting with the capabilities and the possibilities that we have for the upcoming year."

What types of expectations have you put on yourself this early?
"We just want everybody to raise their level of play. With the types of players coming in, we are going to add length and be even better rebounders and more physical and things like that. Just everybody is raising our play, raising our defense and when that happens, our whole team's ability is just going to go up."

How big is it to have Yogi back?
"I think it's really big. Yogi's the type of guy with having him back, it gives you confidence. I know he always gives me confidence out there. It's contagious the way he plays. He plays so hard and he's a smart guy. He's always one step ahead of everybody else out there."

What are you working on this summer?
"I just think a little bit of everything, really. I really want to play more consistent throughout the whole year next year."

Have you seen improvements already?
"Oh yeah, most definitely. I think everybody is already better. We've all been trying to strengthen up our weaknesses and we're all improving there."

Has it hit you that you're basically done with your freshman year?
"It has hit me, actually. It's crazy to think how quick the year went by. But like I said, we're already looking forward to next year."

Who's a player you think could make a big jump from this season to next season like Collin Hartman did?
"Someone that comes to mind is Emmitt Holt. I can definitely see that for the simple fact that he had really good flashes this year. I think with more time and a year under his belt, he could definitely make a big jump."

What can you still get done these next few weeks?
"Just continue to get better with playmaking abilities. Shooting, I think I can become a better shooter, and then just strength. I think I can become a lot stronger."

Just how exciting is it to be an Indiana Hoosier right now?
"It most definitely is an exciting place. That's just the positive energy of everybody coming back. The things we can possibly be capable of if we come in every day with the same type of focus and mindset of getting better day in and day out. I think this team could be really good."

And before I forget, you were down at the Derby Classic earlier to watch the incoming freshmen. How was that?
"It was really cool, actually. I went down and saw those guys. I was able to talk to them and chill with them a little bit after the game, which was really cool. They're definitely going to be able to help us out right away with rebounding because they all play hard. They all play with a lot of energy and have high motors. They're all going to help add another dimension to our team."

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