Indiana University Athletics
Blackmon, Johnson Look Forward To Second College Season
9/22/2015 8:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - James Blackmon, Jr., and Robert Johnson need look no further than across the locker room to see examples of players who made monumental statistical jumps from their freshman to sophomore seasons. The duo, who started 33 games apiece and averaged a combined 24.6 points per game enter the 2015-16 season with a better understanding of what to expect as they begin their second year with the Hoosiers.
"Our goal is to improve on our weaknesses every day and get better at what you do well," said Blackmon, Jr. "You can see that every day. There is always somebody in the gym working on their game."
Preseason senior All-American Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell started all 36 games as a freshman averaged 7.6 points and shot 30.3 from long distance his first year in candy stripes. Junior Collin Hartman did not make a three-point field goal as a freshman and had ACL surgery on his knee less than a week after the end of his first year and came on as a sophomore to be one of the most improved players in the Big Ten and shot 47.5 from three-point range.
"What I learned the most during my freshman year was that the great players are consistent," said Johnson. "Last year went by so fast, but I definitely have wanted to work on my strength, playmaking abilities and my shot."
Blackmon, Jr., came to IU after earning McDonald's All-American honors following his senior year at Marion (Ind.) High School and shot out of the gate averaging 22.8 points in his first four games, including wins over NCAA Tournament participants Texas Southern and SMU, and shooting 64.0 from three-point range.
Johnson, whose services were sought after by the likes of Virginia, North Carolina and Florida State wasn't far behind scoring 36 points in his first two games, including a season-high 21 points against Texas Southern.
However, like so many freshmen, the game can humble you quick. Fortunately for the Hoosiers, the duo was able to play their way through the ups and downs of a long season and managed to get big game experience and have a taste of playing in the NCAA Tournament.
"For me, I was able to learn from a player like Yogi because he gives everyone else confidence with how hard he plays," noted Johnson. "He's always one step ahead of everyone else out there."
"With the feedback I got from looking at going to the NBA, it made me want to work even harder," said Blackmon, Jr. "One of the things I want to focus on is my leadership qualities. I know what to expect and I know that you need everyone moving in the same direction if you hope to achieve your goals as a team and individually."
For the year, Johnson averaged 8.9 points and was second on the team in assists with 79 and in steals with 29. During Big Ten play, he scored 14 points in a win at Nebraska, had 20 at home in a victory against Penn State, had 16 in a loss at Wisconsin and popped in 19 in a record setting home win against Minnesota.
Blackmon Jr., averaged 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds as a freshman, which ranked second on the team. He also ranked eighth in free throw percentage (80.6) and 3-point field goals made per game (2.3) among all Big Ten players. His 77 made 3-point field goals also set a new IU freshman record, surpassing the previous record of 70 held by Eric Gordon (2007-08 season). He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in the process and thought about entering the NBA Draft before deciding to return along with Ferrell and junior Troy Williams who also thought about leaving early and playing professionally.
"After talking about the situation with Coach Crean and my family, I just felt like the best situation for me was to come back for next year and play my sophomore year here and keep bettering myself," said Blackmon, Jr. "With so many of us coming back, and the ability of the guys coming in that definitely played a huge part of me coming back this year, I'm going to be playing with a great team, and we have a huge chance to do something great this year. I definitely looked at that, and the teammates that I have here, they push me every day. I wanted to be a part of that."
And one player who was thrilled with the trio's decisions to come back was the fourth returning starter from a year ago, Johnson.
""I think this year can be really exciting," said Johnson. "Any time you're in a situation like this, you put expectations on yourself for the upcoming year. I think it's great with the capabilities and the possibilities that we have for the upcoming year."
The Hoosiers have been ranked anywhere from No. 4 nationally to No. 17 in the many preseason polls that have been put out since the end of the season and are expected to appear in either the AP or Coaches Poll for the fifth straight season. IU boasted the Big Ten's best offense a year ago averaging 77.4 points per game and set a Big Ten record making an average of 9.4 three-pointers per game.
The Hoosiers will open the 2015-16 season on November 13 against Eastern Illinois.
"Our goal is to improve on our weaknesses every day and get better at what you do well," said Blackmon, Jr. "You can see that every day. There is always somebody in the gym working on their game."
Preseason senior All-American Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell started all 36 games as a freshman averaged 7.6 points and shot 30.3 from long distance his first year in candy stripes. Junior Collin Hartman did not make a three-point field goal as a freshman and had ACL surgery on his knee less than a week after the end of his first year and came on as a sophomore to be one of the most improved players in the Big Ten and shot 47.5 from three-point range.
"What I learned the most during my freshman year was that the great players are consistent," said Johnson. "Last year went by so fast, but I definitely have wanted to work on my strength, playmaking abilities and my shot."
Blackmon, Jr., came to IU after earning McDonald's All-American honors following his senior year at Marion (Ind.) High School and shot out of the gate averaging 22.8 points in his first four games, including wins over NCAA Tournament participants Texas Southern and SMU, and shooting 64.0 from three-point range.
Johnson, whose services were sought after by the likes of Virginia, North Carolina and Florida State wasn't far behind scoring 36 points in his first two games, including a season-high 21 points against Texas Southern.
However, like so many freshmen, the game can humble you quick. Fortunately for the Hoosiers, the duo was able to play their way through the ups and downs of a long season and managed to get big game experience and have a taste of playing in the NCAA Tournament.
"For me, I was able to learn from a player like Yogi because he gives everyone else confidence with how hard he plays," noted Johnson. "He's always one step ahead of everyone else out there."
"With the feedback I got from looking at going to the NBA, it made me want to work even harder," said Blackmon, Jr. "One of the things I want to focus on is my leadership qualities. I know what to expect and I know that you need everyone moving in the same direction if you hope to achieve your goals as a team and individually."
For the year, Johnson averaged 8.9 points and was second on the team in assists with 79 and in steals with 29. During Big Ten play, he scored 14 points in a win at Nebraska, had 20 at home in a victory against Penn State, had 16 in a loss at Wisconsin and popped in 19 in a record setting home win against Minnesota.
Blackmon Jr., averaged 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds as a freshman, which ranked second on the team. He also ranked eighth in free throw percentage (80.6) and 3-point field goals made per game (2.3) among all Big Ten players. His 77 made 3-point field goals also set a new IU freshman record, surpassing the previous record of 70 held by Eric Gordon (2007-08 season). He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in the process and thought about entering the NBA Draft before deciding to return along with Ferrell and junior Troy Williams who also thought about leaving early and playing professionally.
"After talking about the situation with Coach Crean and my family, I just felt like the best situation for me was to come back for next year and play my sophomore year here and keep bettering myself," said Blackmon, Jr. "With so many of us coming back, and the ability of the guys coming in that definitely played a huge part of me coming back this year, I'm going to be playing with a great team, and we have a huge chance to do something great this year. I definitely looked at that, and the teammates that I have here, they push me every day. I wanted to be a part of that."
And one player who was thrilled with the trio's decisions to come back was the fourth returning starter from a year ago, Johnson.
""I think this year can be really exciting," said Johnson. "Any time you're in a situation like this, you put expectations on yourself for the upcoming year. I think it's great with the capabilities and the possibilities that we have for the upcoming year."
The Hoosiers have been ranked anywhere from No. 4 nationally to No. 17 in the many preseason polls that have been put out since the end of the season and are expected to appear in either the AP or Coaches Poll for the fifth straight season. IU boasted the Big Ten's best offense a year ago averaging 77.4 points per game and set a Big Ten record making an average of 9.4 three-pointers per game.
The Hoosiers will open the 2015-16 season on November 13 against Eastern Illinois.
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