Indiana University Athletics
‘Locked In’ – Johnson Aims to Make Most of Second Chance
10/28/2022 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Opportunity finds Xavier Johnson sitting hunched in a white chair on the edge of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall's Branch McCracken Court. He wears his Indiana basketball uniform, No. 0 in case you've forgotten, like a shield from media inquiry. He is, at this moment, in every way, reflective of the best of Indiana athletics.
And yet …
"I'm glad God gave me a second chance to do what I love," the 6-3 senior says.
God's instrument was coach Mike Woodson, who weighed Johnson's potential as a person and player against headline-making mistakes and offered a final chance.
"I like everything about what X is doing," Woodson says, "because he is doing the right things on and off the court."
Johnson, perhaps the Big Ten's best point guard, is where he wants to be, needs to be, has to be -- for himself and the Hoosiers in this most promising of seasons.
"I hit a big wall," Johnson says. "I thought my career was over."
A pause.
"I got my mindset changed. I'm mad at myself for doing something like that."
A spring reckless driving charge and an in-season suspension are in his rear-view mirror. They will, he insists, remain there. He will see to that. Woodson will see to that. All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis will see to that. This is very much a group effort.
"I know he's going to do great things this year," Jackson-Davis says.
*****
Johnson nearly blew it. He understands that. He has paid for it. Second chances don't come without consequence. He has faced them, endured them, grown from them. He is, he insists, better for them. Teammates vouch for that.
"Xavier has been locked in," Jackson-Davis said. "He's been doing his thing. He's been in the gym working. He's being a leader. He's going to be a huge piece for us, a huge leader."
Johnson is here because Woodson believes in him, as a person first, then as a player.
Johnson's car, on the other hand, is in Virginia with his parents.
"He doesn't have a vehicle anymore," Woodson says. "I took that away from him."
Woodson laughs as he says this. Johnson laughs as he confirms it. But steel lies behind the laughter. Everyone knows there won't be a third chance.
"Coach basically said, you have no car or you can go somewhere else," Johnson says. "He had a conversation with my parents. They agreed with it so I agreed with it."
Another pause. Above him, five Hoosier national championship banners sway ever so slightly.
"I didn't care about my car. I love to play basketball. That's what I came here to do. That's the main thing."
*****
Some players -- can you say Jackson-Davis? -- have maturity beyond their years. Others, grow into it. Woodson facilitates as only a coach can.
The car is gone, community service completed, other duties served.
"If that's punishment," Woodson says, "it's punishment, and I don't mean that in a negative way. We're trying to do the things necessary to help us win games. I think he's made a major step in that direction to help us."
Adds Johnson: "I wouldn't say that it's a punishment. Coach wants me to grow up and learn from my mistakes."
Growth showed in a summer of work and focus that exceeded Woodson's expectations.
"Out of all the play I watched and was part of," the coach says, "he was the brightest of all."
*****
Johnson is passionate and competitive, and there were times, first at Pitt, and then at IU, when it got the better of him. But he has learned to channel that ferocity to Woodson's demands. It hasn't always gone smoothly, but progress finds him with a chance to help lead the Hoosiers to the kind of postseason run they haven't had since 2016 (NCAA tourney Sweet 16), and perhaps 2002 (national title game).
Improvement includes leadership, crucial for a point guard's coach-on-the-floor responsibility.
"Coach Woodson and the coaching staff stayed on me," Johnson says. "They've helped me become a bigger and better leader."
During their 18 months together, Woodson has delivered tough love, strong words and grueling demands. It's the price of playing under his point-guard rules, which in so many ways are NBA rules, which is where Johnson hopes to play someday.
"When you look at what happened to X, where we started with X and where he ended up," Woodson says, "X probably caught more hell on this team than anybody from his head coach. There's a reason why. When you're building a basketball team, you expect a lot out of all of your players, but that position is pivotal in terms of how you play on both ends of the floor.
"X hung in there with me. He fought me at times, but it worked out well for him and for our ball club."
How well? Last season, Johnson scored in double digits in each of his final 10 games, including a double-double at Purdue. He led IU in assists (172) and steals (37), finished second to Jackson-Davis in scoring (12.1 points) and second to Parker Stewart in three-point shooting (38.3 percent). He also was third in rebounding (3.8).
Still, the Hoosiers need more from Johnson, and Woodson has high hopes.
"He tasted some success last season. It was the first time he experienced being in the Big Dance. This summer he came in with a different attitude. To me it means he's growing up."
*****
Johnson finds motivation in perceived slights. That includes last spring's NCAA tourney draw. Coming off a grueling three-day Big Ten tourney semifinal run, Indiana barely made the field. It had to play in the First Four in Dayton, then fly to Portland, Ore., to face a well-rested Saint Mary's team less than 48 hours later. The result -- an 82-53 loss.
The obvious solution -- play better in the regular season. Certainly improve on the 9-11 Big Ten record that caused it.
"You can never lose track of that," Johnson says. "It was best to make the tournament. But when it all comes down to it, we've got to know that we didn't deserve to be in that position."
IU, now a preseason top-15 team, rates as the Big Ten favorite, ahead of Michigan and Illinois.
Johnson pays little attention.
"I haven't looked (at the ratings). I've never been on a top team. You can't worry about the expectations. You just have to just play."
The Hoosiers have an intriguing mix of veterans (led by returning starters Jackson-Davis, Johnson and forwards Race Thompson and Miller Kopp), plus heralded newcomers Jalen Hood-Schifino, Malik Reneau, C.J. Gunn and Kaleb Banks.
Woodson's pro-style system has a complexity that takes time to master.
Johnson knows that firsthand.
"Coach can be a complicated guy when it comes to plays. It's important to listen to him. The whole team has done that. The young guys have not made Coach yell at us for a play. That's the good thing."
Woodson tweaks to suit his personnel.
"A lot has changed with all the different players," Johnson says. "It has evolved. Coach has been writing up a lot of plays. There's a lot of detail you have to pay attention to."
That's crucial given the potential. These Hoosiers, Johnson says, aim to do something special.
"It's a mindset. It's coming in everyday and getting better. That's everybody's mindset. Everybody wants to compete."
Competition starts with Saturday's exhibition against Marian University.
"We've got to take more steps to get to the top," Johnson says. "We have been working hard. We can't wait to get on the floor."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Opportunity finds Xavier Johnson sitting hunched in a white chair on the edge of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall's Branch McCracken Court. He wears his Indiana basketball uniform, No. 0 in case you've forgotten, like a shield from media inquiry. He is, at this moment, in every way, reflective of the best of Indiana athletics.
And yet …
"I'm glad God gave me a second chance to do what I love," the 6-3 senior says.
God's instrument was coach Mike Woodson, who weighed Johnson's potential as a person and player against headline-making mistakes and offered a final chance.
"I like everything about what X is doing," Woodson says, "because he is doing the right things on and off the court."
Johnson, perhaps the Big Ten's best point guard, is where he wants to be, needs to be, has to be -- for himself and the Hoosiers in this most promising of seasons.
"I hit a big wall," Johnson says. "I thought my career was over."
A pause.
"I got my mindset changed. I'm mad at myself for doing something like that."
A spring reckless driving charge and an in-season suspension are in his rear-view mirror. They will, he insists, remain there. He will see to that. Woodson will see to that. All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis will see to that. This is very much a group effort.
"I know he's going to do great things this year," Jackson-Davis says.
*****
Johnson nearly blew it. He understands that. He has paid for it. Second chances don't come without consequence. He has faced them, endured them, grown from them. He is, he insists, better for them. Teammates vouch for that.
"Xavier has been locked in," Jackson-Davis said. "He's been doing his thing. He's been in the gym working. He's being a leader. He's going to be a huge piece for us, a huge leader."
Johnson is here because Woodson believes in him, as a person first, then as a player.
Johnson's car, on the other hand, is in Virginia with his parents.
"He doesn't have a vehicle anymore," Woodson says. "I took that away from him."
Woodson laughs as he says this. Johnson laughs as he confirms it. But steel lies behind the laughter. Everyone knows there won't be a third chance.
"Coach basically said, you have no car or you can go somewhere else," Johnson says. "He had a conversation with my parents. They agreed with it so I agreed with it."
Another pause. Above him, five Hoosier national championship banners sway ever so slightly.
"I didn't care about my car. I love to play basketball. That's what I came here to do. That's the main thing."
*****
Some players -- can you say Jackson-Davis? -- have maturity beyond their years. Others, grow into it. Woodson facilitates as only a coach can.
The car is gone, community service completed, other duties served.
"If that's punishment," Woodson says, "it's punishment, and I don't mean that in a negative way. We're trying to do the things necessary to help us win games. I think he's made a major step in that direction to help us."
Adds Johnson: "I wouldn't say that it's a punishment. Coach wants me to grow up and learn from my mistakes."
Growth showed in a summer of work and focus that exceeded Woodson's expectations.
"Out of all the play I watched and was part of," the coach says, "he was the brightest of all."
*****
Johnson is passionate and competitive, and there were times, first at Pitt, and then at IU, when it got the better of him. But he has learned to channel that ferocity to Woodson's demands. It hasn't always gone smoothly, but progress finds him with a chance to help lead the Hoosiers to the kind of postseason run they haven't had since 2016 (NCAA tourney Sweet 16), and perhaps 2002 (national title game).
Improvement includes leadership, crucial for a point guard's coach-on-the-floor responsibility.
"Coach Woodson and the coaching staff stayed on me," Johnson says. "They've helped me become a bigger and better leader."
During their 18 months together, Woodson has delivered tough love, strong words and grueling demands. It's the price of playing under his point-guard rules, which in so many ways are NBA rules, which is where Johnson hopes to play someday.
"When you look at what happened to X, where we started with X and where he ended up," Woodson says, "X probably caught more hell on this team than anybody from his head coach. There's a reason why. When you're building a basketball team, you expect a lot out of all of your players, but that position is pivotal in terms of how you play on both ends of the floor.
"X hung in there with me. He fought me at times, but it worked out well for him and for our ball club."
How well? Last season, Johnson scored in double digits in each of his final 10 games, including a double-double at Purdue. He led IU in assists (172) and steals (37), finished second to Jackson-Davis in scoring (12.1 points) and second to Parker Stewart in three-point shooting (38.3 percent). He also was third in rebounding (3.8).
Still, the Hoosiers need more from Johnson, and Woodson has high hopes.
"He tasted some success last season. It was the first time he experienced being in the Big Dance. This summer he came in with a different attitude. To me it means he's growing up."
*****
Johnson finds motivation in perceived slights. That includes last spring's NCAA tourney draw. Coming off a grueling three-day Big Ten tourney semifinal run, Indiana barely made the field. It had to play in the First Four in Dayton, then fly to Portland, Ore., to face a well-rested Saint Mary's team less than 48 hours later. The result -- an 82-53 loss.
The obvious solution -- play better in the regular season. Certainly improve on the 9-11 Big Ten record that caused it.
"You can never lose track of that," Johnson says. "It was best to make the tournament. But when it all comes down to it, we've got to know that we didn't deserve to be in that position."
IU, now a preseason top-15 team, rates as the Big Ten favorite, ahead of Michigan and Illinois.
Johnson pays little attention.
"I haven't looked (at the ratings). I've never been on a top team. You can't worry about the expectations. You just have to just play."
The Hoosiers have an intriguing mix of veterans (led by returning starters Jackson-Davis, Johnson and forwards Race Thompson and Miller Kopp), plus heralded newcomers Jalen Hood-Schifino, Malik Reneau, C.J. Gunn and Kaleb Banks.
Woodson's pro-style system has a complexity that takes time to master.
Johnson knows that firsthand.
"Coach can be a complicated guy when it comes to plays. It's important to listen to him. The whole team has done that. The young guys have not made Coach yell at us for a play. That's the good thing."
Woodson tweaks to suit his personnel.
"A lot has changed with all the different players," Johnson says. "It has evolved. Coach has been writing up a lot of plays. There's a lot of detail you have to pay attention to."
That's crucial given the potential. These Hoosiers, Johnson says, aim to do something special.
"It's a mindset. It's coming in everyday and getting better. That's everybody's mindset. Everybody wants to compete."
Competition starts with Saturday's exhibition against Marian University.
"We've got to take more steps to get to the top," Johnson says. "We have been working hard. We can't wait to get on the floor."
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