Sunday, March 10
Bloomington, Ind.
4:30 PM
Indiana University
vs
Michigan State
‘Special’ Moment Looms for Johnson on Senior Day
3/10/2024 11:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Senior Day arrives for point guard Xavier Johnson and sitting on the bench isn't in the picture.
Mike Woodson is pumped.
"It's special," the Hoosier coach says. "It should be special."
Johnson has battled bad luck and injuries throughout his three years as a Hoosier. He's still battling a left elbow injury, which hasn't kept him out of the lineup for the last three games, all Hoosier victories. It certainly won't keep him out for Sunday's regular-season finale against Michigan State (18-12 overall, 10-9 in the Big Ten) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Johnson will run the show. Again, Woodson is pumped.
"When you put (in your time) -- he's been six years in college, a long time playing this sport, -- and now you wind down and come to the end of your college career, it's special," Woodson says.
"I couldn't be more proud and more happy for X. He's gone through a lot. From the time I got him, I coached him hard. I was tough on X. He wanted to give you all he could give. Then, the injuries set in, and he wasn't able to be on the floor a lot."
That hurt Hoosier guard play. Johnson's return after a six-game absence has been a big boost, especially during the last 60 minutes of game action -- the second half at Maryland, entire game at Minnesota.
Woodson says IU is 40-22 with Johnson in the lineup.
"I've been screaming all along about having Xavier back," Woodson says. "He's missed a lot of basketball since he's been here. We didn't bring him here to be on the sideline. Unfortunately, he's had the injuries and we've suffered from it."
Injured or healthy, Johnson has made a big impression on freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako.
"X is a phenomenal player," Mgbako says. "He pushes the pace. When he's on the court, the tempo is faster. We get more shots up. It allows us to create more within the offense."
Like many college players, Johnson aims to play professionally. Woodson, with an extensive playing and coaching NBA background, will help with contacts, insight and more.
"Once he leaves here, he's got to figure out what's next. That's the beauty of playing sports and getting an education. You still got to go out in the workplace and figure out the rest of your life.
"I'm going to always be there for him if he needs me. I'm going to do whatever I can to help him do whatever he wants to do in the next phase of his life. For me, that's what coaching is all about."
With Johnson back, senior guard Trey Galloway has picked up his play. He's scored a combined 25 points in the last two games on 11-for-20 shooting. He's totaled 27 assists in his last three contests.
"Gallo is starting to come into his own," Woodson says. "It's what you expect because he's a senior. I've been harping I expect that from him, I want him to do that. He's been playing extremely well as of late."
IU's three-game winning streak -- improving to 17-13 overall, 9-10 in the Big Ten -- reflects strong overall play, certainly better shooting.
"We just continue to work," Woodson says. "Guys are starting to feel good about themselves. Having X back helps a lot. It speeds us up a little bit. We're getting a lot more transition buckets because we're getting the ball up the floor. Guys are benefiting from it.
"That's what normally happens when you make shots. The offense looks good, and it doesn't hurt that we are playing good defense and rebounding with our opponents. That helps a lot, as well."
IU hasn't conceded a NCAA tourney opportunity. An automatic bid comes with winning next week's Big Ten tourney in Minneapolis.
"We've to keep working, and believing in what we're doing," Woodson says. "In this three-game stretch, when you look at the stat line across the board, it's kind of scary. It's nice. We have gone through stretches since I've been here where we played like that.
"These guys haven't quit. They continue to work and practice. They are trying to get better as a group.
"We've got to keep doing what we're doing and doing it at high level and doing it for 40 minutes. That's the key. We've been outplaying our opponents the last three games, been playing harder than those guys. That's why we've have won the last three."
Michigan State has struggled down the stretch, including losing consecutive games at the Breslin Center to Iowa and Ohio State, followed by a road loss at Purdue. It bounced back to beat Northwestern on Senior Night at the Breslin Center, 53-49. It didn't shoot well (19-for-60 overall, 2-for-17 on 3-pointers) but had 19 offensive rebounds. Coach Tom Izzo called it a "rock fight."
The Spartans seek to make the NCAA Tournament for the 26th straight year.
Forward Malik Hall had 15 points and 17 rebounds against the Wildcats. He averages 12.9 points and 5.7 rebounds. Guard Tyson Walker had 19 points. He averages a team-leading 18.0 points with a team-high 54 steals. Guard A.J. Hoggard averages 10.9 points with a team-high 149 assists. Guard Jaden Akins averages 10.5 points with a team-leading 56 3-pointers.
Michigan State has an Indianapolis player on its roster in 6-11 freshman Xavier Brooks, who averages 3.8 points and 1.6 rebounds. He has 14 3-point baskets.
"We've got to keep executing," Woodson says. "We've got to let our defense create offense. That's something we've done of late.
"Michigan State is a good team. They're well-coached. They play hard.
"We've got to commit ourselves for 40 minutes knowing we've got to play as hard as they play and see what happens."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Senior Day arrives for point guard Xavier Johnson and sitting on the bench isn't in the picture.
Mike Woodson is pumped.
"It's special," the Hoosier coach says. "It should be special."
Johnson has battled bad luck and injuries throughout his three years as a Hoosier. He's still battling a left elbow injury, which hasn't kept him out of the lineup for the last three games, all Hoosier victories. It certainly won't keep him out for Sunday's regular-season finale against Michigan State (18-12 overall, 10-9 in the Big Ten) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Johnson will run the show. Again, Woodson is pumped.
"When you put (in your time) -- he's been six years in college, a long time playing this sport, -- and now you wind down and come to the end of your college career, it's special," Woodson says.
"I couldn't be more proud and more happy for X. He's gone through a lot. From the time I got him, I coached him hard. I was tough on X. He wanted to give you all he could give. Then, the injuries set in, and he wasn't able to be on the floor a lot."
That hurt Hoosier guard play. Johnson's return after a six-game absence has been a big boost, especially during the last 60 minutes of game action -- the second half at Maryland, entire game at Minnesota.
Woodson says IU is 40-22 with Johnson in the lineup.
"I've been screaming all along about having Xavier back," Woodson says. "He's missed a lot of basketball since he's been here. We didn't bring him here to be on the sideline. Unfortunately, he's had the injuries and we've suffered from it."
Injured or healthy, Johnson has made a big impression on freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako.
"X is a phenomenal player," Mgbako says. "He pushes the pace. When he's on the court, the tempo is faster. We get more shots up. It allows us to create more within the offense."
Like many college players, Johnson aims to play professionally. Woodson, with an extensive playing and coaching NBA background, will help with contacts, insight and more.
"Once he leaves here, he's got to figure out what's next. That's the beauty of playing sports and getting an education. You still got to go out in the workplace and figure out the rest of your life.
"I'm going to always be there for him if he needs me. I'm going to do whatever I can to help him do whatever he wants to do in the next phase of his life. For me, that's what coaching is all about."
With Johnson back, senior guard Trey Galloway has picked up his play. He's scored a combined 25 points in the last two games on 11-for-20 shooting. He's totaled 27 assists in his last three contests.
"Gallo is starting to come into his own," Woodson says. "It's what you expect because he's a senior. I've been harping I expect that from him, I want him to do that. He's been playing extremely well as of late."
IU's three-game winning streak -- improving to 17-13 overall, 9-10 in the Big Ten -- reflects strong overall play, certainly better shooting.
"We just continue to work," Woodson says. "Guys are starting to feel good about themselves. Having X back helps a lot. It speeds us up a little bit. We're getting a lot more transition buckets because we're getting the ball up the floor. Guys are benefiting from it.
"That's what normally happens when you make shots. The offense looks good, and it doesn't hurt that we are playing good defense and rebounding with our opponents. That helps a lot, as well."
IU hasn't conceded a NCAA tourney opportunity. An automatic bid comes with winning next week's Big Ten tourney in Minneapolis.
"We've to keep working, and believing in what we're doing," Woodson says. "In this three-game stretch, when you look at the stat line across the board, it's kind of scary. It's nice. We have gone through stretches since I've been here where we played like that.
"These guys haven't quit. They continue to work and practice. They are trying to get better as a group.
"We've got to keep doing what we're doing and doing it at high level and doing it for 40 minutes. That's the key. We've been outplaying our opponents the last three games, been playing harder than those guys. That's why we've have won the last three."
Michigan State has struggled down the stretch, including losing consecutive games at the Breslin Center to Iowa and Ohio State, followed by a road loss at Purdue. It bounced back to beat Northwestern on Senior Night at the Breslin Center, 53-49. It didn't shoot well (19-for-60 overall, 2-for-17 on 3-pointers) but had 19 offensive rebounds. Coach Tom Izzo called it a "rock fight."
The Spartans seek to make the NCAA Tournament for the 26th straight year.
Forward Malik Hall had 15 points and 17 rebounds against the Wildcats. He averages 12.9 points and 5.7 rebounds. Guard Tyson Walker had 19 points. He averages a team-leading 18.0 points with a team-high 54 steals. Guard A.J. Hoggard averages 10.9 points with a team-high 149 assists. Guard Jaden Akins averages 10.5 points with a team-leading 56 3-pointers.
Michigan State has an Indianapolis player on its roster in 6-11 freshman Xavier Brooks, who averages 3.8 points and 1.6 rebounds. He has 14 3-point baskets.
"We've got to keep executing," Woodson says. "We've got to let our defense create offense. That's something we've done of late.
"Michigan State is a good team. They're well-coached. They play hard.
"We've got to commit ourselves for 40 minutes knowing we've got to play as hard as they play and see what happens."
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