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For Johnson, It’s Basketball Love Lost, Found
3/3/2024 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – This is not how Xavier Johnson envisioned it, this sixth college season comeback, and it hurts.
"It's been a mental attack on me," the Indiana senior point guard says. "Basketball is my first love. It's something that's been taken away for the past year."
Injuries have robbed Johnson of games, opportunities, and athletic love. A foot and elbow while a Hoosier have added unwanted injury variety, but the same sit-and-watch misery.
Enough is enough and it shows during a Zoom session ahead of Sunday's game at Maryland.
"It's been very, very emotional," he says. "I cried a couple of times. This is my last (college) year and doing what I had to do the last year (to get back), I don't think anybody knows (how hard it's been)."
Last year, a foot injury limited Johnson to just 11 games. This year, it's 15 games split between foot and elbow injuries, preventing him from building rhythm crucial to elite success.
"I tried to stay healthy," he says. "I'm still trying to get back to 100 percent."
Disappointment hit hard.
"What got me through was my family," he says. "Them being here constantly, even though I wasn't playing, that was important to me. They're my biggest support system."
Johnson plays with ferocious competitiveness. He pushes and battles, and if it has sometimes gone too far, including a couple of flagrant fouls this season, growth comes at different rates for different people. The key is that it comes.
Through it all, one thing is clear -- never doubt Johnson's will to win.
"Every night I go to bed thinking what this team could have been like if we had X earlier," coach Mike Woodson says. "The game changes when he's on the floor."
Johnson has always shown signs of elite excellence, highlighted in his first IU season after transferring from Pitt when down the stretch he was as good as any guard in the Big Ten and helped the Hoosiers make the NCAA tourney for the first time in six years while averaging 12.1 points and 5.1 assists.
A fully healthy, fully in-synch Johnson is a difference maker. Prime examples this season include his 18-point-three-assist-zero-turnover performance against Ohio State and his 19-and-five effort against Army.
IU is 7-2 when Johnson plays at least 15 minutes and scores at least five points.
"He gives us defensive pressure out front," Woodson says. "He gives us speed in terms of he's the only guy who can really change directions and make plays off the bounce.
"We're at our best when we're pushing the ball, and we can play faster with X."
This season, Johnson averages 8.1 points, 2.1 assists and 2.1 rebounds, below his career averages of 12.5, 4.7 and 3.5.
"It's been hard mentally and physically dealing with these injuries," he says. "It's been keeping me out of rhythm.
"As the year started, I thought I was getting my rhythm back and then I had the first injury and then another one happened."
The elbow cost Johnson six games. He returned last Tuesday against Wisconsin, and made two of three shots, including a 3-pointer, and had five assists. He also had five turnovers in his 15 minutes, a reflection of his rust, the Badgers' attack-him defense and the fact the elbow ligament is still healing. While rest is the best option, that's not for Johnson. His college career is almost over, and he doesn't want to spend it on the bench.
Woodson understands that. A back injury cost him almost his entire senior season at IU. He returned for the last six games, helped the Hoosiers win the Big Ten title and earned conference MVP honors.
"We've got to get him in a little better shape and get him playing the right way," Woodson says.
On Tuesday, Johnson helped the Hoosiers break a four-game losing streak, significant because it came against a Badgers program that has dominated the series since 2002.
"I'm still healing. There are certain movements I can't do. With my left hand, I can't bring the ball up much, and I dribble most with my left hand, so it's been hard, but it's something I want to push through. I want to finish my college career the right way."
The right way means a strong finish. The Hoosiers have three of the Big Ten's best inside players with Kel'el Ware, Malik Reneau and Mackenzie Mgbako, but have struggled at guard.
Johnson's absence forced freshman Gabe Cupps into a starting role before his time and caused senior Trey Galloway to assume the bulk of the point-guard duties.
The result -- IU is just 5-10 since Jan. 1
"It has to do with injuries," Johnson says. "I was a big key to this team to be successful. I've been out for about two months. That wasn't planned at all.
"It has been an up-and-down year, but I'm proud of my guys. We're competing with what we have. We're a young team. I feel good about them. They've competed. They want to every game. Other teams are older than us. They know how to win. Our young guys are still learning.
"I'm a team captain. I try to keep our guys' heads straight."
The Hoosiers (15-13 overall, 7-10 in the Big Ten) haven't given up their NCAA tourney hopes. That means winning the Big Ten Tournament with its automatic bid. They want to build on the Wisconsin victory by winning their final three regular-season games -- Sunday at Maryland (15-14, 7-11), Wednesday at Minnesota (17-11, 8-9) and March 10 at home against Michigan State (17-11, 9-8).
"We're playing for placement in the league," Johnson says. "The job is not finished. We've got to get polished for the Big Ten Tournament because that's probably our last shot at making the NCAA Tournament."
Maryland has won just two of its last eight games. It is led by guard Jahmir Young (20.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 118 assists, 36 steals), 6-9 forward Julian Reese (13.9, 9.7 rebounds, 56 blocks) and 6-8 forward Donta Scott (11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds). The Terrapins have five players with at least 13 3-point baskets, led by Young's 53.
Former Hoosier Jordan Geronimo averages 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds.
IU has won five of the last six meetings.
Maryland is a homecoming of sorts for Johnson, who was a standout at Virginia's Bishop O'Connell High School.
"Being able to play close to home is crucial to me," he says. "This will be the last time going home and playing in front of my family in a college uniform.
"It's been a long ride, a long journey for me and my family. I will be emotional. I'll try to save my tears for senior night."
When the season is over, he says, "I will be training to try to go to the NBA. That's my end goal."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – This is not how Xavier Johnson envisioned it, this sixth college season comeback, and it hurts.
"It's been a mental attack on me," the Indiana senior point guard says. "Basketball is my first love. It's something that's been taken away for the past year."
Injuries have robbed Johnson of games, opportunities, and athletic love. A foot and elbow while a Hoosier have added unwanted injury variety, but the same sit-and-watch misery.
Enough is enough and it shows during a Zoom session ahead of Sunday's game at Maryland.
"It's been very, very emotional," he says. "I cried a couple of times. This is my last (college) year and doing what I had to do the last year (to get back), I don't think anybody knows (how hard it's been)."
Last year, a foot injury limited Johnson to just 11 games. This year, it's 15 games split between foot and elbow injuries, preventing him from building rhythm crucial to elite success.
"I tried to stay healthy," he says. "I'm still trying to get back to 100 percent."
Disappointment hit hard.
"What got me through was my family," he says. "Them being here constantly, even though I wasn't playing, that was important to me. They're my biggest support system."
Johnson plays with ferocious competitiveness. He pushes and battles, and if it has sometimes gone too far, including a couple of flagrant fouls this season, growth comes at different rates for different people. The key is that it comes.
Through it all, one thing is clear -- never doubt Johnson's will to win.
"Every night I go to bed thinking what this team could have been like if we had X earlier," coach Mike Woodson says. "The game changes when he's on the floor."
Johnson has always shown signs of elite excellence, highlighted in his first IU season after transferring from Pitt when down the stretch he was as good as any guard in the Big Ten and helped the Hoosiers make the NCAA tourney for the first time in six years while averaging 12.1 points and 5.1 assists.
A fully healthy, fully in-synch Johnson is a difference maker. Prime examples this season include his 18-point-three-assist-zero-turnover performance against Ohio State and his 19-and-five effort against Army.
IU is 7-2 when Johnson plays at least 15 minutes and scores at least five points.
"He gives us defensive pressure out front," Woodson says. "He gives us speed in terms of he's the only guy who can really change directions and make plays off the bounce.
"We're at our best when we're pushing the ball, and we can play faster with X."
This season, Johnson averages 8.1 points, 2.1 assists and 2.1 rebounds, below his career averages of 12.5, 4.7 and 3.5.
"It's been hard mentally and physically dealing with these injuries," he says. "It's been keeping me out of rhythm.
"As the year started, I thought I was getting my rhythm back and then I had the first injury and then another one happened."
The elbow cost Johnson six games. He returned last Tuesday against Wisconsin, and made two of three shots, including a 3-pointer, and had five assists. He also had five turnovers in his 15 minutes, a reflection of his rust, the Badgers' attack-him defense and the fact the elbow ligament is still healing. While rest is the best option, that's not for Johnson. His college career is almost over, and he doesn't want to spend it on the bench.
Woodson understands that. A back injury cost him almost his entire senior season at IU. He returned for the last six games, helped the Hoosiers win the Big Ten title and earned conference MVP honors.
"We've got to get him in a little better shape and get him playing the right way," Woodson says.
On Tuesday, Johnson helped the Hoosiers break a four-game losing streak, significant because it came against a Badgers program that has dominated the series since 2002.
"I'm still healing. There are certain movements I can't do. With my left hand, I can't bring the ball up much, and I dribble most with my left hand, so it's been hard, but it's something I want to push through. I want to finish my college career the right way."
The right way means a strong finish. The Hoosiers have three of the Big Ten's best inside players with Kel'el Ware, Malik Reneau and Mackenzie Mgbako, but have struggled at guard.
Johnson's absence forced freshman Gabe Cupps into a starting role before his time and caused senior Trey Galloway to assume the bulk of the point-guard duties.
The result -- IU is just 5-10 since Jan. 1
"It has to do with injuries," Johnson says. "I was a big key to this team to be successful. I've been out for about two months. That wasn't planned at all.
"It has been an up-and-down year, but I'm proud of my guys. We're competing with what we have. We're a young team. I feel good about them. They've competed. They want to every game. Other teams are older than us. They know how to win. Our young guys are still learning.
"I'm a team captain. I try to keep our guys' heads straight."
The Hoosiers (15-13 overall, 7-10 in the Big Ten) haven't given up their NCAA tourney hopes. That means winning the Big Ten Tournament with its automatic bid. They want to build on the Wisconsin victory by winning their final three regular-season games -- Sunday at Maryland (15-14, 7-11), Wednesday at Minnesota (17-11, 8-9) and March 10 at home against Michigan State (17-11, 9-8).
"We're playing for placement in the league," Johnson says. "The job is not finished. We've got to get polished for the Big Ten Tournament because that's probably our last shot at making the NCAA Tournament."
Maryland has won just two of its last eight games. It is led by guard Jahmir Young (20.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 118 assists, 36 steals), 6-9 forward Julian Reese (13.9, 9.7 rebounds, 56 blocks) and 6-8 forward Donta Scott (11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds). The Terrapins have five players with at least 13 3-point baskets, led by Young's 53.
Former Hoosier Jordan Geronimo averages 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds.
IU has won five of the last six meetings.
Maryland is a homecoming of sorts for Johnson, who was a standout at Virginia's Bishop O'Connell High School.
"Being able to play close to home is crucial to me," he says. "This will be the last time going home and playing in front of my family in a college uniform.
"It's been a long ride, a long journey for me and my family. I will be emotional. I'll try to save my tears for senior night."
When the season is over, he says, "I will be training to try to go to the NBA. That's my end goal."
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