For Xavier Johnson, household is all the things.
And Indiana’s journey to Faculty Park, Maryland, was Johnson’s final probability to play in entrance of most of his household in a university uniform.
Johnson, who has missed practically two full months of this season with elbow and ankle accidents, hails from Woodbridge, Virginia — a few 50-minute drive from the Xfinity Heart, dwelling of the Terrapins. The homecoming was emotional, however ultimately, Johnson gave himself and his household one in all his most full performances of the season in IU’s 83-78 comeback win over Maryland.
“It’s my final time being in a university uniform in entrance of my household,” Johnson mentioned Friday morning. “It’s been a protracted trip, a protracted journey …for me, my mother and father, my household.
“It slipped my thoughts. That it’s virtually actually over.”
The 2023-24 season has been robust for Johnson and IU. The sixth-year level guard returned for the primary time in six video games earlier within the week in opposition to Wisconsin. In opposition to the Badgers, the 2021-22 season All-Huge Ten honorable point out eased into motion off the bench, taking part in quarter-hour and scoring 5 factors.
“It’s been very, very, very, very emotional,” Johnson mentioned. “I cried a few occasions at dwelling as a result of it’s my final 12 months, and coping with what I needed to take care of for the previous 12 months, I don’t suppose no one can take care of, truthfully …basketball is de facto my old flame and one thing that’s been taken away for the previous 12 months.
“What obtained me by it was my household …having my household round is my largest help system.”
After taking part in 34 video games his first season within the Cream and Crimson and catapulting Indiana into the NCAA match, Johnson has solely performed in 27 video games mixed prior to now seasons. In opposition to Maryland, ‘X’ was the ‘x-factor’ Mike Woodson raved about and advocated for. Johnson dropped 13 factors on 5-for-7 taking pictures whereas doling out six assists and committing only one turnover.
Johnson’s 16 relations in attendance cheered so loud that the tv broadcast picked it up when he first checked into the sport. The Pittsburgh switch made successful performs on each ends of the ground and was a catalyst in IU’s 15-0 second half run. The Hoosiers trailed by as many as 16 within the second half.
Johnson didn’t begin the primary or second half however entered the sport with 18:35 to play and Indiana down 15. He didn’t come out the remainder of the way in which. Indiana outscored the Terps 50-30 from that mark to the ultimate buzzer.
“He’s simply so nice at what he does,” freshman Mackenzie Mgbako mentioned. “With the ability to transfer the ball in transition and get downhill at a tremendous tempo and discover gamers for the open shot.”
The 6-foot-3 guard’s velocity is unquestionable. His potential to get in transition and apply ball strain adjustments Indiana’s ceiling offensively. On Sunday, Indiana scored 20 fastbreak factors. Whereas his velocity is one in all his greatest belongings on the basketball flooring, it may also be problematic. Indiana followers know his tendency to spiral uncontrolled. In opposition to the Terps, the captain was regular and in command.
“I simply thought ‘X’ was Xavier Johnson,” Woodson mentioned postgame. “He did quite a lot of good issues on the ground from a defensive standpoint, however simply controlling the sport together with him and (Trey Galloway), I missed that this season.
“I wish to suppose issues could be so much totally different if we had ‘X’ in these video games that obtained away.”
Johnson additionally drew the defensive task of Maryland’s main scorer and All-Huge Ten guard Jahmir Younger. Younger is dynamic on the offensive finish and in addition probably the greatest gamers within the nation in clutch moments, however Johnson’s pesky nature and ball strain slowed him down as he shot 3-for-7 within the second half.
Indiana’s season is way from what many needed it to be; the Hoosiers simply received back-to-back video games for the primary time since December. Each Johnson and Woodson know that. However, in these struggling occasions, it’s been Johnson’s household that’s saved him grounded.
“They’re my spine. It’s essential for them to be there for me,” Johnson mentioned postgame.
The little moments are fleeting for Johnson, who turned 24 in October. The variety of airplane rides, workforce meals and practices left is coming into single digits, however he’s nonetheless obtained one objective: win and provides Indiana an opportunity to make a run at an NCAA match bid within the Huge Ten match.
(Picture credit score: IU Athletics)
Filed to: Xavier Johnson
