Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

‘They’re my spine’: Xavier Johnson leads Indiana to 83-78 win in opposition to Maryland in entrance of household – Contained in the Corridor

March 4, 2024
in NBA
0
Home NBA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


‘They’re my spine’: Xavier Johnson leads Indiana to 83-78 win in opposition to Maryland in entrance of household – Contained in the Corridor

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



Source link

You might also like

3 Reasons NYK Can Complete The Comeback

Nuggets Wont Retain Ryan Saunders Popeye Jones Charles Klask Stephen Graham As Assistants

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton On Game 5 Loss: ‘I Got To Be Better’

Tags: backbonefamilyfrontHallIndianaJohnsonleadsMarylandTheyrewinXavierXavier Johnson
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

3 Reasons NYK Can Complete The Comeback

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
3 Reasons NYK Can Complete The Comeback

It wasn’t much longer than a day ago that the Indiana Pacers were considered shoo-ins to advance to the NBA Finals with a 3-1 series lead over the...

Read more

Nuggets Wont Retain Ryan Saunders Popeye Jones Charles Klask Stephen Graham As Assistants

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Nuggets Wont Retain Ryan Saunders Popeye Jones Charles Klask Stephen Graham As Assistants

The Denver Nuggets are not renewing the contracts of assistant coaches Ryan Saunders, Popeye Jones, Charles Klask and Stephen Graham. Their contracts are set to expire at the...

Read more

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton On Game 5 Loss: ‘I Got To Be Better’

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton On Game 5 Loss: ‘I Got To Be Better’

Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton was held to just eight points in Thursday night’s 111-94 road loss to the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the...

Read more

Ranking: The NBA players with the worst winning percentages ever

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Ranking: The NBA players with the worst winning percentages ever

In the NBA, winning is most important. It helps players build brands and legacies, and gives fans something to cheer for. That’s not to say players who lose...

Read more

Tom Thibodeau’s mid-series adjustments, expanded rotation key in Knicks' Game 5 win over Pacers

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Tom Thibodeau’s mid-series adjustments, expanded rotation key in Knicks' Game 5 win over Pacers

Jalen Brunson gave the Knicks life early in Game 5. He hit six of his first eight shots, scoring 14 points in the opening nine minutes. He was...

Read more
Next Post
Gary Neville replies to Mike Dean’s ‘monumental error’ remark after controversial Liverpool win

Gary Neville replies to Mike Dean’s ‘monumental error’ remark after controversial Liverpool win

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

Liverpool “in good hands” but players must take responsibility, says Sami Hyypia – Liverpool FC

Liverpool “in good hands” but players must take responsibility, says Sami Hyypia – Liverpool FC

March 20, 2025
Why transferring on from Sam Darnold was nonetheless proper name for Jets

Why transferring on from Sam Darnold was nonetheless proper name for Jets

October 2, 2024
Eze double sinks sorry Spurs

Eze double sinks sorry Spurs

May 11, 2025

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • FIFA Club World Cup 2025 dream duo? Chances of Cristiano Ronaldo linking up with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami revealed
  • Manchester United considering loan move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani – Man United News And Transfer News
  • 3 Reasons NYK Can Complete The Comeback
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.