Indiana will be without an experienced guard for the foreseeable future, as fifth-year senior Xavier Johnson is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a broken foot. Here’s what you need to know:
- Johnson suffered the injury during the Hoosiers’ loss to Kansas on Saturday.
- Prior to the injury, Johnson had appeared in 11 games, averaging 9.9 points and 4.9 assists.
- Indiana is ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25 and has a 9-3 record.
How does Johnson’s absence impact the team?
Simply and obviously put, Johnson’s injury is horrendous news for Indiana. At his best, Johnson is a dynamic point guard who helps drive Indiana’s offense forward, literally and figuratively. When he hit peak form late last season, Indiana’s entire campaign — which ended with the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid in five seasons — turned around. Some turnover issues aside, Johnson had developed into an aggressive, attacking offensive player well-suited to playing with IU star Trayce Jackson-Davis, particularly in the screen actions that Indiana coach Mike Woodson so often runs. — Brennan
Who Indiana could turn to when replacing Johnson
Without him, the Hoosiers lack an obvious true point guard. Jalen Hood-Schifino is the best available candidate, but Hood-Schifino, despite his five-star reputation as a prospect, has struggled in spots in his first 12 collegiate games, including shooting just 39 percent on field goal attempts from inside the arc. The talent is there, but Hood-Schifino has typically looked his best with Johnson handling the ball, and whatever acclimation period Indiana might have hoped to give their star freshman is officially out the window.
Barring something surprising, Indiana will be worse without Johnson, likely significantly so. It is the latest December blow to what was, until recent weeks, one of the more promising starts to an Indiana season in recent memory. — Brennan
What they’re saying
Johnson shared an optimistic message about his return via Twitter on Wednesday.
This is going to bring the best version out of me. Thanking everyone for their support. 0 gone be back on the court soon. ❤️
— Xavier Johnson “X” (@XavierJ0hnson) December 21, 2022
Required reading
(Photo: Lucas Peltier / USA Today)
