‘It’s been a long ride, long journey’: Xavier Johnson’s emotional ride, ‘mental attack’ coming to a close as final stretch of college career for Indiana basketball approaches

‘Mental attack’. That’s how Indiana basketball senior guard Xavier Johnson described this season. The sixth-year point guard has had his ups and downs in an Indiana uniform, but none more than this season.

After suffering a broken foot last season that held him to just 11 games played, a medical redshirt allowed Johnson to return for his final season. He was expected to be one of the backbones of this Indiana basketball team, and also named a team captain.

His health, which had been in question coming into this season, was ‘back to 100 percent’ and so was Johnson’s confidence and rhythm.

Then, just 5 1/2 games into the season — it wasn’t. Johnson exited Indiana’s game against Harvard right before the half in some discomfort. After trying to give it a go after halftime during warmups, he returned to the bench and never saw action the remainder of the game.

The result? A broken bone in his foot — the opposite of the broken foot he suffered the year before. Johnson would go on to miss the next seven games before making his return on Jan. 3 against Nebraska. After just six more games, another injury hit.

Johnson went in for a tough and contested dunk late in the second half against Iowa and hit the ground hard. He was in clear discomfort. As you heard the yell and pain coming from his mouth, the consensus thought was, ‘not again, right’?

“It’s been hard mentally and physically for me,” Johnson said over Zoom on Friday. “Dealing with — having these injures, it’s been keeping me out of a rhythm. As the year started I thought like I was getting my rhythm back. Then one injury happened then the other in January as well.”

Johnson would go on to miss the next six games with a left elbow injury. He returned to the floor for the first win for Indiana basketball in 20 days against Wisconsin on Tuesday night.

Indiana basketball currently sits at a tie for 10th in the Big Ten at 15-13 overall and 7-10 in conference play. It’s a far cry from the expectation and goals this team had to begin the season. While there have been numerous issues that have impacted the potential success of Indiana, not having a healthy Xavier Johnson is certainly one of the reasons for the 5-10 record since January and the recent five-game losing skid.

“I don’t think any team comes into the season and expects not to have their starting point guard.” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said last week. “And as a coach, it’s my job to help us overcome that.”

“I was a big key to this team to be successful and I’ve been out for about two months and that wasn’t part of the plan at all,” Johnson said. ” … It has been an up and down year but I’m proud of my guys for going out there and competing with what we have.”

When Johnson has been on the floor, however, it hasn’t always been great. It’s evident the inconsistent play he’s had this season is a combination of him trying to shake off unforeseen rust in addition to forcing the issue.

On the season, Johnson is averaging 8.1 points and 2.1 assists per game. He is shooting 41.7 percent from the floor and is averaging 2.1 turnovers per game as well.

The nine games that he’s played after his first injury this season have been a major struggle. He’s averaging just 6.4 points and shooting 36.7 percent from the floor. He has 17 assists and 22 turnovers.

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His return on Tuesday wasn’t the ideal performance for the sixth-year guard as he had five points, five turnovers and one assist in 15 minutes.

“I’m still healing, it’s part of the process. Not much I can really do. Just have to let my ligaments heal on their own and that’s all I can do,” Johnson said. “Certain movements I can’t really do. Like my left hand, I can’t really bring it up (with that) much. I do most with my right … it’s been hard but It’s something Ive been pushing through to try and finish my college career the right way.”

While the physical toll on his body is evident, the mental toll is weighing even more.

He has played just 26 games in the past two seasons combined.

“It’s been very, very, very, very emotional,” Johnson said. “I’ve cried a couple times at home because it’s my last year and dealing with what I’ve had to deal with the past year. I don’t think nobody can deal with honestly. It’s just been a mental attack on me. Basketball is really my first love and was something that’s been taken away for basically the past year.”

“Mentally, it’s been probably tough on him, man,” Woodson said earlier this year. “You know, I’m the only one, along with his family and friends, can probably help him get out of this rut. Because he has had his ups and downs this season, and I feel his frustration, man.”

Despite just 26 games in the past two seasons — his play at the end of 2021-22 is the intrigue and upside he brings when he’s on. In the last nine games of the season, he averaged 16.7 points per game and 6.9 assists to just 2.8 turnovers a game helping lift IU to an NCAA berth.

Now, Johnson has just three regular season games and at least four total remaining in his college career. Time is not on his side. But, if it’s any consolation, he has two ‘homecomings’ in his final three regular season games, starting this weekend at Maryland.

“It’s been a long ride, long journey — trying to save my tears for senior night — It’s just really been a long journey for me, my parents, my family,” Johnson said talking about returning to the DMV area this weekend. “The last time I go home, it’ll be emotional too.”

March 10 marks the final time Johnson will walk into Assembly Hall with a jersey on.

While every senior night is emotional for everyone involved, this moment will mean a bit more for Johnson. Whether it has been the love-hate relationship from fans. The high risk-reward plays he has on the floor. His antics off the court. Or just simply the 60 games he’s plays in an Indiana uniform — this senior night will also be from the first true commit of the Mike Woodson era.

“I have been thinking about it (senior night) the past week, it was something that slipped my mind that it’s almost over,” Johnson said. “My last home game in front of my family. I’ll have probably a lot to say, probably not much to say for real (laughing), but definitely some things to say on senior night.”

At the end of the day — and season — while the past two years have not gone according to plan, Johnson has his family to thank. The constant reminders, praise, encourage.

He also has his Indiana basketball family to thank as well. It has been an up-and-down career in Bloomington but it’s one that looks to end on a *high* note.

“What got me through it was my family honestly,” Johnson added. “Just talking with them, them being here constantly even though I wasn’t playing was big for me. Having my family around is my biggest support system. Having them around to get from point a to b. To keep my communication open with my teammates and keep leading them in the right direction.”

And, regardless of what’s on the table for the final few games — only one thing is on Johnson’s mind.

“We’ve got to get polished for the Big Ten Tournament because that’s probably going to be our last shot of making the NCAAs.”

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