After Missing First Two Games, Johnson is the X-Factor For Indiana Against Penn State

Indiana lost to Penn State in both regular season matchups this year, but it didn't have veteran point guard Xavier Johnson in either game. The Hoosiers are 4-0 since Johnson's return from injury, and his presence could help against Ace Baldwin Jr. and Penn State's press on Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Indiana enters the Big Ten Tournament on a four-game win streak, but its first opponent is one the Hoosiers lost big to twice. Coming off a 66-57 win over Michigan on Wednesday, Penn State advanced to face Indiana on Thursday around 9 p.m. ET, the teams' third matchup of the season. 

The Nittany Lions won both games against the Hoosiers in the regular season, 85-71 on Feb. 3 in Bloomington, Ind., and 83-74 on Feb. 24 in University Park, Pa. 

Penn State point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. was a force on both ends of the floor in those matchups. In the first game, he finished with 22 points, eight assists and two steals, while shooting 3-for-5 from the 3-point line. In the second, he had 23 points, nine assists, four steals and made 7-of-12 shots from the field. In both, Baldwin, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, flustered Indiana's guards as the head of Penn State's full-court press. 

Heading into Indiana's third shot at Penn State, the matchup against Baldwin comes with a new wrinkle. Indiana's senior point guard Xavier Johnson missed the first two games, part of a stretch in which the Hoosiers went 1-5.

But since Johnson's return on Feb. 27, Indiana has a four-game win streak with wins over Wisconsin, Maryland, Minnesota and Michigan State to end the regular season. The Hoosiers' last loss came at Penn State roughly three weeks ago.

Indiana's Xavier Johnson (0) runs out the clock as Kel'el Ware (1) starts celebrating the victory during Indiana's game against Michigan State at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Sunday, March 10, 2024 :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Johnson's best performance since returning came at Maryland, where he scored 13 points and dished out six assists while matching up against first-team All-Big Ten guard Jahmir Young.  His quickness on the offensive end has led to the Hoosiers playing with more of an uptempo pace, and he gives Indiana an important third ball-handler along with Trey Galloway and Gabe Cupps. 

Against Penn State, Johnson should help Indiana beat Penn State's press more easily. Defensively, he gives Indiana a second option, along with Galloway, in its efforts to stifle Baldwin. Galloway was limited to just seven minutes on Sunday against Michigan State due to a knee injury, which could make Johnson even more important to the Hoosiers' chances on Thursday.

Mike Rhoades is in his first season coaching Penn State, and he's familiar with Johnson, a Woodbridge, Va., native, dating back to his time coaching VCU from 2017-2023.

"He's a vet, and he's had a lot of success in his college career," Rhoades said of Johnson on Wednesday. "I watched him from high school all the way through, and he's a very talented player. There's a calming presence when he's out there with his teammates. You saw that the last few games. He's sure of himself, and I think he gives confidence to his teammates that way. So we'll have our hands full."

Thursday's matchup represents the first time either Indiana or Penn State will have played any opponent three times in the 2023-24 season. They will be ultra familiar with each other's play style and tendencies. 

Rhoades said Wednesday Penn State will do some things differently and make a few counters this time around. Such is the nature of basketball. But holistically, the Nittany Lions won't change their uptempo offensive attack and full-court pressure defense. 

"With the pieces we have and where we're at, there's not a lot of things we can just change on the fly," Rhoades said. ''Our style of play at this time of the year really helps us because, if you turn people over late in the year and you capitalize on it, it's tough to battle that stuff and compete against that. They're playing really well. Xavier is back. They've got another ball handler. But it's that time of the year, man. You've got to double knot the shoes and see what happens."

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