Mike Woodson Gives Update on Xavier Johnson; Race Thompson Rehabbing Injury in Bloomington
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana senior point guard Xavier Johnson remains out after suffering a lower left leg injury Nov. 26 against Harvard. He has missed four consecutive games while wearing a walking boot.
"He's still going to be out. I don't know how long," Indiana coach Mike Woodson said Monday night on his radio show. "We got him on the stationary bike and the elliptical machine. He's doing some work there, but he's not back out on the floor yet."
"So hopefully soon because we need our senior point guard back. It would be kind of nice to have him back soon."
Without Johnson, freshman point guard Gabe Cupps has been thrust into a starting role. Woodson didn't expect to play Cupps 37 minutes like he did Saturday against Kansas, but said the 6-foot-2 freshman has done everything he's been asked to do. Most of all, Woodson likes Cupps' competitive spirit and believes he'll only improve over the court of the season.
In four starts since Johnson's injury, Indiana is 2-2 with important Big Ten wins over Maryland and Michigan, plus losses to Auburn and Kansas. Though Indiana lost to Auburn 104-76, Cupps scored a career-high 11 points. He only scored two points against Kansas, but turned the ball over just once in 37 minutes.
Kansas coach Bill Self shared his thoughts on Cupps and Indiana's point guard situation.
"We didn't affect [Cupps]. We didn't impact him turning it over," Self said Saturday. "He had one turnover, so he handled it well. But I will tell you this, when he's able to be a backup and they get Xavier back, that's going to be a much better basketball team too."
Another injury note on the "Inside Indiana Basketball" radio show came from former Indiana forward Race Thompson, who played for the Hoosiers from 2017-23.
Thompson signed a summer league contract with the New York Knicks, hoping to work his way up to a roster spot on the Knicks' G-League or NBA team. But after about a week of practice, Thompson said Monday he hyperextended his knee and suffered a fractured tibia plateau, torn meniscus and partially torn ACL after blocking an opponent's shot.
He had to wait roughly three months for his bone to heal before having surgery, which took place about six weeks ago. Thompson is now back in Bloomington, where he'll work through his recovery. He mentioned July has a potential return to action.
"Woody got me under his wing a little bit and I'll be able to do my rehab here for a while and hopefully get back out there next season," Thompson said Monday.
Thompson started 91 games and played 131 total across his six-year Indiana career. He averaged a career-high 11.1 points and 7.5 rebounds during the 2021-22 season and helped the Hoosiers reach the NCAA Tournament his last two seasons.
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