‘It’s a special night for him’: Through the ups-and-downs of his Indiana basketball career, Xavier Johnson’s final home comes with emotional attachment for Mike Woodson

On Sunday, Xavier Johnson will put on the iconic candy-striped warmup pants in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the final time as a member of the Indiana basketball team.

Johnson will step onto the Branch McCracken court for the final time as a member of the Indiana basketball team.

Johnson will hear his name called by public address announcer Jeremy Gray for the final time as a member of the Indiana basketball team.

Sunday will be a day of lasts for the sixth-year senior guard, who will play in his final home game as a member of the Indiana basketball team.

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It has been a difficult, windy road full of ups and downs that has led to Sunday when Johnson will be honored on Senior Day in front of the Indiana faithful. From injuries and suspensions to moments of brilliance under the brightest lights, to say Johnson’s time in Bloomington has been contentious would be an understatement.

Despite it all, the lighting quick guard was consistently committed to winning and fought hard every time he stepped foot on the hardwood wearing the cream and crimson.

“I couldn’t be more proud and more happy for X because X has gone through a lot, man,” Mike Woodson said about Johnson. “From the time I got him, I coached him hard. I was tough on X, man. X wanted to give you all he could give you and the injuries just set in and he just wasn’t able to be on the floor a lot.”

In March of 2022, Indiana was on the outside looking in on an NCAA Tournament appearance and needed to win multiple Big Ten Tournament games to sneak into the tournament. With the pressure on and the lights bright, Johnson averaged 16.7 points 5.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game during the tournament and helped Indiana win two critical games to secure their first NCAA Tournament appearance in six years.

Since Johnson’s spectacular March run, he has battled injury after injury over the last two seasons.

“It’s been very emotional. I cried a couple of times at home because it’s my last year,” Johnson said about his injuries. “… It’s been a mental attack on me because basketball is my first love and something that’s been taken away for the past year.”

Johnson has missed 56.9 percent of Indiana basketball’s games since the start of the 2022-23 season due to injuries. Johnson was only eligible to return for this season due to an injury waiver granting him a sixth season of eligibility.

With the majority of last year’s NCAA Tournament team moving on after this season, Johnson took on a larger role as a captain for this season and injuries constrained his impact.

While many could have accepted the likely fate that his season was over after he suffered an elbow injury against Iowa on January 30th. Johnson pushed hard to return to action at less than 100 percent just four weeks later so he could finish the season.

“It’s been hard, but it is something I wanted to push through because I want to finish my college career out the right way,” Johnson said.

Johnson also added that he is still unable to do some movements with his left arm, because of the injury. His willingness to play through injuries emphasizes his commitment to Indiana basketball. That commitment adds to the emotion of an already emotional day for seniors.

“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.”

While the last two seasons have been difficult for Johnson, Sunday will give him one final moment as a player in Assembly Hall in front of his friends and family.

“It’s special. Should be special for him,” Woodson said about Johnson’s final home game. “When you put four years — he’s been what, five, six years in college, a long time playing this sport, and now you wind down and come to the end of your college career. Man, it’s a special night for him.”

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