Mike Woodson says Indiana basketball hoping to get Xavier Johnson back in ‘next week or two’

Indiana basketball senior guard Xavier Johnson has missed four straight games and there is still questions about when — and if — he’ll return to the floor again.

Johnson exited in the second half of Indiana’s win over Iowa last month after taking a hard fall on his elbow.

He has been wearing a bulky brace on his elbow since the injury.

There are six games left in the regular season and on Monday, Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson provided a small update on the injury and a timeline for his potential return.

“We’re hoping in the next week or two he’ll be back. We hope,” Woodson said. “And if that’s so, that will give us an opportunity to have him for the last three or four (regular season) games and have him as we get ready for the Big Ten tournament.”

If he misses the next two weeks exactly, he will be back for the remaining three games of the season, starting Sunday, March 3 at Maryland. Then the final two games are at Minnesota and then senior day against Michigan State.

The sixth-year point guard, has had a very disappointing season — both from a health and production standpoint. He is averaging just 8.3 points and 2.1 assists — both career lows — in 14 games. Johnson missed seven games earlier this season with a foot injury.

Since he returned from his foot injury, he has averaged just 6.6 points on 34.8 percent shooting. He also has 17 turnovers to just 16 assists.

“I don’ think any team comes into the season and expects not to have their starting point guard.” Woodson added on Monday. “And as a coach, it’s my job to help us overcome that.”

Johnson has played in just 25 games in the past two seasons combined.

“Mentally, it’s been probably tough on him, man. 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,” Woodson said earlier this year. “But we’ve still got a lot of Big Ten games left. There’s a lot of room for him to get back on track, and you know, that’s what I’m pushing — trying to push him in the right direction to get there.”

Indiana is just 14-11 overall and 6-8 in Big Ten play. Its next game is Wednesday at home against Nebraska.

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