Indiana basketball vs. Xavier: Six takeaways from Hoosiers 81-79 win

#2. Xavier Johnson proved his importance to this team, but still made plenty of stupid mistakes

This is one of the few games for Xavier Johnson in his career for Indiana basketball where I would say without him, the Hoosiers don’t win this game. Johnson had a career night with 23 points on 7-for-8 shooting and 2-for-2 from three, adding in seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Despite the impressive play and the very timely drive and scores that Johnson displayed throughout the game, Johnson still made some very questionable decisions as our senior starting point guard late in the game.

Of course, he was given a technical for turning around (thanks again, refs) after a three-pointer, but his late turnovers and decision to pass the ball to freshman, Malik Reneau, in a moment where Johnson could have been fouled to seal the game was so confusing to me.

College guards will make mistakes in games and that is absolutely expected, but the starting senior point guard who has played in so many major conference games in his career, cannot make so many mistakes in clutch moments when it matters most.