Seniors struggle & more Indiana basketball takeaways in loss to Rutgers

#5. Xavier Johnson plays out of control and shows no leadership

Eight points on 2-for-11 shooting and 1-for-4 from beyond the arc, four rebounds, four assists, and six turnovers in 34 minutes.

That is the stat line of the Hoosiers’ “supposed” second-best player, and “our” senior leader. That’s a joke.

Johnson played out of control and proved that he has no right to be Indiana’s second go-to-guy, especially with Trayce Jackson-Davis struggling to establish any sort of rhythm because of the defensive scheme by Rutgers.

His six turnovers in the game on Saturday was a season-high and the most turnovers in a game for Xavier since turning the ball over six times on the road against then-ranked No. 22 Ohio State on February 21, 2022. The Hoosiers are 3-8 (.273) since Xavier joined the program last season and when he registers four or more turnovers in a game, losing seven of the last eight such games.