Monday, February 3, 2020 | michigandaily.com
Allison Engkvist / Daily | Design by Jack Silberman
NEW YORK – Brandon Johns Jr.
NEW YORK – Brandon Johns Jr.
is a somewhat unlikely hero for
is a somewhat unlikely hero for
this Michigan team.
this Michigan team.
On a team that has junior Isaiah
On a team that has junior Isaiah
Livers at his position, that was
Livers at his position, that was
always going to be the case, at least
always going to be the case, at least
until Livers graduated.
until Livers graduated.
But Livers was sidelined with a
But Livers was sidelined with a
hip injury at the end of December,
hip injury at the end of December,
and he re-aggravated it last week
and he re-aggravated it last week
against Illinois. And so, all of a
against Illinois. And so, all of a
sudden, Johns was off the bench
sudden, Johns was off the bench
and in the starting lineup every
and in the starting lineup every
game, and with that, responsible
game, and with that, responsible
for putting up numbers comparable
for putting up numbers comparable
to Livers’ 13-plus points and four
to Livers’ 13-plus points and four
rebounds per game.
rebounds per game.
It was a bit of an adjustment, to
It was a bit of an adjustment, to
say the least.
say the least.
But a month into Johns’ time
But a month into Johns’ time
with the starters, it’s becoming
with the starters, it’s becoming
clear that the sophomore forward
clear that the sophomore forward
is more than up to the task. Johns
is more than up to the task. Johns
put up 16 points at Nebraska on
put up 16 points at Nebraska on
Tuesday, and 20 against Rutgers
Tuesday, and 20 against Rutgers
at Madison Square Garden on Sat-
at Madison Square Garden on Sat-
urday in a 69-63 win, each a new
urday in a 69-63 win, each a new
career high. It’s the first time in
career high. It’s the first time in
his career that he’s put up double
his career that he’s put up double
digits in consecutive games.
digits in consecutive games.
“I can feel my confidence going
“I can feel my confidence going
up, but I also want to keep a steady
up, but I also want to keep a steady
head,” Johns said. “I don’t want to
head,” Johns said. “I don’t want to
get ahead of myself. But I also don’t
get ahead of myself. But I also don’t
want to go back to where I was
want to go back to where I was
earlier, so I think if I’m just staying
earlier, so I think if I’m just staying
nice and stable, I’ll be good from
nice and stable, I’ll be good from
here.”
here.”
He’s creating opportunities
He’s creating opportunities
for others, too, much in the way
for others, too, much in the way
that Livers often did. Johns has
that Livers often did. Johns has
totaled 29 rebounds over the last
totaled 29 rebounds over the last
five games, 17 of them on defense.
five games, 17 of them on defense.
He has five assists over the same
He has five assists over the same
stretch.
stretch.
Saturday’s contest against the
Saturday’s contest against the
Scarlet Knights was a case study in
Scarlet Knights was a case study in
how far Johns has come. In addi-
how far Johns has come. In addi-
tion to his 20 points – a career high
tion to his 20 points – a career high
– Johns had seven rebounds and
– Johns had seven rebounds and
threw down a dunk to the delight
threw down a dunk to the delight
of the Michigan fans in the crowd.
of the Michigan fans in the crowd.
He played all but two minutes of
He played all but two minutes of
the game.
the game.
His growth isn’t lost on his
His growth isn’t lost on his
teammates, either; if anything,
teammates, either; if anything,
they’ve been witnesses as it’s come
they’ve been witnesses as it’s come
together since long before it was
together since long before it was
plastered across national television
plastered across national television
for the world to see.
for the world to see.
“I’ve seen so much growth from
“I’ve seen so much growth from
him,” senior center Jon Teske said.
him,” senior center Jon Teske said.
“It’s hard work, coming into prac-
“It’s hard work, coming into prac-
tices every day, putting forth effort.
tices every day, putting forth effort.
We trust him out there. Brandon
We trust him out there. Brandon
knows his role. He’s coming in and
knows his role. He’s coming in and
he’s doing a tremendous job for
he’s doing a tremendous job for
us, bringing that energy, scoring,
us, bringing that energy, scoring,
getting rebounds. But I’ve seen
getting rebounds. But I’ve seen
that every day in practice, how he
that every day in practice, how he
brings the energy, the same energy
brings the energy, the same energy
that you guys saw today.”
that you guys saw today.”
Added senior point guard Zavier
Added senior point guard Zavier
Simpson: “I’m just so proud of
Simpson: “I’m just so proud of
Brandon. He works hard. Every day
Brandon. He works hard. Every day
in practice, he’s locked in. Before
in practice, he’s locked in. Before
the game, he’s sitting down with
the game, he’s sitting down with
coach Howard watching film. It’s
coach Howard watching film. It’s
the small things like that I feel like
the small things like that I feel like
come into play. He’s been in the
come into play. He’s been in the
gym lately, he’s been asking ques-
gym lately, he’s been asking ques-
tion in practices, asking questions
tion in practices, asking questions
from older players, things he can
from older players, things he can
improve more, and at the end of the
improve more, and at the end of the
day, just small things like that add
day, just small things like that add
up, and I’m so proud of Brandon.
up, and I’m so proud of Brandon.
His hard work is finally paying off.”
His hard work is finally paying off.”
Michigan coach Juwan Howard
Michigan coach Juwan Howard
has preached confidence to his
has preached confidence to his
players all season, and Johns in
players all season, and Johns in
particular. And now, with no clear
particular. And now, with no clear
timeline on Livers’ return – he
timeline on Livers’ return – he
wore a suit and tie to Saturday’s
wore a suit and tie to Saturday’s
game – Michigan is enjoying the
game – Michigan is enjoying the
fruits of that labor when it needs
fruits of that labor when it needs
it most.
it most.
“This is something that’s hap-
“This is something that’s hap-
pened all season long,” Howard
pened all season long,” Howard
said. “Game by game – this is not
said. “Game by game – this is not
just for today. Brandon’s been
just for today. Brandon’s been
playing great for us all year. A lot
playing great for us all year. A lot
of things that he’s been doing for
of things that he’s been doing for
this team, helping us win, things
this team, helping us win, things
that doesn’t show up on the box
that doesn’t show up on the box
score. So what happened today is
score. So what happened today is
he got off to a great start, finished
he got off to a great start, finished
the game with 20 points. But points
the game with 20 points. But points
is not what shows up -- winning,
is not what shows up -- winning,
that’s effort. It’s attention to de-
that’s effort. It’s attention to de-
tail.”
tail.”
So, is this Brandon Johns’ renais-
So, is this Brandon Johns’ renais-
sance? Unlikely, maybe. At least for
sance? Unlikely, maybe. At least for
this season.
this season.
But it’s been a long time coming.
But it’s been a long time coming.
ABBY SNYDER
Daily Sports Writer
MICHIGAN TOPS RUTGERS, 69-63, BEHIND CAREER-HIGH 20 FROM JOHNS
I’m just so proud
I’m just so proud
of Brandon. He
of Brandon. He
works hard. Every
works hard. Every
day in practice,
day in practice,
he’s locked in.
he’s locked in.