2. Morez Johnson Jr. continues to be a massive resource
Freshmen need time on the court to develop. The more time they spend on the court, the more they can be trusted down the stretch and in the NCAA tournament.
Morez Johnson Jr. is earning that trust from Brad Underwood. He hasn’t really done anything to lose trust, but Underwood is spoon-feeding Johnson minutes as he develops his inside game.
In the Chicago State game on Sunday, Johnson continued his great development. He finished the contest with a season high 11 points and added eight rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Johnson was also 4-of-5 from the field.
I have said it quite a bit this season, but there is something about Johnson’s game that makes him a magnet for the ball. When he is on the court, he can suck up rebounds better than just about anyone I have seen in an Illinois uniform.
If you average out Johnson’s per 40-minute stats, which means if he played 40 minutes, these would be his numbers, he would average 18.5 rebounds per game. That is an insane number. As of right now, he is only getting 14.3 minutes each night and still is pulling down 6.5 rebounds per contest.
I would argue the only weakness in his game is his free throw shooting. Against the Cougars, Johnson showed off his work by going 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. The free throws he attempted looked smooth as well. Johnson is working his butt off to get on the court, and he is shining bright when he does get his shot.