When the Illinois basketball team takes on Michigan on Friday night, there is more than just the win-loss column to think about.
Sure, the Illini are looking to knock off the Wolverines and move into a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. We need a massive win like this to really increase our chances for a top seed.
But when it comes to the game against Michigan, the thoughts of improved seeding come a close second to the angst that comes with Morez Johnson Jr. returning to Champaign.
Johnson, a once-prized four-star addition for the Illini, had a good freshman season for Illinois. He averaged 7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. He was someone who was going to be a building block for this program for the next few years.
In the world of NIL and tampering, things happen, though. The next thing you know, Johnson is magically entering the transfer portal, and Michigan is the one who scooped him up.
The shocking departure of Johnson really left a bad taste in a lot of Illinois fans’ mouths. For me, I expected transfers, but Johnson was last on the list of those I thought were going to depart after last season.
Now, the big man is back in Champaign wearing the Maize and Blue. In a pregame interview on Thursday, Jake Davis gave you a little peek into the mind of what he is thinking should happen on Friday night.
“I think he’s (Morez Johnson Jr.) is going to hear it. That is all I know. I think the fans are going to let him know. But I mean, as they should. He left. Nothing against that, love Morez, but I think it will be good for him to return to what could have been, what he could have had. I think it will be good. It will be fun.”
Davis has a unique perspective on this situation. He is one of the few players who actually played with Johnson last season. Davis, along with Ben Humrichous, Kylan Boswell, and Tomislav Ivisic, gets to be reunited with their former teammate in a huge clash on Friday night. There will definitely be a buzz at the State Farm Center.
Illinois basketball is facing a more offensively polished Morez Johnson Jr.
There isn’t much change in Johnson’s game from his time at Illinois. He was a great defensive stopper for the Illini, averaging 1.1 blocks in 17.7 minutes per game. With Michigan, he is at 1.2 blocks in 24.4 minutes per game.
Johnson’s rebounding isn’t much better, either. He went from 6.7 rebounds to 7.3 rebounds year-over-year. What improved the most with Johnson is his offensive prowess.
Yes, he is averaging seven more minutes per game, but Johnson is also averaging 6.3 more points per game, too. A big reason for this bump is that he is more polished around the rim, and he can actually make free throws now.
Johnson bumped his free throw percentage from 61.8% with Illinois to now 79.4% with Michigan. We can’t let him get to the free throw line on Friday night, or Johnson could end up with a big game. This is going to be an interesting battle.