TODAY’S GAME
Ohio State at Purdue, Noon, CBS, 1410
Terry Johnson has lived out this chapter before.
After a 10-year career as an assistant coach at Butler,
Johnson and the rest of Chris
Holtmann’s staff joined him in making the move to Ohio
State during the summer of the ball was even tipped up. 2017. The move wasn’t made “I don’t think (this) will be without significant emotion, to that extent. I’m sure some but Holtmann, Johnson, Ryan emotion will be involved, but Pedon and Mike Schrage all not to that extent. It’s going took the opportunity to join to be fun.” the Big Ten and inherit a After joining the BoilBuckeyes team reeling from ermakers, Johnson said it a season that ended without took some time to build relaeven an NIT invite. tionships with his new team
That team went to Port- and grow accustomed to land, Oregon, to participate how Painter runs his proin the PK80 Invitational. So gram. The Boilermakers did Butler, and when both put more of an emphasis on teams split their first two team workouts as opposed games of the tournament to individual ones, Johnson they drew a Sunday showsaid, which limited some down against each other that opportunities to build up was more than a little awksweat equity during the early ward for all sides. months.
That was seven games During the summer, into the Holtmann era, one Painter had each of his that saw Johnson remain on coaches give presentations staff for four years. But last to the team. Johnson’s was spring, with an opportunity simple: give players your to switch his focus from the honest feedback by telling defensive end of the court them what your scouting to offense with an intracon- reports on them looked like ference move, Johnson left at Ohio State. It generated the Buckeyes to join Purdue plenty of discussion, Johncoach Matt Painter’s staff. son said, and some tough
Today, No. 16 Ohio State truths for a few players. and No. 6 Purdue meet in “I was like, ‘They’re not their lone regular-season gonna like me when I say it,’” game of the season. And Johnson said he told Painter. again, there will be John- “I started my presentation son on the sidelines, work- like, ‘Hey fellas, this is not ing to defeat the program he personal.’ It ended up helprecently called home. ing us coach them.”
It’ll be a little weird, but The chance to help work Johnson said he’s prepared with Purdue’s offense has for it after what he went helped Johnson add to his through against Butler. repertoire with the hopes
“That was like, in the warof eventually being a head mup lines, you look down coa h. Purdue has the and see all those guys,” Johnnation’s top-ranked offense son said. “My best friend is according to KenPom.com, the head coach. One of my one that is averaging a Big position players is an assisTen-best 84.7 points per tant coach. Then you’ve got game and outscoring oppoall the guys on your team. nents by a league-best 17.0 My wife was bawling before points per game.
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