Like UNC in 2022, Puff Johnson sees Ohio State peaking at right time

CHICAGO – Ohio State’s Puff Johnson has seen the mountaintop in men’s college basketball.

Two years into his career at North Carolina, Johnson had shaken off an injury that cost him nearly a year’s worth of games and played his way into first-year coach Hubert Davis’ rotation as the postseason approached. With a 24-9 record, the Tar Heels earned a No. 8 seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament and weren’t projected to make it outside of their pod in Fort Worth, Texas.

Advertisement

Instead, North Carolina shocked No. 1 seed Baylor in the second round, igniting a run that saw the Tar Heels achieve an all-time rivalry win on the way to a hard-fought, 72-69 loss to Kansas in the national title game. Johnson played in all six games of that run, chipping in 11 points and six rebounds against the Jayhawks.

Standing inside Ohio State’s locker room after a 71-67 loss to Michigan on March 13 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, Johnson pondered what it was that allowed that North Carolina team to put together a run that included defeating rival Duke in the Final Four in the last game of Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching career.

1 / 16

Buckeyes take on Wolverines in Big Ten Basketball Tournament

Ohio State Buckeyes center Christoph Tilly (13) defends against Michigan Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) during the first half at United Center.

1 / 16

Buckeyes take on Wolverines in Big Ten Basketball Tournament

Ohio State Buckeyes center Christoph Tilly (13) defends against Michigan Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) during the first half at United Center.

2 / 16

Buckeyes take on Wolverines in Big Ten Basketball Tournament

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) drives to the basket against Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) during the first half at United Center.

3 / 16

Buckeyes take on Wolverines in Big Ten Basketball Tournament

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) brings the ball up court against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at United…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/unc-2022-puff-johnson-sees-100512334.html

Author :

Publish date : 2026-03-17 10:05:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.