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Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Chris Johnson impressing coaches
Chris Johnson, Dayton’s sophomore star, suffered a bruised calf last season and treated it delicately for several games.
This year, he banged knees with a teammate in practice and was extremely sore afterward. But when it came time to play against George Mason, Johnson performed as if he were 100 percent fit.
“When he had that injury with his calf last year, he responded like a typical freshman,” UD coach Brian Gregory said. “When you’re in high school and injured a little bit, you can still go half-speed and be successful. At this level, you can’t do that.
“Last year, he felt he wasn’t completely healthy and played a little more casual. That was a big question we talked about with him the day before the George Mason game. If he was going to be able to play, he had to play with the same intensity.”
Johnson certainly did that. He had a team-high 14 points to lead the Flyers to a 56-55 road win.
The 6-foot-6 wing has become UD’s most valuable player, leading the team in both scoring (14.5) and rebounding (7.0). And there were several NBA scouts at the George Mason game, and a source said at least one was very impressed with Johnson’s athleticism, shooting ability and toughness.
Gregory marveled at the difference in Johnson’s overall maturity from last season to this year.
Said the coach admiringly: “He’s concerned with three things — playing extremely hard, getting better every day and doing whatever is asked of him to help the team be successful. That’s the agenda. That’s what it’s all about. And that’s why he’s being successful.”
