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m e n ��� s b a s k e t b a l l f e a t u r e : t e r o n e j o h n s o n ���Overshadowed��� Johnson���s improved play lost in Purdue���s struggles BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com A nother time, Terone Johnson would be enjoying this. He���d be proud that the work he put in during the offseason on his stroke showed up in a 16-percent increase in free-throw percentage and 2-percent from the three-point arc. He���d be celebrating that in a new role, one that required him to assume more of a scoring load, he���d responded by posting a career-high 13 points per game through the first 26. He���d be ecstatic about how intently aggressive he���s been on the boards, knowing Purdue needed a guard to make that charge, and seeing it pay off in the form of a career-high 4.6 rebounds per game. He���d cherish the opportunity to emerge as a leader, considering the lack of upperclassmen, and seize it not only with leading by example of showcasing consistent habits but also by being a more vocal presence. He���d be spouting off how he has emerged as the team���s defensive stopper, how he���s shut down some of the Big Ten���s premier scoring guards, usTom Campbell ing his physical style to limit the likes Terone Johnson has had to adapt to a new role this season with the losses of Robbie Hummel, Ryne Smith and Lewis Jackson of Brandon Paul and Roy Devyn Marble. by becoming more of a leader. But all of that seems too hard to do making only 2-of-11 shots in an eventual loss to four of its five games to start the month. these days. He can���t appreciate that he���s transformed into Northwestern on the road or having five turnovers After all, the Boilermakers aren���t the Boilermakers, at least not in exhibiting the blue-collar what ESPN analyst Dan Dakich called an ���All-Big in a loss against Michigan State one week later. He sees his poor body language amplified, traits Coach Matt Painter so desires, the ones that Ten type of player.��� He can���t see how making 12-of-23 shots and the frustration boiling over from poor decisionhad produced six consecutive 20-victory seasons. The disciplined, tough, smart basketball program scoring 38 points in two games in mid-February making by himself and teammates, the lack of that sparked Johnson���s interest out of North Cen- against Michigan State and Illinois matter, both toughness and effort generally displayed during a February losing streak. tral High School in Indianapolis has been non- games being losses. He finds it hard to see much good. He can���t really absorb the compliment when existent for much of the 2012-13 season. Even when he���d seem to have reasons to be teammate D.J. Byrd talks about Johnson���s imporThese days, Johnson only sees one thing: Purtance, saying Johnson can guard anyone on the happy with at least his individual efforts. due under .500 this late in February for the first ���I feel like whether I score 30 points, have 10 floor and how crucial it is for Johnson to be ���that time since 2006. player for us who keeps it going every possession.��� rebounds, when we lose, I still feel like I had a ���Some of the good things get overshadowed He sees his mistakes magnified, whether it���s bad game, I could have done something better,��� when you lose,��� said Johnson, whose team lost he said. ���I think that���s how it should be across the board. But I���m not sure across the board it is like that right now.��� Your ultimate Monday morning And, that quickly, Johnson is back in no-dehome for the very latest in serving mode. When pressed, he���ll say he thinks he���s gotten Boilermaker sports. 10 a.m., better from his sophomore season when he averMondays. GoldandBlack.com aged 9.2 points and started 12 games. That im- R a d i o 48 ��� Gold & Black IllustrateD ��� volume 23, issue 4 GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com