BATON ROUGE — The patience LSU senior center Chris Johnson learned as a freshman and sophomore paid big dividends a year ago when Johnson had to wait for almost a month to play again after breaking a bone in his hand.
When he returned, he became one of the most improved player s in Southeastern Conference play and if that improvement continues this season under first-year Tiger coach Trent Johnson then Chris Johnson‘s final year could be something special for the native of Montross, Va.
“It was a big adjustment coming out of high school and being used to playing a lot and starting,” said Johnson. “You have to understand certain things. It was fun watching Tyrus (Thomas) my freshman year. I don’t regret anything. It was a learning experience. It’s my time here right now so I want to make the best of it.”
Last season, Johnson in 25 games, started 22 and averaged 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and had 66 blocks, an average of 2.6 a game. After finishing 12th in the league in rebounds and second in blocked shot average, this is a player who gets Coach Johnson’s thoughts on how important rebounding is, something that was professed to him last season.
“Last year, being able to help my team and be a piece of the puzzle with whatever I could bring to the team was something I really wanted to do,” said Chris Johnson. “As far as rebounding, (former LSU assistant) Coach (John) Treloar challenged me a little bit and I took his challenge to help make the team better and I want to do that again this year.
“Coach Johnson has been stressing to everyone about rebounding this year and getting the ball and then making good decisions.”
Of the practice sessions so far this season, Chris Johnson joked, “I’ve got muscles sore that I didn’t know I had. I’m just excited about everything, the new coaching staff and the team that we have.”
Johnson had 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks in the team’s public Purple-Gold Scrimmage this past Tuesday.
“I think we were nervous more than anything,” he said. “Now we can look back on tape and see what we need to work on. One think I think we need to improve on is getting defensive stops and take care of the ball.”
The center is one of five veteran seniors on this team with Johnson, Garrett Temple and redshirt junior Tasmin Mitchell having been a part of the 2006 Final Four season.
“I feel that our experience will help us,” Johnson said. “It might have us higher in the SEC, but it’s going to take time. (Tuesday) was good to see what we had especially after working hard in practice. It was good experience. I feel like with Garrett (Temple) and Tasmin (Mitchell) back that we could be pretty good this year.”
Johnson is also looking forward to playing in the 100th anniversary season of LSU basketball. “It’s just an honor to be a part of this 100th season. The guys that I know like Shaq and Stromile Swift and watching them as you grow up as a skinny kid and you watch them dunk and take over a game anytime they wanted to. It’s an honor to be out on the court wearing LSU on my jersey.”
Johnson has been under the watchful eye of strength and conditioning Coach Juan Pablo Reggiardo who has worked with all the players not only in the weight room but in the dining room as well.
“He told me to eat anything in sight,” Johnson laughed, “but he has put a healthy vive on it. He tries to keep it healthy. He’s really been very helpful in helping me buckle down and do what I have to do.”
LSU opens its 2008-09 100th anniversary basketball season on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center against Jackson State University in the first-ever Maravich Center-Tiger Stadium basketball-football doubleheader. The football Tigers play Troy at 7 p.m. in Tiger Stadium in the makeup of a football game postponed because of Hurricane Gustav in September.
Season tickets remain on sale at the LSU Athletics Ticket Office or online at www.LSUSports.net. Included in the ticket packages are the $100 Centennial Season Tickets that if renewed each year will be guaranteed for at $100 a year for five seasons.
LSU will play five games at the Maravich Center in the month of November as they open the season quickly with the Jackson State game and the five-team, two-weekend LSU Invitational round-robin. LSU will face Alcorn State on Nov. 20 (7 p.m.), Northwestern State Nov. 23 (2 p.m.), Centenary Nov. 28 (7 p.m.) and Troy (6 p.m.).