The Coach K killer will try to do it again Saturday night.
Courier Journal-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville head coach Chris Mack said during his Friday press conference that he expects sophomore guard David Johnson to be available for the team’s Saturday night road game against red-hot Duke.
Johnson missed U of L’s 69-57 win over Notre Dame on Tuesday because of a non-Covid-related illness.
“He is back,” Mack said of Johnson’s status. “He practiced yesterday and he’s feeling much better. We expect him to be ready to go tomorrow night.”
Getting Johnson back would be huge under any circumstances, but it’s especially noteworthy given Louisville’s next opponent.
Johnson has been spectacular in each of his previous appearances against Duke. His first breakout performance as a freshman came at Cameron Indoor Stadium when he went 8-of-12 from the floor and scored 19 points to go along with seven assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a 79-73 Cardinal victory.
Even though he didn't play over 30 mins in any game his freshman season, David Johnson led Louisville in usage and assist rate
— Jordan Sperber (@hoopvision68) October 12, 2020
Video on his big game at Duke, the double ball screen set used in crunch time vs Virginia, and how opponents adjusted later in the season
(sound on ) pic.twitter.com/900xSTU8V7
When the two teams squared off last month at the KFC Yum Center, Johnson finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals, and it was his second half defense on Blue Devil star Matthew Hurt that allowed U of L to notch another win over Coach K.
Here’s hoping Johnson’s third (and potentially final?) appearance against the biggest brand in college basketball winds up being just as fruitful as the previous two.
