Cliches are used because they tend to be true, and Ronnie Johnson may not realize what hes had until hes gone.
When news of Johnsons transfer hit last week, I assumed he wasnt happy with Purdues playing style and specifically head coach Matt Painter subliminally calling out his play over the course of the season.
But when he spoke to the media for the first time since his transfer release Monday afternoon, I was surprised to hear his exact words for why he was leaving.
I dont mean to criticize Johnson by any means I wasnt in Purdues locker room, and he should be able to make a decision about his future without considerable backlash. Johnson has been more than kind in dealing with the media throughout his two years, and I have only heard positives regarding his character and personality off the basketball court.
Im not exactly sure what Johnson wants from a program, however.
Johnson told the IndyStar one of the reasons for the transfer was that there was a lot of subbing, and it was hard to get into the flow of the game. He added that he thought he needed to play through his mistakes like every other guard in the Big Ten.
Despite those concerns, only his older brother Terone Johnson recorded more playing time than Ronnie in both seasons with the program. As a freshman, Ronnie averaged 31.2 minutes per game and as a sophomore he averaged 28.2 minutes, both second-most on the team.
Yes, he saw his playing time decrease by three minutes, but his numbers compare with many other Big Ten point guards in the first seasons with their teams.
As a freshman, Michigan States Keith Appling averaged 22.9 minutes (No. 5 on the team) and 30.8 minutes (No. 2) as a sophomore. Indianas Yogi Ferrell averaged 28.1 minutes as a freshman (No. 6 on team) and 33.8 minutes as a sophomore (No. 1). Michigans freshman point guard Derrick Walton Jr. averaged 26.2 minutes (No. 5 on the team) in his freshman campaign this season.
Ronnie also started 59 of the 66 games he appeared in during the course of his Purdue career, which hardly seems like a lack of trust from Painter. Ronnie was handed the reins to a Big Ten offense the moment he set foot on campus, a responsibility that isnt awarded to most freshmen.
Ronnie also told the IndyStar that he felt like the only time he could be himself was in transition. He added that he wasnt playing freely and is looking for the next school where a coach will instill confidence in (him) and let (him) be a coach on the floor.
I dont mean to disparage Ronnies leadership skills, but Ronnie wasnt exactly the definition of a floor general in his two years leading Purdues offense.
Frequently, Ronnie would hurt Purdues offense with poor shot selection, as teams would back off him à la Rajon Rondo and dare Johnson to shoot from outside. Against Wisconsin on March 5, the Badgers sagged off Ronnie defensively and Ronnie responded by missing his first five jump shots of the game, including three 3-pointers.
Ronnie also committed seven of Purdues 17 turnovers in its season-ending loss to Ohio State and was a primary recipient of Painters comments about his team needing to make better decisions.
Again, I dont mean to discredit Johnsons character, I just find his comments perplexing.
I wish him the best and hope he finds a school that satisfies his needs and allows him to continue playing basketball and receive a quality education.
But for someone who was been granted a considerable amount of playing time since the moment he arrived as a freshman, Im not sure he will find a program in the country willing to invest as much as Purdue did.
