With all the initial enthusiasm about the Pack’s position on top of the ACC gone, following back-to-back losses to UNC and UVA , it’s time to reflect on something else that happened this weekend.
I have heard a lot of people say how N.C. State fans are some of the most loyal fans out there, how they don’t turn on their own players even if the result is not in their favor, and how they fully support the team through both good and bad times.
Guess I heard wrong. Following State’s loss to the Cavaliers by a solitary point, more people than less started playing the blame game. While it’s normal for people to point out reasons as to why the team lost, what struck me the most was that it was mostly directed towards a single individual- guard Alex Johnson.
Johnson, a graduate student, played out his first three years of eligibility at California State University at Bakersfield, where he finished second in school history in three-pointers made. He has put in a lot of strong performances for the Pack this season.
Yet, when the time came for him to make a mistake, not a lot of people showed him the same sympathy that has been afforded to other players. Some people were, and are, just outright mean.
With the Pack down by eight with more than five minutes to go, junior forward Richard Howell stole the ball and handed it to Johnson, who, despite having no opposition players around him, failed to make the lay-up and also failed on the follow-through. A critic would say, had Johnson made the lay-up, it would be the Pack, not the Cavs who would be celebrating after the game.
I understand how frustrating it must be for the fans; however, it was a shame to open Facebook and Twitter to see all sorts of stuff written about Johnson.
After interviewing Johnson numerous times, it’s easy to realize that he is not only one of the nicest guys on the team but also the most humble. Johnson, who is from Canada, is here all by himself, as his family still resides in his native country.
A large number of fans that were sitting behind me during the game couldn’t stop being profane about Johnson, and it was really disturbing to be a witness to that.
Despite starting all the 22 games this season from the bench, Johnson has proved to be one of most important players for the Pack. Despite averaging just 19.7 minutes per game, Johnson has accumulated three assists per game, which puts him in second place on the team and ninth in the ACC. It’s a big feat, considering he has been one of the fringe players and his performances have been crucial for the Pack, who rank ninth in the nation for assists.
Not known much for his scoring, Johnson performed at a high level against the Cavs with two steals and three assists, both tying him for second place on the team. This was despite playing only 15 minutes, which was less than half the time the starters spent on the court.
Having played sports at a high level myself, and as anyone who truly understands sports would agree, mistakes are an integral part of the game. It’s only when one makes mistakes do they learn, and it’s no different for Johnson. Our duty as students of N.C. State is to support our athletes through trying times. Criticizing them through social media platforms or shouting at them during games doesn’t help; it only makes it worse. It’s easy to talk from your seat without realizing the hours of hard work the players put in, along with their academic commitments and having the spotlight on them at all times.
Johnson is a good player and a good man, who knows where he messed up. It’s up to the Pack to let him know they are fully behind him. In such a crucial time for State basketball, it will prove to be a big bonus if all the players are in the right frame of mind.
