BLOOMINGTON, IND. – Ben Johnson’s frustration came to a boiling point Monday night. The Gophers’ fourth-year basketball coach gave the longest postgame locker room speech he has made with the program — to send a message.
More than 45 minutes went by before Johnson showed up for the news conference after an 82-67 loss to Indiana at Assembly Hall.
“He was calling people out, and everybody in that locker room got held accountable,” senior forward Dawson Garcia said.
After double-digit losses to Indiana and Michigan State to open early Big Ten play, Johnson believed his players lacked the toughness, fight and leadership at the moment to compete in the conference.
“We’re at that stage right now where we have to figure out internally what our habits look like,” Johnson said. “And do those habits impact winning? Does it put us in a position to be a competitive team and try to win games in our league? Because this league is unforgiving.”
The Gophers (6-5, 0-2 Big Ten), who lost their ninth consecutive game in the series against the Hoosiers, will be in deep self-reflection mode before Big Ten play resumes next month.
“It’s embarrassing, and everybody has to feel that,” said Garcia, who scored a team-high 22 points. “He was just saying, if you’re going home tonight not taking that loss personally, then you’re just a loser at the end of the day.”
