Michigan Wolverines sophomore forward Morez Johnson returned to Champaign for the first time since he transferred out of Illinois last spring.
An 84-70 win Friday night against the No. 10-ranked Fighting Illini (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten) clinched an outright Big Ten title for the No. 3-ranked Wolverines (27-2, 17-1 Big Ten) for the first time since 2021. Johnson finished the evening with 19 points, 11 rebounds and an assist.
It was a tumultuous few days for Johnson Jr., a Chicago native, in the lead up to the game.
It escalated further before tip, as Illinois fans jeered him every chance possible.
According to Johnson Jr. himself, things got ugly when talking to reporters following the win.
“See, I don’t really get into the personal stuff like that,” Johnson said. “I saw all the stuff on Twitter. Somebody leaked my phone number this morning, so I got as bunch of everything.”
Johnson added that only one thing mattered Friday night: getting the job done. The Wolverines hadn’t beaten Illinois in their previous nine tries, as the Thornton Township High School alumnus already had familiarity with the matchup.
“I just do a good job of ignoring everything. I’m here to play basketball,” Johnson said. “I know all that outside noise is really nonsense. It doesn’t matter at all.”
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Signs with “Traitor” and other controversial phrases were scattered about a sold out State Farm Center in front of a nationally televised audience.
Nothing fazed him, however, which his former coach clearly noticed.
“I thought Morez, first half, was the best player on the court,” Brad Underwood said.
Both Wolverines coach Dusty May and Underwood are optimistic they will rematch each other in the Big Ten Tournament in less than a month in Chicago.
Then again in the Final Four in Indianapolis.
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But only time will tell.
