D.J. Johnson has big game for K-State in loss at Iowa State

Kansas State coach Bruce Weber was in awe of D.J. Johnson on Saturday at Iowa State.

Johnson played arguably his best game, scoring 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the 80-61 loss.

Most impressive, Weber said, was that Johnson earned 20 marks on K-State’s play-hard chart, which keeps track of hustle plays.

“D.J. was unbelievable,” Weber said. “We have been able to ride him. ... He was very, very active.”

Weber said none of his former players have earned 20 marks on his play-hard chart before. Johnson set a record. Quite the accomplishment for a player that missed all of last season with a broken foot. Weber said Johnson approached him in the preseason about quitting. Weber never expected to get this level of play.

Johnson has been on a tear lately, and has arguably become K-State’s most consistent performer.

“My teammates are getting the ball into me a little more than they were earlier this season,” Johnson said. “That is a little my fault for not being more confident in myself early.”

Another apology

Iowa State coach Steve Prohm apologized to K-State for a last-minute jumper from Deonte Burton.

Burton made the shot with 37 seconds remaining, but Prohm wanted him to take a shot-clock violation so he could insert seldom-used reserves into the game.

“I didn’t like it, to be honest,” Weber said. “But it is done and over with.”

Big game

K-State’s next game against TCU on Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum will be important, Weber said. The Wildcats need a victory to improve their NIT chances and improve on their 15-17 record from last season. K-State dropped to 15-14 on Saturday.

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 9:58 PM with the headline "D.J. Johnson has big game for K-State in loss at Iowa State."