Crean: Robert Johnson no guarantee vs. Purdue

Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean didn't realize until film study what exactly had happened to Robert Johnson, his freshman guard and regular starter, during IU's 82-70 loss at Ohio State on Sunday.

Crean saw Johnson land on a folder inadvertently left along the baseline near Ohio State's cheerleaders. His lost footing caused Johnson to land awkwardly, injuring his left knee.

"(There was) a red folder or papers that were laying close enough to the court, that he slipped on," Crean said on the Big Ten coaches teleconference Monday. "They were just laying there, when he finished his layup."

Johnson came out of the game and left the IU bench briefly. He returned and tried to test his knee on the court. But he came out of the game with 8:39 remaining in the first half and didn't return until after halftime, a brace protecting his knee.

Crean did not specify the nature of the injury Monday, just that it has lingered past the Ohio State game.

Grad transfer guard Nick Zeisloft started the second half for Johnson, who played eight minutes in the first half and nine in the second. Johnson contribution was limited to two points, one rebound and two turnovers.

Crean said it's too early to know if Johnson – a regular starter all season – will be ready for Purdue. He said he doesn't believe the injury will be "long-lasting," but that Johnson's status for Wednesday's game in West Lafayette is yet to be determined.

"I think the best news for Robert is he went back in the game, and now we have to monitor it in a very close way, and hope that it doesn't linger," Crean said. "We'll just kind of go, see what happens at the end of the day, and see how he feels."

In Johnson's place, Indiana handed out extra minutes to a handful of players, including Zeisloft, freshman forward Max Hoetzel and sophomore guard Stanford Robinson.

An on-again, off-again starter last season, Robinson has filled a reserve role for the Hoosiers. He scored 12 points in IU's home win against Penn State earlier this month, but against Ohio State, his impact was more muted. Robinson finished with two points, two turnovers, two rebounds and an assist in 15 minutes.

"Stan was solid in some areas, but what Stan's gotta do, he's gotta quit turning the ball over. He's got to quit turning the ball over and he's got to be a more efficient defender," Crean said. "He's capable of more. He's provided more. It's gonna be important that he play better, but we're just gonna focus on what the team needs to do today."

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.