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Chat Reel: Ken Johnson
OSU senior says 'Don't count the Buckeyes out'
Posted: Friday October 27, 2000 3:16 PM
Scoonie Penn and Michael Redd are gone.
All the focus in the Big Ten is on defending national champion Michigan State.
Ohio State center Ken Johnson thinks people have forgotten about the Buckeyes, so he returned for his senior year to remind them. Johnson spent some time chatting with CNNSI.com users on Friday, Oct. 27.
A transcription follows:
CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's chat with Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson. Welcome, Ken. Thanks for being here.
Ken Johnson: Thanks. I'm very happy to be here. This is a great opportunity for me.
From OSUBall: How are you guys going to handle Redd and Penn's loss?
Ken Johnson: First of all, Scoonie and Mike played a major role here, but we still have a lot of talent. We just have to stay positive and focused, and try to win as many games as we can possibly win.
From Jim Schuck in Columbus, Ohio: Kenny, are you excited that you were able to come back for another season with the Bucks or would you really have preferred to go to the NBA and start getting paid to play?
Ken Johnson: That is not a hard question at all. I'm totally thrilled with being here. This is a terrific opportunity to play and graduate and help my teammates out. I'm just really blessed.
From timbuck: Ken, who do you feel will start at power forward this year, to help you out down low?
Ken Johnson: I'm so unsure ... everybody is playing really, really well, so it's hard to say. There's Zach, there's Will, there's Velimir. So really, it's difficult. Everyone is playing hard. It's really, really competitive.
From a guest: Ken, what are you thoughts on this year's Iowa Hawkeye basketball team?
Ken Johnson: I personally feel that they're really going to be tough. The Big Ten is not going to be easy. Everyone has to be focused. Every game will be hard. We have to have the attitude where we go out there and play hard every single game.
From Mark: Who have you molded your game after and why?
Ken Johnson: Growing up, I spent a lot of time watching Kareem. He has such a beautiful hook shot, and I always used to watch him. I have the attitude where I have to play my individual game, but I love the hook shot, because I feel that a lot of college players don't even use it anymore. It's a very difficult shot to block.
From Chuck: Which Big Ten big man plays the best defense on you?
Ken Johnson: I don't get my shot blocked a whole lot, but everyone plays me tough. When I'm going against bigger guys, it's harder to back them in, but against smaller guys, I can get a hook shot off really quickly.
From Dan: Ken, who is your favorite current NBA player?
Ken Johnson: I like Shaq.
From Joe: If you could change one thing about your game, what would it be?
Ken Johnson: Probably my attitude. I'd be a much meaner player. It varies on the individual. You have guys like Tim Duncan and David Robinson who aren't mean, but they go out and play hard and well.
From superbuckeyefan: KJ, how is Sean Connolly coming along, you think he is going to be one of the starting guards?
Ken Johnson: Sean has done really well. He's lit it up. He's really focused. He's shooting around after practice, and goes in and plays his game. He's really a team player.
From a guest: Can anyone in the Big Ten beat Michigan State this year?
Ken Johnson: Really, everyone is going out to play their best game against them. It's a fact that Tom Izzo is a great coach. Everyone is just going to have to be on their best day against Michigan State. But anybody is beatable.
From OsuBball: How did you get so good at shot blocking?
Ken Johnson: It kind of just came naturally, really. I didn't have any practice. It's all about timing, and jumping ability.
From Sal: Is it tough to compete for recognition on your own campus with the football team? Does it bother you that even though your basketball program is respected nationally, Ohio State is more known as a football school?
Ken Johnson: That really doesn't bother me. Ohio State has always been known as a football school, so we just go out and stay focused on what it is we have to do.
From Bobby: With your size, did you ever consider playing college football?
Ken Johnson: Never. (Laughs.) People don't even ask me that. The only people who ask are people who don't know much about basketball. (Laughs.)
From Derek: Besides your home arena, what is your favorite place to play in the Big Ten? What is your least favorite place to play?
Ken Johnson: My least favorite place is Michigan State. My favorite place is at home. But on the road, my favorite place is probably Indiana. I used to love watching Bobby Knight, and the fans are just going nuts.
From Dan: What other sports did you play as a youth?
Ken Johnson: I only ran track.
From a guest: Which opposing Big Ten team has the craziest student section?
Ken Johnson: I'd have to say Michigan State... they just go nuts! As soon as you go in there, fans are yelling at you, and going absolutely crazy.
From duckman: Do you think the media has been a little disrespectful to this year's team? After being co-Big Ten champs and only 2 years removed from the Final Four?
Ken Johnson: I think so. Because certain people view Scoonie, Mike and George as our whole team. Everyone works hard, and pushes everyone else. I think we'll shock a lot of people.
From If: After playing on the Olympic training team, what could you say is the biggest difference between the NBA and college?
Ken Johnson: Strength and speed.
From osuMe: I wish you could say the same about the Shott. What do you think of the fans at OSU?
Ken Johnson: I think that with the lack of a really great student section -- the student section is really, really spaced out -- so it's difficult, because you have a group of students over here, and another group over there. But this year, we're moving students down, so there should be a significant difference.
From what: Have you ever considered a career in the WWF?
Ken Johnson: (Laughs.) Absolutely not. (Laughs.) Well, maybe when I was 10 or 11. I wanted to be like Hulk Hogan, but not anymore. (Laughing.)
From Al: What is your major, and what kind of career would you pursue if you couldn't play basketball?
Ken Johnson: My major is Art. I really feel strongly about teaching, because I absolutely love children. Children are my number one focus, as far as work goes. I just want to always help somebody else grow.
From If: Who do you think is the best freshman on your team now?
Ken Johnson: That's hard to say... I can't really name an individual, because everyone is playing well. If there is someone that I feel will stand out the most, it would probably be Zach Williams.
From Bob: What is your favorite memory from Ohio State so far?
Ken Johnson: I have so many memories, but one of my best games would have to be the St. John's game. That was one of my best games here. I had a lot of blocks, and was scoring well. It was really, really fun.
From Kid: How important is setting the school shot-blocking record to you?
Ken Johnson: It's very important. It's something that I can honestly say that this is something that I'm really, really good at. And to have an all-time record, that really thrills me.
From Matt O'Keeffe in Columbus, Ohio: Ken, without Scoonie Penn in the lineup this year, do you think the Buckeyes will have any leadership issues on and off the court?
Ken Johnson: I don't think so. With Brian and myself, Brian is a more outspoken guy. He takes a lot of charge in practice. Myself, I try to lead by example, with attitude, or just going out and working hard. We're going to be all right. I don't even worry about that.
From If: On average, how many hours a day do you spend practicing with and without the team?
Ken Johnson: With the team, every day we practice about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Outside of practice, I try to at least practice at least another hour.
From Steve: Who do you like in the NBA this year -- both in the Eastern Conference and the Western?
Ken Johnson: Hmmm ... Really, I've been focusing on the Lakers. They're really dominant. I think it's hard to say as far as the other teams, with the season just starting. I've been focusing more on Ohio State.
From If: Who is your favorite all-time basketball player?
Ken Johnson: Michael Jordan. I thought he was the perfect player.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson. Thanks again for being here, Ken.
Ken Johnson: Thanks a lot. It was a terrific honor to be here today, and I want to say thank you.
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