When Flau’jae Johnson knocked down two 3-pointers midway through the first quarter against UCLA, she knew she was on.
That was the story for Johnson in the NCAA Tournament. She was on, playing some of her best basketball when it mattered most.
“This is just a bigger stage for me, and just give all the glory to God and working. That’s it,” Johnson said.
The sophomore guard came into March Madness with the momentum any coach would want from a player. She scored in double figures in 14 of the team’s last 15 regular season games.
In the SEC Tournament, however, she turned it up a notch.
Johnson shot 7-for-9 from three in the conference tournament and 51.2% from the field. In the three SEC Tournament games, she averaged 19.7 points per game.
But for the NCAA Tournament, she turned it up another notch.
She started March Madness with a 14-point performance along with three rebounds and four assists against Rice. In the tournament opener, she shot 5-for-9 from the field and 2-for-4 from three.
Johnson kept it going against Middle Tennessee in the Round of 32. She scored 21 points along with four rebounds and two assists. In a game where driving and getting Middle Tennessee’s post players in foul trouble was a must, Johnson was a threat in doing that. She shot 6-for-10 from the field, and 1-for-2 from three.
“I wasn’t going home,” Johnson said. “I put in too much work. Our team put in too much work. I’m so thankful, man.”
But just when LSU fans thought they saw the most from Johnson, they were wrong.
In the Sweet 16 against UCLA, Johnson played arguably her best all-around game of the season.
UCLA was in striking distance of ending LSU’s season, but Johnson wasn’t going to let that happen.
In 39 minutes of play, she scored 24 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 7-for-11 from the field and 2-for-2 from three. She also shot 8-for-10 from the foul line.
Johnson showed her completeness as a guard in the Sweet 16. Her perimeter shot was on, she drove to the basket and scored in traffic, and her aggressiveness at the basket both got her rebounds and got her to the foul line.
“I wasn’t scared of the moment,” Johnson said. “Coach Mulkey told me go do what you do, and I did.”
When LSU looked for an answer, Johnson made herself the answer.
However, the Tigers’ magic ran out against Iowa on Monday, when the Tigers fell to the Hawkeyes 94-87.
Despite the loss, Johnson still shined. She finished with 23 points, six rebounds and two assists, shooting 10-for-18 from the field.
Johnson’s NCAA Tournament performance is a visible example of how far she’s come since her freshman season last year.
Last season, Johnson was a valuable piece. This season, she became a leader.
“Being able to have a player, a teammate like Flau’jae as a sophomore, only a sophomore, step up and lead the team through everything,” Angel Reese said. “She’s led the team throughout the whole year.”
As the program looks ahead to next season, it’s unclear on if Reese or Van Lith will return to LSU or take their talents elsewhere.
But there are no questions for Johnson. She will be back.
The way Johnson developed into a leader this season, the team will need that leader next season. And she is ready for that challenge.
