Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
USA Men Fall 76-74 To Lithuania In Quarterfinals
http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/worlduniversity/11_mwug_game_06.html
Box Score
Box Score
Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara)
Did you get the looks you wanted down the stretch when you were trying to come back?
We had open looks. It was just one of those days where the shots just don’t fall your way. I couldn’t say maybe we could have got a better shot, but the shots that we took were shots that we practiced. We have to live with that. It’s a tough one for all of us. I know in our minds we had one goal and we can’t accomplish that now. But, now we need to regroup and finish strong in China. I think we’re going to do that. We’re going to bounce back and still represent our country.
On the Lithuanian team:
They fought hard. They fought really hard. You could tell they’ve been together for awhile. They’ve been in games like this before. There were situations down the stretch we didn’t execute … we just didn’t finish. This is something we can all learn from, not to take anyone for granted. We didn’t, but we just have to be ready to get on it every moment, every time we step out onto the court, because somebody’s coming to beat us. You could see how excited they were to win and this wasn’t even the gold medal game. We just have to learn and keep moving forward.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Photos of Orlando Johnson vs. Team Mexico at WUG, 8/13/11
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USA Runs Away In Second Half To 108-67 Victory Over Mexico
http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/worlduniversity/11_mwug_game_01.html
Box Score
Quotes
Box Score
Quotes
Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara)
On playing in his first official World University Games contest:
Definitely got the nerves out. It took us a little while to get going. Mexico got out to a good start, though. They played tough. Over the course of the game we started getting into our zone, started picking it up on defense and communicating. At the beginning of the game we didn’t really talk too much and that’s where we were getting caught up and they were getting easy baskets. But towards late in the second quarter we started fixing that.
The team also started off slow in its exhibition game. Does that make you nervous that this is another slow start?
It doesn’t make us nervous, it probably worries us a little bit, but we need to not let this happen anymore. I think we’re getting enough players in it. We have enough respect for each other to get on each other to let us know that we can’t have games like that. There’s going to be teams that’s going to be able to get a lead and keep that lead. We don’t want to be in a position like that again.
What about foul trouble, are you adjusting to that?
We’re definitely adjusting. It’s just different from the States. We’re going to have to put it in our minds that we can’t talk to the refs. That’s going to be a technical. We’re just going to have to play the game and I think we’re smart enough to do that.
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Arena Pulse '11-12 Season Preview: Nation's Top 5 Returning Scorers
http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/the_arena_pulse_11_12_season_preview_nations_top_5_returning_scorers/5802805
No. 2- Orlando Johnson, Sr. (UC-Santa Barbara)- 21.1 ppg in 2010-2011
Orlando Johnson declared for the 2011 NBA Draft after the Gauchos made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Johnson returns for his senior season, giving UC-Santa Barbara another opportunity to threaten for a NCAA Tournament bid in 2011-2012. After averaging 21.1 points per game last season, Johnson has become an elite scorer for the Gauchos in each of the past two seasons. After spending his freshman year at Loyola Marymount, Johnson sat out the 2008-09 season before becoming eligible in 09-10. With one run remaining, Johnson hopes this upcoming season is even better than a year ago.
World University Games opening ceremonies
Hungary enters at the 50:52 mark. UCSB basketball player Greg Somogyi is on Hungary's basketball team.
UCSB basketball player Orlando Johnson leads the US delegation at the 99:42 minute mark, carrying the United States flag. Other UCSB representatives include Assistant men's water polo coach John Abdou, men's volleyball outside hitter Jeff Menzel, and men's track and field 800-meter runner Ryan Martin.
http://english.cntv.cn/pr...ne/20110813/100067.shtml
Photo of Orlando Johnson, United States flag-bearer:
https://twitter.com/#!/UCSBgauchos/status/102169326014038016/photo/1
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=244682635565978&set=a.244682628899312.67708.231565863544322&type=1&theater
UCSB basketball player Orlando Johnson leads the US delegation at the 99:42 minute mark, carrying the United States flag. Other UCSB representatives include Assistant men's water polo coach John Abdou, men's volleyball outside hitter Jeff Menzel, and men's track and field 800-meter runner Ryan Martin.
http://english.cntv.cn/pr...ne/20110813/100067.shtml
Photo of Orlando Johnson, United States flag-bearer:
https://twitter.com/#!/UCSBgauchos/status/102169326014038016/photo/1
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=244682635565978&set=a.244682628899312.67708.231565863544322&type=1&theater
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Torch and Flag Bearers selected for Team USA!
http://www.wugusa.com/torch-and-flag-bearers-selected-for-team-usa/#more-911
USA Athletes will march into Shenzhen Bay Stadium tomorrow to officially begin the 2011 World University Games. USA Head of Delegation Dr. Gary Cunningham announced that Men’s Basketball player Orlando Johnson will lead USA Athletes as the official Flag Bearer. Johnson plays guard at University of California, Santa Barbara. Johnson was selected out of over 400 athletes on the USA Team. “It’s unbelievable. I was proud to make the basketball team and to play for my country, and now to carry the flag and lead the U.S. delegation feels real special. I feel very honored.” Said Johnson. More than 140 countries are represented in the 2011 Universiade and each has designated a Flag Bearer to lead their country. “I just hope I don’t fall. I hope that I can help bring honor to my country and hold the flag high and hold it proud. I’m definitely looking forward to it, walking out with the rest of the athletes who are all here to compete and do our best.” Said Johnson. The games officially begin tomorrow and Opening Ceremonies kicks off at 7:30pm China time.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
USA Men Warm Up In China With Practice Scrimmage Against Japan
http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/worlduniversity/11_mwug_pr_scr_japan.html
Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara)
How do you feel physically after a long travel day yesterday, and then three quarters of scrimmaging today?
I thought the travel day went pretty well. It was a long trip, but you just have to come ready and get your mind right so you are ready to play.
Was today's scrimmage helpful as you prepare for your first pool play game on Aug. 13?
Today's scrimmage helped us get our legs back a little bit. We definitely feel a little jet-lagged, but we'll be fine. We are just ready to get to the exhibition game tomorrow and to keep building. Our ultimate goal is the gold medal, and we have some work to do to get there.
How do you think the team played today?
We weren't at our best today, we know that, but as long as you can control your effort, how hard we play on defense and our communication, things will be fine. I think we did a pretty good job of that today. We still have things to clean up, and we'll probably watch some film and talk about those things.
What are your first impressions of the athletes' village?
It's pretty cool how you see all of the different countries here and to get a chance to interact with them. Especially being a basketball player from the U.S., a lot of people look up to us because of how dominant we have been in basketball. When they recognize that and they respect you for that, it makes you feel pretty good about yourself. So, I'm very honored to be here and to have the chance to not only play with some great athletes but also to meet some great athletes from around the world.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
UC Santa Barbara’s Orlando Johnson continues his rapid ascent
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/UC-Santa-Barbara-8217-s-Orlando-Johnson-continu?urn=ncaab-wp4142&active_dimension=carousel_ept_sports_ncaab_experts&ysp_frm_woah=1
Not long after Wednesday's final day of tryouts for the U.S. team that will compete in the World University Games later this month, UC Santa Barbara guard Orlando Johnson sat in his room in Colorado Springs anxiously awaiting his fate.
A knock on his door meant the USA Basketball officials were there to inform him he was one of the final two roster cuts. No knock meant his spot on the team was safe and he was officially China-bound next week.
"I didn't get a knock, so I was good to go," Johnson said with a chuckle Thursday night. "It probably won't hit me until I get on the plane and land in China because I've never been out of the country. It's going to be an amazing experience. I can't wait to put that jersey on and see that USA on it and try to win a gold medal."
That Johnson made the U.S. roster isn't a huge surprise even if he isn't a household name among fans because he doesn't play at a marquee program.
He averaged a Big West-best 21.1 points per game as a junior and shot 40.5 percent from behind the arc. Furthermore, decisions by potential preseason All-Americans Jordan Taylor of Wisconsin and Tu Holloway of Xavier not to try out for the U.S. team depleted the backcourt talent available to the coaches, lowering the bar a bit for the remaining guards.
Wearing a USA jersey on his chest is the next step for Johnson in his evolution from lightly recruited college prospect to mid-major standout to NBA draft hopeful. The 6-foot-5 senior received scant attention from top programs during his days at Palma High in Seaside, Calif. but he has proven critics wrong with his improved jump shot and relentless work ethic.
"When I started college, I was just happy to have a chance to get my degree," Johnson said. "If basketball took me somewhere, then I was going to do it, but I didn't really put much thought into it. Now that I've really been putting time into my game and really working hard, I've seen I can be one of the top players. It's crazy how fast things have changed."
Johnson entered his name in the NBA draft last spring but withdrew when it became clear he would not be a first-round pick. He's focused on improving in the areas NBA scouts told him he was lacking: ball handling, mid-range shooting and perimeter defense.
The opportunity to compete against the likes of Pittsburgh's Ashton Gibbs and Vanderbilt's John Jenkins on a day-to-day basis can only help Johnson reach his goals.
"Its' definitely helping me become a better player because you're seeing top-level competition every day," he said. "If you don't bring it, you're going to be exposed. It makes you work harder and really want to compete to try to be on the same level the other guys are on."
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Roster Announced For 2011 USA Men's World University Games Team
http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/worlduniversity/11_mwug_team.html
Listed on the roster are: Tim Abromaitis (Notre Dame/Unionville, Conn.); Marcus Denmon (Missouri/Kansas City, Mo.); Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh/Scotch Plains, N.J.); Draymond Green (Michigan State/Saginaw, Mich.); JaMychal Green (Alabama/Montgomery, Ala.); Scoop Jardine (Syracuse/ Philadelphia, Pa.); John Jenkins (Vanderbilt/ Hendersonville, Tenn.); Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara/Seaside, Calif.); Greg Mangano (Yale/Orange, Conn.); Trevor Mbakwe (Minnesota/ St. Paul, Minn.); Ray McCallum (Detroit Mercy/Beverly Hills, Mich.); and Darius Miller (Kentucky/Maysville, Ky.).
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
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