‘No nonsense’ Johnson earns Pitino’s praise

Javonte Johnson isn’t a man of many words.

So when asked Monday night about a play with 5 minutes, 47 seconds left in the 86-61 win over Grambling State in the Pit – when he passed up on a wide open 3-pointer on a fast break and opted instead for a bounce pass to teammate Taryn Todd under the Lobos basket for a layup – he didn’t try to dance around any elaborate explanation.

“He was also open,” Johnson said, “but he was under the rim. So it was a better shot.”

An easy play. A simple answer.

Not unusual for a guy who has been pretty much all business since his new coach Richard Pitino was hired last spring. The 6-foot-6 guard chose not to seek a transfer, but instead to try to win over the new…