Tom Crean is beginning his fourth year as the head coach of Indiana basketball. A couple weeks before the student body reports to campus, IU basketball players are finishing up the second session of summer school while working out everyday.
This upcoming season, the Hoosiers have their best recruiting class yet with Cody Zeller, Austin Etherington and Remy Abell prepared for their rookie campaigns. Each of them are trying to get acclimated with college life, living on their own, and being held accountable.
Cody, Austin and Remy met with the media Wednesday for the first time as Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington. Below is a transcript of the news conference, courtesy of IU Athletics:
On the experience of first eight weeks of being on campus:
Zeller
“This summer’s been great, just working out with the strength and conditioning coach, going to classes, it just helps being here for the summer. We’re kind of getting acclimated before the rest of the students get here. It’s definitely been a good eight weeks.”Etherington
“It’s been good to work out with the strength and conditioning coach and getting used to everything. These eight weeks have been good to get stronger for the season that is upcoming.”Abell
“The eight weeks have been good getting ready for the fall and the season, and for just school in general.”On if it has sunk in yet that you are at IU in college:
Zeller
“Somewhat, it’s going to be a lot different when the real season starts because none of the coaches can be in on our workouts right now so that’s going to change. There aren’t a whole lot of students here for the summer, so I think it’s just kind of a taste of what it’s going to be like when it comes around in the fall.”Etherington
“It definitely hasn’t hit me yet. When we come back after these two weeks, I’m sure we’ll get more of a taste of it because all the students will be here and right now there aren’t many people. I’m sure we’ll feel it later on.”On what they have learned from their other teammates:
Etherington
“Everything is really player driven right now. (Jordan Hulls) is helping us through with everything and just trying to coach us through as much as he can since there are no coaches here yet really. So it’s tough knowing what to expect, but he helps us as much as he can to get us prepared for to expect during the season.”On what they have improved on to this point and what they will work to improve on:
Zeller
“I’ve gained strength just working out, lifting weights and doing agility and things like that. I’m still not quite where I need to be so I’m still getting bumped on some of my moves. The college game is completely different than the high school game. I just still need to keep working on that stuff.”On the difference in training at the college level compared to high school:
Abell
“It’s different from high school. In high school, you are the star of your team, but coming into college, you are a freshman, so you’re at the bottom. You have to prove yourself and work even harder in keeping up with the team. It’s been player driven, so everybody is helping each other out and everybody’s got each other’s back.”Etherington
“I did work out some in high school but here it’s a little different. You definitely push yourself being around the other players because they are little bit stronger than you are. So you just try to get on their level and be where they are at too.”Zeller
“In high school, I lifted quite a bit. I wasn’t sure what basketball lifts I should do and things like that. Coach (Je’Ney) Jackson is really good at developing basketball strength, which is completely different from just working on your bench press or just your squats or something like that. He is good at developing you to become stronger just for your basketball game. I think that’s the biggest difference.”On what is Abell’s strength since beginning workouts at IU:
Abell
“The strength I need to improve on is my shooting. Right now I’m definitely trying to work on my jump shot, and just trying to get a lot of shots up. As far as strength, I like to get to the basket. I’m just out here trying to work hard, my teammates are pushing me and I’m having fun and enjoying it.”Abell’s thoughts on Etherington’s and Zeller’s skills:
Abell
“Austin, he can shoot it. Cody, he’s strong down low, he can do a lot of things in the post and has a mid-range game. Austin, he can go off the dribble. If you get too close on him and he can do pretty good things.”Etherington’s thoughts on Abell:
Etherington
“Remy is not easy to stop in getting to the basket. He is definitely quick and he has the ability to shoot the ball too. He’s definitely a good player, getting to the basket and hitting shots, so he’s not going to be easy to guard.”On Abell’s ability to play the point or the wing:
Abell
“The first position I ever played was point guard, but as I grew older in middle school and high school, I got moved to the wing. I kind of have the point guard ability, but then I got moved over because I am a better scorer. Either way, wherever they put me, I’m going to be ready to play.”On Zeller leaning on his brothers to get prepared for college:
Zeller
“I knew just from talking to them, the little things that were going to be changes. The biggest thing they talked about was the weightlifting was a big change. I think they’ve been right, it is definitely a big change going from high school to college weightlifting. It’s a whole other thing in college. That is why the college guys are so much bigger, stronger and faster.”On the personal expectations of being able to produce for IU:
Zeller
“I’m just glad to be here and working out. I am just going to work as hard as I can every day and see what happens. I don’t have any numbers in mind that I’m looking to put up, I’m just trying to get wins for the team and do whatever I can to help the team win. That is all I can do.”