Jordan Cohen

Just past noon today, Tom Crean met with the media for his first press conference of the year. After, we got to watch the team work out on the court for 45 minutes, something Crean didn't do last year.

Some tidbits from the presser:

  • Will have some different scrimmage opportunities again this year

  • "Everybody's gotten better, but some have gotten better than others."

  • Following Hoosier Hysteria, team will start two-a-days before the Illinois football game

  • Jeremiah Rivers recovering from thigh bruise, Verdell Jones has had some shoulder pain

  • Encouraged by ticket sales... "much better than a year ago, especially on the student side"

  • The significant improvement among returners: Jones and Roth

  • Devan Dumes shooting the ball "extremely well," though he has been set back a bit from offseason surgery

  • "Tom Pritchard is better in some areas, but not where he needs to be yet. But it's early."

  • Crean said Tijan Jobe is better and added that Rivers has become a much better player since joining the team last year

  • Roth has a quicker release, is working on a shot fake and the staff is trying to get him to move in his range

  • Leadership is collective, though he said Rivers is certainly an option. Jordan Hulls and Maurice Creek, as well as Jones, are trying to step up as leaders as well.

  • No update on Bawa Muniru and his eligiblity, but wait is not frustrating because he can still practice with the team (Crean's former Marquette player Lazar Hayward was cleared the day before their midnight madness and Trevor Mbakwe was also cleared late as well)

  • They are getting closer to being able to run the team like he did at Marquette as far as his system and utilization of guard play

  • Thinks Jones will be one of the better players in the Big Ten, his versatility will help the team

As far as the work out went, the team started with conditioning drills and then proceeded with some basketball drills. Muniru was not there. There's only so much to take away from it, but Rivers was the most impressive in the drills. Should be a fun player to watch and will help the team tremendously.

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