As expected, Tom Crean was peppered with Cody Zeller questions Thursday morning. Crean told a story about how during a recent scrimmage Zeller wasn't getting touches for his team and as a result his team wasn't winning. Crean stopped the scrimmage and explained the importance of getting Zeller touches and the need to play through him. He said how playing through Zeller, makes the game easier for everyone else and how the Hoosiers have worked on feeding the post more frequently.
From an individual standpoint, Crean mentioned forward Tom Pritchard's post defense and how that will relieve some pressure off Zeller when the two are on the court together. Crean briefly praised the ability of sophomore guards Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey to take people off the dribble, senior Verdell Jones III mid-range game and the continued growth of junior guard Jordan Hulls.
The mentality during the off-season for Crean's Hoosiers was a 'climb mentality' and how his team is ready to make its rise in the Big Ten conference. Crean said the spring was one of the best he has even been apart of in his coaching career and he can finally see a difference in his player's bodies. The focus throughout much of the off-season has been on the defensive end of the floor and Crean said his offense is 'way behind' where it normally is at this point in practice.
