It isn't likely the IU basketball media earned much respect from the players Thursday afternoon.
The IU Basketball Media Challenge allowed media members to showcase their athletic ability (or lack thereof) in various drills and scrimmages, while the players either officiated, kept score or gawked from afar.
"It was really cool just seeing people interact with everybody and seeing them do things they might not be comfortable with," said junior guard Jordan Hulls. "There were a lot of people who obviously love to play basketball and others who don't but they came out here anyway and I think everybody had a good time."
Any walk-on potential amongst the IU student media?
"No, not at all," said junior forward Christian Watford.
For the guys that will be on the floor, Hoosier Hysteria is nine days away. The annual event will feature a variety of skill competitions and it represents the start of the college basketball season. For the freshman, this will be their first time playing in front of a real Assembly Hall crowd.
"It's definitely going to be fun," said freshman forward Cody Zeller. "It'll be fun having some festivities that night and getting to play in front of this crowd."
Zeller, who came to IU weighing in around 215 pounds, said he has put in work in the weight room this summer and is up to 230 pounds.
Though Zeller is IU's first McDonald's All-American since Eric Gordon in 2007, Hulls said this team is not putting all their chips on the freshman big man.
"We're not putting a whole bunch of pressure on him," Hulls said. "He knows that he's not going to score 40 points or anything like that. But he's definitely going to contribute to us."
Hulls, who is coming off a season in which he averaged 11 PPG and 2.9 APG figures to be an even bigger part of the IU offense this year. Hulls admitted developing more of a vocal presence on and off the court was something he needed to improve on.
"I'm just trying to take on that leadership role," Hulls said. "Whether it's commanding, coaching or mentoring somebody, there's lots of different aspects of leadership. I'm trying to use that and whatever it takes in order for us to be a better team and for us to get more wins."
Players and media will now go back to their day jobs with the season quickly approaching. IU's exhibition game against the University of Indianapolis is just under a month away while the season opener versus Stony Brook is 36 days away.
