“He’s put in the work”: Miller Kopp’s offseason training shines in Indiana’s win over Bethune-Cookman

“All Miller Kopp has to do is stand within the nook and shoot the ball.”

This was a standard chorus from Indiana followers final season. Kopp, in his first season in Bloomington after transferring from Northwestern, ended the 2021-22 season taking pictures 39-of-108 from past the arc. Some considered Kopp as a disappointment offensively.

There got here a degree within the season the place followers would groan when he took a shot from deep as a result of nobody knew what the result could be. Questions abounded as as to if or not he ought to begin for Indiana or have his position decreased.

It appeared these feedback discovered their means again to their supposed recipient when over the summer time, Kopp made it clear by way of social media that he was diligently placing in work to enhance.

Posting about his exercises, routines and on a regular basis life gave followers an inside look into what he was engaged on and the way he went about doing so.

“All Miller Kopp has to do is stand within the nook and shoot the ball.”

Getting into the 2022-23 season, the mantra is identical. But it surely’s additionally totally different. The exasperation, the frustration within the intonation of the phrases is gone. Now, there may be hope for what Kopp may very well be for this Indiana group.

With the arrival of Jalen Hood-Schifino, the concept was that a number of gamers having the ability to get within the paint would take a few of the strain off Kopp, permitting him to arrange within the nook and prepare for the move.

In Indiana’s two exhibition video games and season opener towards Morehead State, Kopp shot 4 3-pointers. And whereas the Hoosier devoted cheered wholeheartedly with each, Kopp’s output was just like final season.

Thursday night time, expectations have been definitely met — if not exceeded. Indiana’s 101-49 victory over Bethune-Cookman had many highlights, maybe the largest being the 3-point taking pictures.

Kopp completed with 12 factors which have been second highest on the group behind 21 from Trayce Jackson-Davis. All of Kopp’s factors got here from past the arc as he shot 4-of-6 from distance.

“You all the time need to shoot higher, you may all the time dribble higher, you may all the time simply be higher,” Kopp mentioned. “Going into the offseason (it) was huge for me simply specializing in getting reps.”

These 4 3-pointers have been essentially the most made by any participant in Thursday’s sport. The primary time Kopp bought the ball, he let it fly instantly. That marked enchancment from Monday’s sport towards Morehead State when he appeared hesitant.

And whereas he missed that first shot on Thursday, it could be the one one which didn’t fall till Kopp’s ultimate try of the night time.

“It’s very good as a result of he’s put within the work,” Mike Woodson mentioned about Kopp’s success. “He’s put quite a lot of time this summer time taking pictures the basketball. And after we all bought collectively, he was making them in apply. So I’m not shocked that he’s making them now within the sport.”

Kopp regarded ready every time he bought the ball, with a cleaner shot and a lot confidence he didn’t even stick round to look at the shot fall. The important thing to that success? A mix of exhausting work and a very good mentality.

“I did quite a lot of work on my golf swing this summer time, and tried to get outdoors and get tan so much,” Kopp mentioned. “In the event you have a look at one of the best basketball gamers, all of them — Michaell Jordan, Steph Curry — all of them are nice golfers too, so I believe that helped.”

One other side of the sport that was notable? The contributions Kopp’s teammates comprised of past the arc. As a group, Indiana made 10 3-pointers on 24 makes an attempt. Trey Galloway made two, and Xavier Johnson, Malik Reneau, Jordan Geronimo and Tamar Bates every linked as soon as.

After taking pictures solely 4 3-pointers on 11 makes an attempt towards Morehead State, Indiana regarded extra assured from past the arc towards Bethune-Cookman.

Kopp gained’t proceed taking pictures at a 75 p.c clip, however by two video games, he’s extra assured than final season. That improved confidence coupled with teammates who seem able to making of perimeter pictures has Indiana arrange nicely going ahead.

Filed to: Miller Kopp