In an interview on this week’s Gamers Perspective podcast with Miller Kopp, Indiana sophomore guard Gabe Cupps mirrored on his first season in Bloomington and the way it was a studying expertise.
The Hoosiers struggled, completed 19-14 and missed the NCAA match for the primary time in three seasons underneath Mike Woodson.
Cupps, who gained at a excessive degree in highschool, together with a state championship, wasn’t used to the adversity Indiana skilled as a workforce final season.
“I’ve all the time been on profitable, actually good groups. It felt totally different,” he defined. “And I really feel like studying took the highest place on the podium final yr. It was like, ‘you could see what’s occurring and you could be taught as a lot as you’ll be able to as a way to stop it from feeling like this once more.’”
On account of accidents to Xavier Johnson, Cupps was compelled to tackle a extra vital position than anticipated in his first season as a Hoosier.
The Centerville, Ohio native began 21 of Indiana’s 33 video games as a freshman and averaged 2.6 factors, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per recreation.
Whereas he had his share of brilliant spots, Cupps shared with Kopp that he wasn’t happy along with his efficiency in his first season.
“I clearly didn’t suppose I carried out very nicely and didn’t assist the workforce as greatest I might final yr,” Cupps mentioned. “Which each participant, to an extent, goes to really feel like that yearly. You all the time take into consideration the stuff that you could possibly have achieved extra.”
Cupps mentioned he’s spent a lot time working to enhance his shot this offseason. He’s been within the fitness center steadily with Isaac Inexperienced, Indiana’s video and participant improvement analyst.
Identified for his early morning exercises — which impressed his NIL clothes line, “The Breakfast Membership,” Cupps has routinely been within the fitness center all summer season.
Though the general perimeter capturing numbers for Cupps had been stable at 35.9 p.c on 3-pointers, he shot simply 36.4 p.c total and 61.5 p.c from the free-throw line.
“Isaac (Inexperienced) earlier than each work out asks me what my intention is for the day,” Cupps defined.”I’ve to say it each time. And normally it’s been ‘excessive, straight and up’ for my shot. I feel simply specializing in these issues on my bounce shot particularly has helped me a ton. Like not worrying about makes and misses as a lot. I do know if I do these three issues, I’m going to maximise the possibility I’ve to achieve success in the case of capturing.”
Along with the capturing work, Cupps is hopeful of coming into his sophomore season as a extra assured participant.
He defined to Kopp that “taking part in and speaking with confidence” has been the first goal of his offseason work.
“I really feel like my exercises this summer season have been good, been intentional,” Cupps mentioned. “I really feel like I’m beginning to see progress.”
With simply over a month remaining till the official begin of follow in September and fewer than three months till the common season, Cupps is raring to indicate off his enchancment this winter in Bloomington.
“I really feel like I’ve simply been like chomping on the bit ever since final season,” he advised Kopp. “That’ll get a competitor going, a season that you just really feel such as you didn’t do very nicely personally, you didn’t do very nicely as a workforce, like that’ll get someone going who actually cares concerning the recreation, cares about what they’re doing.”
Filed to: Gabe Cupps
