Indiana Guard CJ Gunn Looks Forward to Sophomore Season
Indiana Guard CJ Gunn Looks Forward to Sophomore Season
Transcript
00:00 >> Hey, TJ, hope you're doing well.
00:01 Thanks for doing this.
00:02 Just with a year under your belt now, what do you feel like you've really learned
00:06 from your first year in college basketball?
00:07 And what are some things you've been trying to work on this offseason going into
00:10 year two?
00:11 >> This coming into my second year, I think just being more comfortable out on
00:17 the floor and just knowing what coach Woody wants.
00:20 And just the standard that we set last year is what I have to bring this year and
00:26 learn how to lead the team and become and now be an older guy, help lead the younger
00:31 and the new guys and to bring in them into our culture and to our family.
00:35 And to hopefully go further in the tournament than we did this year and
00:37 getting a big 10 title.
00:38 >> Mason.
00:40 >> CJ, thanks for the time, kind of on that same wavelength, I guess,
00:47 with your, I guess, improved role as a leader this year.
00:52 Is that a challenge, only being a sophomore,
00:54 knowing that you've only got one year under your belt when there's a lot of guys
00:57 around you this year that are going to be younger than you?
01:00 >> I mean, it's a challenge, but that's what I'm here for.
01:03 I didn't come here to be comfortable.
01:05 I came here to be pushed outside my element and
01:09 to get used to being comfortable with being uncomfortable.
01:13 So I see it as a great opportunity for me to take my game to the next level.
01:19 >> Jack.
01:22 >> Hey, CJ, thanks for doing this.
01:24 I guess, how much this summer have you been able to work with Calvert Chaney?
01:28 And if so, could you kind of explain maybe what those workouts have been like and
01:32 kind of the things he wants you to focus the most on just for the upcoming season?
01:37 >> Yeah, so before even Coach Chaney got down here, I had some connects with
01:42 some family members who already knew Coach Chaney, just cuz he's from Indiana.
01:46 But I gave him a call and we were talking about when he's gonna come down here.
01:50 So we were already excited to already get in the gym before he even got down here.
01:54 And when he finally got down here, at the first practice,
01:58 I watched film with him the first day we got training sessions in.
02:02 So me and his bond is already tight.
02:04 And I feel like he's really room for us and
02:07 he's just another piece to the puzzle in making this program great.
02:11 And the training sessions, they're just, I watched Coach Chaney's film also and
02:15 he really lived in the mid range when he was in the league.
02:18 And that's really one of my specialties with my ability to leap off the floor and
02:22 raise above my opponents to let my shot off.
02:24 So he really is teaching me how to be more effective with one or
02:28 two dribbles, but either collapsing the defense or getting my shot off.
02:31 >> Alex.
02:33 >> DJ, thanks for the time, really appreciate it.
02:36 When you look back at your freshman season, what do you feel like you did well?
02:40 And what do you feel like are the biggest areas for
02:43 your improvement moving forward?
02:47 >> Looking back at my freshman year,
02:48 I think I did a real good job on the defensive side of things.
02:52 I feel like my offense wasn't necessarily clicking how I wanted it to, but
02:56 that's just, as long as you're confident, I feel like, and you put the effort into
03:00 the gym and the countless days, I feel like that side is just gonna handle itself.
03:05 But that defensive, that's all effort and energy.
03:08 And I feel like I've always brought that every time I stepped on the court and
03:11 I'm gonna continue to bring that and take my two way game to the next level as well.
03:16 >> Mike.
03:17 >> Yes, CJ, in terms of, you said you didn't come here to be comfortable, but
03:26 how hard is it to have patience when you're sitting out long stretches last
03:30 year, not used to that as a guy that was a star in high school?
03:33 How much of a, you have to work on your mindset and
03:37 that mentality to kinda be patient?
03:40 How hard is that, or how hard was that for you?
03:43 >> I mean, it's difficult, no path in life is gonna be easy.
03:48 So just, you're gonna have them thoughts about, I can't do this,
03:53 I'm not gonna get there, but I'm a man of God and
03:56 I believe God always has my back and through that faith, why would I give up now?
04:01 You just gotta keep going and you're gonna get to where you wanna get to.
04:04 Like I said, as long as you're in the gym and you're putting that work in and
04:07 your love for the game is genuine, then God got me.
04:13 >> Alec.
04:14 >> CJ, thanks for doing this.
04:18 You spoke a couple times here about how you don't think you got into the offensive
04:21 rhythm that you wanted to last year.
04:23 You spoke about how confidence could be a big key for you getting into it this
04:26 season.
04:27 Physically speaking, aside from the confidence,
04:30 what areas of your game offensively have you really tried to improve this season?
04:33 >> Just being more effective, knowing a good shot from a bad shot and
04:39 just really cutting off the ball and getting my teammates involved as well.
04:43 And also where I'm looking to evolve my game this year further is bringing
04:48 the ball up the floor and being more of a combo guard,
04:51 transitioning from the one and the two.
04:52 >> Zion.
04:54 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:58 >> Yeah, CJ, hope you're doing well.
05:00 I guess my question is just, how has it been different so far in the few practices
05:04 and workouts you guys had?
05:06 Obviously a team that was built so much around trace the last few years.
05:09 How has that changed now going into this summer?
05:12 >> I mean, it's definitely a different field and
05:14 a different team than last year.
05:16 Trace has been here, he had his era and obviously he left and
05:20 all the seniors like Miller and race.
05:23 But it's just a great feeling coming in with a new squad and
05:27 knowing that we have the chance to be something great.
05:31 And so coming in, learning the new guys game on and off the court,
05:35 just meshing with each other.
05:38 I believe that we're gonna be some great this year.
05:43 >> Alex.
05:46 >> CJ, when we talked to Calvert a couple of weeks ago, he mentioned that he thought
05:50 the talent in the locker room was there to be an even better team next season than
05:55 you were last year.
05:56 And people kind of look at the players that are gone and
05:58 kind of wonder how that could happen.
06:00 But why do you think maybe he believes that and as a player,
06:03 when you look in that locker room and kind of what pieces of assemble,
06:07 how do you think that is a possibility?
06:09 >> I mean, we're deep this year, we have all the pieces to the puzzle that we need.
06:13 It's just all about and one thing about us about our team which I love and
06:17 that we built this culture here and my coach Wilson has definitely helped build
06:22 this culture is we're in the gym consistently every day getting better.
06:25 And that's everybody in the locker room counting the walk on everybody.
06:29 So just everybody worried about transitioning and being a new team this
06:33 year, I'm not worried at all about that.
06:36 Not one bit.
06:37 I feel like we're deep this year and we're gonna handle business.
06:40 >> Alec.
06:42 >> CJ, you said that you feel like you guys have all the pieces that you need
06:46 heading into the season.
06:47 You talked about being an energy guy, improving on the defensive and
06:51 offensive sides.
06:52 Aside from those things,
06:53 what piece do you bring to the Indiana basketball puzzle entering this season?
06:58 >> I feel like just my, like you said, my two way ability and
07:02 my ability to get my shot without the ball.
07:06 I'm very good with creating space when it comes to coming off down screens or
07:12 pin aways or any cutting or any action throughout our motion.
07:16 What throughout our motion offense is what I really specialize in.
07:19 >> Jack.
07:21 >> CJ, I guess what's been your impression of Mackenzie and
07:25 Baco coming in?
07:26 I guess maybe going up against him in practice or
07:29 playing with him just kind of what do you think he brings to the team?
07:33 >> I think he brings his grit and
07:35 his sort of aggressive to our game that challenges us every day to get better.
07:41 We go against each other every day in practice.
07:43 So just having that competition in practice is not iron sharpens iron.
07:49 So I'm gonna get better and he's gonna get better.
07:51 And so when we're out there and we're actually in the game,
07:54 we're gonna be just fine.
07:56 And but he's a tough shot maker and he's a great player and
07:59 he's a great player to play with.
08:00 But we also have a lot to learn about each other and
08:05 get more comfortable playing with each other for sure.
08:07 >> Last question for Seth.
08:08 >> Yes, CJ, you mentioned when you were talking about all the guys you lost from
08:13 last year, you mentioned Jalen and just kind of when you look at the backcourt
08:16 specifically, I mean, you got Trey and X back there kind of leading the way.
08:20 But I guess how would you kind of assess the group that you guys have there at
08:23 guard this year and how much of an opportunity do you feel like you have
08:26 there this year to contribute?
08:28 >> I feel like Fino left our backcourt and he's doing his own thing in the league and
08:33 that's my brother and I wish him none but the best.
08:36 But I don't feel like we lost anything when it comes to guards in the positions.
08:41 I feel like you said our backcourt with KB, X, Gallo, me, Gabe,
08:48 I feel like we're all willing to fill those shoes in and if not surpass
08:52 them shoes in order to be better than the team we were last year.