Indiana University Athletics
Collin Hartman Talks Offseason Workouts
7/24/2015 10:49:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 24, 2015
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Rising junior Collin Hartman met with members of the media earlier this week to talk about the team's offseason workouts and how his return from injury has allowed him to compete in all parts of the workouts. He also talked about what his role on the team is and how he grew into that role during the 2014-15 season.
On spending a summer in Bloomington working out with teammates:
"It's a good chance to get to know the new guys with everyone coming in because like you said its really just us here and not a lot of students here. So its just basketball, a couple classes, and basketball. It does give us a lot of time to get to know each other off the court and get to know each other a lot more because we don't have the distractions of everyone else being here, and there's not constant classes with tests all the time, so it's a great chance to get closer with our team."
On being back at full strength after his injury:
"It's good. We had a couple weeks off, but we've been really great as a team. For myself, getting back into it physically and being able to participate in everything, not having any limitations and not being so much as fearful but not being conscious of my knee. I don't really have to think about it anymore or do anything about that, so its great to be able to participate fully in everything that we do and feel like I can contribute more to the team."
On whether the knee injury is still in the back of his mind during workouts:
"No, not really. It gets sore after workouts but during workouts or anything it never crosses my mind like 'Oh, what if it happens again?' I mean if it happens, it happens, but we are taking the proper precautions to keep that from happening and we do that day to day."
On what the team has been focusing on at the defensive end:
"I think guys like Max (Bielfeldt), Thomas (Bryant), and Emmitt (Holt) getting stronger like he has and being able to be bigger down low really helps. We are also getting a lot quicker with the things we are doing in strength and conditioning, such as keeping the ball out of the paint, keeping guys in front in one-on-one defensively and all around."
Is that more of an individual thing like each guy has to kind of bear down in every position and be accountable for their man or is it kind of a team thing?
"It goes both, starting off individually. You have to do your job, which is to keep your man out of the paint. If you don't do your job to the best of your ability, that's where the team comes in with help side coming over and everyone has to rotate. There's multiple steps that go in between that, as you know, but it does start off individually with being able to keep your man in front in a on-on-one situation."
On being more on the perimeter this season after having to play in the post last year:
"Those guys are great with Thomas and Max and guys like that down there. They are doing a great job getting ready for their skill sets mentally and physically. But as for myself, I just have to really polish my all-around game and be able to play the five if needed. I need to be able to play an position that coach needs and work on my guard skills, getting stronger and quicker to be able to play any of those positions."
On handling the ball more, along with Troy Williams:
"Very confident in that. I've been working on ball handling drills and bringing the ball up almost every day in workouts. I've also been working on getting the pace up and being up to play under control because that is a big thing we've been stressing with guards."
On being more of the player coming out of high school now that you are familiar with the speed of the game:
"Definitely. Getting used to the whole speed of the game and the new style of play that we play with. And then last year was playing the role that needed at the time and it worked out really well for me and for us. So this year, it is going to be fun becaue we do have the pieces and guys that we need and we are ready to step up and its going to be fun to play multiple positions and not just one set position."
On what gave him the confidence last year:
"It was really just knowing that if I make the hustle plays and do the hustle plays, then I'm going to stay on the court. Playing on the court is every kids dream, especially in Assembly Hall, so hustle plays are what kept me on the court. It was really what I had to start doing, because my skill set wasn't exactly there, so I couldn't really do much outside of my element. So the hustle plays and the fundamental plays are what really kept me on the court. And that is what I really think gave me the confidence knowing that if I did this, it would help."
Is that kind of the mindset going into this season as well or do you think you have to take another step and do more than just last season?
"I don't feel as though I have to do more, but I'm going to do more to contribute to the team. The hustle plays and all the fundamental plays will be there because we work on those everyday just as much as we work on skill."
What's it like having everyone here, being able to get to know everybody? Does that kind of give you a bit of a boost going into the fall?
"Definitely. It's almost like we've been practicing together already. When we practice together and play open gyms, its almost like a bonding and getting to know your team at a whole other level. You are ahead of everybody, so its great for the team. And individually working out with your team and everybody, it really brings the team together on a higher level."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Rising junior Collin Hartman met with members of the media earlier this week to talk about the team's offseason workouts and how his return from injury has allowed him to compete in all parts of the workouts. He also talked about what his role on the team is and how he grew into that role during the 2014-15 season.
On spending a summer in Bloomington working out with teammates:
"It's a good chance to get to know the new guys with everyone coming in because like you said its really just us here and not a lot of students here. So its just basketball, a couple classes, and basketball. It does give us a lot of time to get to know each other off the court and get to know each other a lot more because we don't have the distractions of everyone else being here, and there's not constant classes with tests all the time, so it's a great chance to get closer with our team."
On being back at full strength after his injury:
"It's good. We had a couple weeks off, but we've been really great as a team. For myself, getting back into it physically and being able to participate in everything, not having any limitations and not being so much as fearful but not being conscious of my knee. I don't really have to think about it anymore or do anything about that, so its great to be able to participate fully in everything that we do and feel like I can contribute more to the team."
On whether the knee injury is still in the back of his mind during workouts:
"No, not really. It gets sore after workouts but during workouts or anything it never crosses my mind like 'Oh, what if it happens again?' I mean if it happens, it happens, but we are taking the proper precautions to keep that from happening and we do that day to day."
On what the team has been focusing on at the defensive end:
"I think guys like Max (Bielfeldt), Thomas (Bryant), and Emmitt (Holt) getting stronger like he has and being able to be bigger down low really helps. We are also getting a lot quicker with the things we are doing in strength and conditioning, such as keeping the ball out of the paint, keeping guys in front in one-on-one defensively and all around."
Is that more of an individual thing like each guy has to kind of bear down in every position and be accountable for their man or is it kind of a team thing?
"It goes both, starting off individually. You have to do your job, which is to keep your man out of the paint. If you don't do your job to the best of your ability, that's where the team comes in with help side coming over and everyone has to rotate. There's multiple steps that go in between that, as you know, but it does start off individually with being able to keep your man in front in a on-on-one situation."
On being more on the perimeter this season after having to play in the post last year:
"Those guys are great with Thomas and Max and guys like that down there. They are doing a great job getting ready for their skill sets mentally and physically. But as for myself, I just have to really polish my all-around game and be able to play the five if needed. I need to be able to play an position that coach needs and work on my guard skills, getting stronger and quicker to be able to play any of those positions."
On handling the ball more, along with Troy Williams:
"Very confident in that. I've been working on ball handling drills and bringing the ball up almost every day in workouts. I've also been working on getting the pace up and being up to play under control because that is a big thing we've been stressing with guards."
On being more of the player coming out of high school now that you are familiar with the speed of the game:
"Definitely. Getting used to the whole speed of the game and the new style of play that we play with. And then last year was playing the role that needed at the time and it worked out really well for me and for us. So this year, it is going to be fun becaue we do have the pieces and guys that we need and we are ready to step up and its going to be fun to play multiple positions and not just one set position."
On what gave him the confidence last year:
"It was really just knowing that if I make the hustle plays and do the hustle plays, then I'm going to stay on the court. Playing on the court is every kids dream, especially in Assembly Hall, so hustle plays are what kept me on the court. It was really what I had to start doing, because my skill set wasn't exactly there, so I couldn't really do much outside of my element. So the hustle plays and the fundamental plays are what really kept me on the court. And that is what I really think gave me the confidence knowing that if I did this, it would help."
Is that kind of the mindset going into this season as well or do you think you have to take another step and do more than just last season?
"I don't feel as though I have to do more, but I'm going to do more to contribute to the team. The hustle plays and all the fundamental plays will be there because we work on those everyday just as much as we work on skill."
What's it like having everyone here, being able to get to know everybody? Does that kind of give you a bit of a boost going into the fall?
"Definitely. It's almost like we've been practicing together already. When we practice together and play open gyms, its almost like a bonding and getting to know your team at a whole other level. You are ahead of everybody, so its great for the team. And individually working out with your team and everybody, it really brings the team together on a higher level."
Players Mentioned
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