Indiana University Athletics
Zeisloft Grows In Opportunity As A Hoosier
9/27/2015 2:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Besides basketball in Indiana, the Hoosiers state is partial to a certain automobile race that happens every Memorial Day weekend. One of that event's biggest names, Bobby Unser, once uttered these words and it may fit Hoosier senior Nick Zeisloft to a T. "Success is where preparation and opportunity meet."
With little fanfare, the native of Lyons Township, Illinois, joined the Hoosiers in the summer of 2014, well past what most would consider a prime time for recruiting. Zeisloft had just graduated with a degree in Finance from Illinois State University after spending three years with the Redbirds. He had decided to take advantage of an NCAA rule which allows a player to transfer who complete their bachelor's degree to have immediate eligibility to a school they would transfer to. Since he took a redshirt year his first season, he knew that having two years to play immediately would help him in his quest to find the right program.
"I have always been a fan of Indiana and for me this is a dream come true," said Ziesloft. "Coach Crean has created an environment that gives you the best opportunity to succeed. With that, and the fact I can go to graduate school at the Kelley School of Business, there is not much else I need."
Quite honestly, Zeisloft has already exceeded the expectations most had for him. At Illinois State, Ziesloft started 31 games in two seasons for the Redbirds and averaged 5.9 points and 3.4 rebounds. He also shot 37.3 percent from three-point range and averaged 25.7 minutes per game.
He came to the Hoosiers just before the team went on a five-game trip to Canada. With little to no time to get familiar with his teammates, he made quite a first impression. In five games in Canada, he averaged 8.8 points and shot 51.7 percent from the floor and 55.0 percent from three-point range.
"You could see he was not afraid to shoot and that he could make it from any range," said senior roommate Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell. "When we added James, Robert, Nick and Collin and they were all able to make big shots, it made everything click the way we had hoped it would."
Over the last five years, IU has been the best major college three-point shooting team in the country, hitting on 38.8 percent of its long distance tries. However, in 2013-14, the Hoosiers saw that number drop to 34.4 percent on the season and the influx of shooters helped the Hoosiers regain their status as the top offensive team in the Big Ten.
"Things have a way of becoming contagious," said Zeisloft. "I've always tried to challenge myself when it comes to working on my shot. Coming here when I did, it was nice to know that other guys have that same belief."
The Hoosiers finished the 2014-15 campaign leading the Big Ten and finishing sixth in the country making 40.6 percent of its three-point shots. In addition, the Cream and Crimson tied a Big Ten record making 9.4 three-pointers per game. More impressive was IU nearly hit the same mark in its 18 Big Ten games, making 40.4 percent in conference play.
With five players making 29 or more three-pointers during the season, the options were plentiful and even if one or two weren't finding the rhythm, others were there to keep the pressure on the opposition.
"I think what it really boils down to is that we have a group of competitive people with a lot of pride," said Zeisloft. "Competition makes you better. Some people don't want to face that every day, but we look forward to competing before or after practice."
That extra work is what propelled Zeisloft into becoming the top three-point shooter in Big Ten play, hitting 51.4 percent in 18 league games ,and second in the league in overall games, making 45.0 percent from behind the arc.
For the coming year, Zeisloft knows while he can always be expected to provide a scoring threat if open, he has to continue to work on more of his game to serve as an example to others in the locker room.
"I'm not just shooting every day," added Zeisloft. "I'm working on driving, shot fakes, getting to the rim, my mid-range game, drawing fouls and posting up.
As the Hoosiers prepare to open practice next week, Zeisloft is excited to get the season started.
"Every thing about being here, the coaches, my teammates, academics and certainly the basketball program have more than exceeded my expectations," concluded Zeisloft.
With little fanfare, the native of Lyons Township, Illinois, joined the Hoosiers in the summer of 2014, well past what most would consider a prime time for recruiting. Zeisloft had just graduated with a degree in Finance from Illinois State University after spending three years with the Redbirds. He had decided to take advantage of an NCAA rule which allows a player to transfer who complete their bachelor's degree to have immediate eligibility to a school they would transfer to. Since he took a redshirt year his first season, he knew that having two years to play immediately would help him in his quest to find the right program.
"I have always been a fan of Indiana and for me this is a dream come true," said Ziesloft. "Coach Crean has created an environment that gives you the best opportunity to succeed. With that, and the fact I can go to graduate school at the Kelley School of Business, there is not much else I need."
Quite honestly, Zeisloft has already exceeded the expectations most had for him. At Illinois State, Ziesloft started 31 games in two seasons for the Redbirds and averaged 5.9 points and 3.4 rebounds. He also shot 37.3 percent from three-point range and averaged 25.7 minutes per game.
He came to the Hoosiers just before the team went on a five-game trip to Canada. With little to no time to get familiar with his teammates, he made quite a first impression. In five games in Canada, he averaged 8.8 points and shot 51.7 percent from the floor and 55.0 percent from three-point range.
"You could see he was not afraid to shoot and that he could make it from any range," said senior roommate Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell. "When we added James, Robert, Nick and Collin and they were all able to make big shots, it made everything click the way we had hoped it would."
Over the last five years, IU has been the best major college three-point shooting team in the country, hitting on 38.8 percent of its long distance tries. However, in 2013-14, the Hoosiers saw that number drop to 34.4 percent on the season and the influx of shooters helped the Hoosiers regain their status as the top offensive team in the Big Ten.
"Things have a way of becoming contagious," said Zeisloft. "I've always tried to challenge myself when it comes to working on my shot. Coming here when I did, it was nice to know that other guys have that same belief."
The Hoosiers finished the 2014-15 campaign leading the Big Ten and finishing sixth in the country making 40.6 percent of its three-point shots. In addition, the Cream and Crimson tied a Big Ten record making 9.4 three-pointers per game. More impressive was IU nearly hit the same mark in its 18 Big Ten games, making 40.4 percent in conference play.
With five players making 29 or more three-pointers during the season, the options were plentiful and even if one or two weren't finding the rhythm, others were there to keep the pressure on the opposition.
"I think what it really boils down to is that we have a group of competitive people with a lot of pride," said Zeisloft. "Competition makes you better. Some people don't want to face that every day, but we look forward to competing before or after practice."
That extra work is what propelled Zeisloft into becoming the top three-point shooter in Big Ten play, hitting 51.4 percent in 18 league games ,and second in the league in overall games, making 45.0 percent from behind the arc.
For the coming year, Zeisloft knows while he can always be expected to provide a scoring threat if open, he has to continue to work on more of his game to serve as an example to others in the locker room.
"I'm not just shooting every day," added Zeisloft. "I'm working on driving, shot fakes, getting to the rim, my mid-range game, drawing fouls and posting up.
As the Hoosiers prepare to open practice next week, Zeisloft is excited to get the season started.
"Every thing about being here, the coaches, my teammates, academics and certainly the basketball program have more than exceeded my expectations," concluded Zeisloft.
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