Indiana University Athletics
‘True Pro’ -- Miller Kopp and Social Media’s ‘Double-Edged Sword’
10/17/2022 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Miller Kopp has made his social media mark.
Has he ever.
Social media sometimes marks this Indiana senior forward with doubters who create noise best ignored.
Welcome to a 21st Century sports world where everything is out there -- the good, the bad, the fun, the silly and the irrelevant.
Let's focus on the good and the way Kopp, a smart guy with maturity well suited to success on and off the court, has shone a mini spotlight on his Hoosier basketball world via vlogs and YouTube videos.
Side note: His dog Ivy gets lots of love.
These short snap shots feature music, summer loving, weightlifting, basketball shooting and fitness activities such as the Murph Challenge (a CrossFit workout where you run a mile, do 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 bodyweight squats and then run another mile while wearing a 20pound vest), with Ivy barking out motivation.
"It's stuff I think fans would want to see," he says. "It's a chance to show my personality to the world."
The result is familiarity that breeds …. perspective.
"That's a double-edged sword," he says. "People feel like they know you. There's that aspect. It builds a connection between myself and fans, fans and Indiana. It also at times creates a false sense of relationship where fans feel like they have … they forget about boundaries. You've got to handle both."
One thing is clear -- video making doesn't interfere with Kopp's basketball preparation.
"Basketball is the main focus," he says. "It's easy to put out a 15-second video. People see that, but they don't see the thousands of shots you put up in workouts."
Criticism sometimes follows (part of life as a high-profile athlete in a tradition-rich program with a passionate fan base), and whether it's about his videos or his play or the latest IU game, Kopp handles it, just as he does with coaching demands and major-college opponents seeking to break him.
"It took a while to get used to," he says. "It's not easy. At the end of the day, I've gotten this mentality that I don't care what people think. They see what I put out. I try to be authentic and genuine. They will think what they think. I've worked my butt off to be here and be in this situation. I'll never not do something because of what somebody else might think. I'll do what I want to do."
Kopp arrived in Bloomington after three seasons at Northwestern with three-point shooting expectations, yet it's his defense -- once considered a liability -- that has earned him the most coach Mike Woodson praise.
"I thought his defense last year was phenomenal," Woodson says.
Kopp isn't a defensive stopper in the manner of, say, Bobby Wilkerson (think 1976 national title team), but he's developed as few expected.
"From where he started, when people thought he couldn't defend, he was one of our best perimeter defenders," Woodson says.
At 6-7, Kopp has decent size and wingspan, but good defense demands more than that. He moves his feet, hustles and is aware. He pays attention to scouting reports.
"A lot of it is awareness and intent," he says. "You have to have the focus and the want and the hunger to be good at it."
Make no mistake, Kopp does.
"How do you go from a good to a great defender? It's your mind, and talking on the floor and knowing where everybody is supposed to be. That's what I focus on."
Kopp knows his limitations. He lacks imposing size or jaw-dropping leaping ability or are-you-kidding-me athleticism.
"There are a lot of guys who are gifted," he says, "guys like (the NBA's) Rudy Gobert, who just puts his hands up and block shots.
"You have to know the whole defense and not just where you're supposed to be and what you're supposed to do. That's not enough.
"I'm focused on being great off the ball as a defender. On the ball, anticipate what the guy can do."
Last year under Woodson, IU became a formidable defensive team, with more to do.
"It's never relaxing," Kopp says. "We're always guarding. We know that's our calling card. We are one of, if not the best, defensive teams in the Big Ten. We want to be the best defensive team in the country.
"That's always a focus -- every drill, every rep. We work on our principles and do what we do best."
Then there's the shooting.
Kopp has scored 1,041 college points. Last season, he averaged 6.0 points and shot 36.1 percent from three-point range. That included a 28-point effort at Syracuse.
Woodson wants more. IU needs more.
"I like everything about Miller," Woodson says. "I've just got to get him making some shots for us."
As the YouTube video showed, Kopp is working on it. The fact he and Chloe Moore-McNeill combined to win the Hoosier Hysteria three-point shooting contest is a good sign.
"I welcome the opportunities," he says. "I'm not going to turn down shots. If ball finds me and I'm open, it will go up.
"I'm not a guy coming off pick and rolls and shooting 3s. That's not my role.
"I have to be ready to shoot when I get the ball and knock it in."
Beyond that, Woodson wants more leadership from Miller as IU faces an Oct. 29 exhibition opener against Marian.
"He's been around a while. I need him to lead and hold guys accountable as well as himself."
Figure Miller will do that, and more.
"He's very coachable," Woodson says. "In the big league, we call him a true pro because he listens and tries to do all the things that are asked of him."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Miller Kopp has made his social media mark.
Has he ever.
Social media sometimes marks this Indiana senior forward with doubters who create noise best ignored.
Welcome to a 21st Century sports world where everything is out there -- the good, the bad, the fun, the silly and the irrelevant.
Let's focus on the good and the way Kopp, a smart guy with maturity well suited to success on and off the court, has shone a mini spotlight on his Hoosier basketball world via vlogs and YouTube videos.
Side note: His dog Ivy gets lots of love.
These short snap shots feature music, summer loving, weightlifting, basketball shooting and fitness activities such as the Murph Challenge (a CrossFit workout where you run a mile, do 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 bodyweight squats and then run another mile while wearing a 20pound vest), with Ivy barking out motivation.
"It's stuff I think fans would want to see," he says. "It's a chance to show my personality to the world."
The result is familiarity that breeds …. perspective.
"That's a double-edged sword," he says. "People feel like they know you. There's that aspect. It builds a connection between myself and fans, fans and Indiana. It also at times creates a false sense of relationship where fans feel like they have … they forget about boundaries. You've got to handle both."
One thing is clear -- video making doesn't interfere with Kopp's basketball preparation.
"Basketball is the main focus," he says. "It's easy to put out a 15-second video. People see that, but they don't see the thousands of shots you put up in workouts."
Criticism sometimes follows (part of life as a high-profile athlete in a tradition-rich program with a passionate fan base), and whether it's about his videos or his play or the latest IU game, Kopp handles it, just as he does with coaching demands and major-college opponents seeking to break him.
"It took a while to get used to," he says. "It's not easy. At the end of the day, I've gotten this mentality that I don't care what people think. They see what I put out. I try to be authentic and genuine. They will think what they think. I've worked my butt off to be here and be in this situation. I'll never not do something because of what somebody else might think. I'll do what I want to do."
Kopp arrived in Bloomington after three seasons at Northwestern with three-point shooting expectations, yet it's his defense -- once considered a liability -- that has earned him the most coach Mike Woodson praise.
"I thought his defense last year was phenomenal," Woodson says.
Kopp isn't a defensive stopper in the manner of, say, Bobby Wilkerson (think 1976 national title team), but he's developed as few expected.
"From where he started, when people thought he couldn't defend, he was one of our best perimeter defenders," Woodson says.
At 6-7, Kopp has decent size and wingspan, but good defense demands more than that. He moves his feet, hustles and is aware. He pays attention to scouting reports.
"A lot of it is awareness and intent," he says. "You have to have the focus and the want and the hunger to be good at it."
Make no mistake, Kopp does.
"How do you go from a good to a great defender? It's your mind, and talking on the floor and knowing where everybody is supposed to be. That's what I focus on."
Kopp knows his limitations. He lacks imposing size or jaw-dropping leaping ability or are-you-kidding-me athleticism.
"There are a lot of guys who are gifted," he says, "guys like (the NBA's) Rudy Gobert, who just puts his hands up and block shots.
"You have to know the whole defense and not just where you're supposed to be and what you're supposed to do. That's not enough.
"I'm focused on being great off the ball as a defender. On the ball, anticipate what the guy can do."
Last year under Woodson, IU became a formidable defensive team, with more to do.
"It's never relaxing," Kopp says. "We're always guarding. We know that's our calling card. We are one of, if not the best, defensive teams in the Big Ten. We want to be the best defensive team in the country.
"That's always a focus -- every drill, every rep. We work on our principles and do what we do best."
Then there's the shooting.
Kopp has scored 1,041 college points. Last season, he averaged 6.0 points and shot 36.1 percent from three-point range. That included a 28-point effort at Syracuse.
Woodson wants more. IU needs more.
"I like everything about Miller," Woodson says. "I've just got to get him making some shots for us."
As the YouTube video showed, Kopp is working on it. The fact he and Chloe Moore-McNeill combined to win the Hoosier Hysteria three-point shooting contest is a good sign.
"I welcome the opportunities," he says. "I'm not going to turn down shots. If ball finds me and I'm open, it will go up.
"I'm not a guy coming off pick and rolls and shooting 3s. That's not my role.
"I have to be ready to shoot when I get the ball and knock it in."
Beyond that, Woodson wants more leadership from Miller as IU faces an Oct. 29 exhibition opener against Marian.
"He's been around a while. I need him to lead and hold guys accountable as well as himself."
Figure Miller will do that, and more.
"He's very coachable," Woodson says. "In the big league, we call him a true pro because he listens and tries to do all the things that are asked of him."
Players Mentioned
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