Nick Zeisloft arrived in Bloomington a little late on the first day of summer workouts, so went to Cook Hall to do his workout on his own.

New IU strength coach Lyonel Anderson, who said he likes to get more involved in the workouts than many coaches, had gone through the team’s workout earlier in the day with the players. When Zeisloft arrived later that day, Anderson didn’t hold back. He went through the whole workout again alongside Zeisloft.

It’s a bit different than when Je’Ney Jackson was the strength and conditioning coach, who participated from time to time but usually focused on overseeing instead of actively jumping into the workouts. Zeisloft and rising sophomore forward Emmitt Holt have liked both approaches, but there definitely is a difference in the energy level, Holt said.

“He’s a younger cat, so he brings a lot of energy,” Holt said. “Coach Jackson, he brought a lot of energy, but he was more mature, more settled down and whatnot. Lyonel, he has a lot of ideas that he likes to try out, and they work.”

Those ideas have been well documented by IU, showing them off on Snapchat and YouTube. The images show the Hoosiers wearing special breathing masks or running footwork drills in a sandpit located between Cook Hall and Assembly Hall.

The workouts have been new experiences, but Holt and Zeisloft both had positive remarks about the new techniques. Holt said he could definitely feel a difference after working the masks, which restrict air flow and force players to focus more on said breathing patterns.

Getting in the sand has already been paying dividends for the Hoosiers, the two said.

“We’re using part of our body that we haven’t been able to unlock before,” Holt said. “(Anderson) emphasizes the hip and how that can make you faster and make you more explosive and whatnot. It’s unlocking parts of our body that we haven’t been really using before and using that to our advantage.”

Neither Holt nor Zeisloft has been with the program a full calendar year, as Zeisloft arrived in early August and Holt came just as school was starting last year. Still, both feel like veterans now after going through a full season and now have a bit more perspective in the weight room after working with two strength coaches.

“Some of the things are different with coach Jackson and coach Anderson,” Zeislof said. “Not saying one was better than the other, they’re both tremendous weight coaches and I’m lucky to have them both work with me. It’s been going great so far.”

The level of excitement and youthful fervor from Anderson, however, has been evident from his arrival on campus and players are doing their best to match his level.

“He’s very passionate, has a lot of energy,” Zeisloft said before smirking and shaking his head, “and doesn’t seem to get tired ever.”