IU's Zeisloft: 'I'm not trying to stick with what I've done before'

BLOOMINGTON -- A year ago, Nick Zeisloft was rushing through practices, crash-course-studying his playbook and trying to prepare for Indiana's preseason tour in Montreal.

A graduate transfer from Illinois State, Zeisloft didn't join the Hoosiers until late in the summer. Catch-up and Canada – that was his focus.

Now, in the midst of his first full offseason at IU, Zeisloft can enjoy open gyms and workouts surrounded by familiar faces, as he prepares for a critical role in his final college season.

"Open gym this summer is more competitive compared to last summer and fall," Zeisloft said last week. "Last year, we didn't really know each other, so we didn't get after it. Now, we get after it and we don't really care about feelings anymore, which is better for us."

Entering his fifth year of college and 93 games played, Zeisloft is one of the Hoosiers' most experienced returnees.

He's also one of just four Hoosiers on scholarship who are likely to be listed as guards on next season's roster. The others – Yogi Ferrell, Robert Johnson and James Blackmon Jr. – all appear likely regular starters, just as they were last season.

So Zeisloft won't just be the first guard off the bench. He might be the only true guard among IU's reserves. That's still not changing his approach to the summer.

"I wouldn't call it branching out (roles), so much as I would call it improving, and being able to do more," Zeisloft said. "I'm not just shooting every day. I'm working on driving, shot fakes, getting to the rim, my mid-range game, drawing fouls and posting up.

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"I'm not trying to stick with what I've done before. I'm looking to improve."

Zeisloft slotted seamlessly into his role as an experienced hand and dangerous 3-point shooter last season, knocking down 45 percent of shots from behind the arc. His effective field goal percentage – a statistic that lends extra weight to made 3-pointers – finished at a team-best 67.4, and in IU's last seven games, Zeisloft hit 54.3 percent of his 3-pointers.

There's not much need to "branch out," though Zeisloft said he'd still like to expand his affect this winter.

"I'm working on ball screens, making plays for others, and drawing fouls so that I can get to the free throw line," Zeisloft said. "Drawing fouls is a big key with (IU) coach (Tom Crean).

After two consecutive offseasons during which Indiana added more players than it returned, relative stability has blessed Cook Hall in 2015.

This year's freshman class is, so far, half of the size of its last two predecessors – just three players. Another graduate transfer, former Michigan forward Max Bielfeldt, is also new.

But thanks to the decisions by several Hoosiers to forgo the NBA draft for at least one more year, most of the principals from last season's rotation – seven players out of IU's top eight – have returned.

Zeisloft embodies that shift, both as one of those new faces from last summer, and as a veteran leader during this one.

"More camaraderie, more understanding of what guys are going to be on the court, more timing," Zeisloft said, when asked how so much institutional memory has changed this offseason. "We had a lot of new guys come in last year and we didn't have the months of the summer to work together. This summer we've had everybody here the whole time, and it's been great."

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.