The Bluejays with their second to last practice before heading to Australia. Here is what happened on Monday.
Mitch Ballock took a couple plays off today on the sideline, but has had a great summer session (Spomer / WBR)
Notes:
- The main objective of the day centered around post defense, specifically double team coverages — communication and weak side rotations were an especially big emphasis throughout the session.
- The Jays also spent time drilling their press break. Senior point guard Davion Mintz made a really slick play when he sliced through a trap just past mid-court and dropped a perfect no-look pocket pass to a cutting Christian Bishop for an uncontested layup.
- Junior wing Mitch Ballock watched two or three plays from the sideline on Monday afternoon. Normally this wouldn’t be notable, but since no one could recall another time he took a rep off this summer it feels worth mentioning. He’s continued to make impressive plays off the bounce, especially in transition. On Monday he finished a pair of contested layups off the glass from the right side of the floor, and later drew a defender away from the basket on a baseline drive before hitting Bishop in stride with a lob at the rim.
- On the injury front, senior center Kelvin Jones will not play in Australia and is expected to miss around three weeks with a thumb injury that he suffered during practice on Saturday. Jones will undergo further testing, which could alter that recovery timeline. On the positive side, sophomore big man Jacob Epperson went through a movement training workout after practice on Monday as he continues to get himself ready for the start of practice in two months.
- Sophomore wing Antwann Jones was one of the first players on the court and one of the last to leave again on Monday. He worked on his mid-range game, his three-point shot, and some ball handling. He’s been putting in quite a bit of extra work lately. He can play in Australia despite not being eligible this season after transferring in from Memphis.
Q&A with a Bluejay: Freshman guard Shereef Mitchell
Former Bluejay Jahenns Manigat had a chance to work with Shereef Mitchell during Australia prep. (Spomer / WBR)
Q: What’s been the most difficult part about the transition to the college basketball?
A: One of the toughest parts about adjusting to the college level from high school is the faster pace. You have to digest more information from the coaches and from your teammates. Coach Mac is trying to teach us the plays, teach us the defense, and the other players are trying to give us information about the things they went through to help us out. Getting all of that information and the pace of the game have been the biggest adjustment so far, but they’ve made it easier on me by helping me out and giving me the advice that I need. It hasn’t been too bad, but there have definitely been some bumps.
Q: You made it known that Creighton was your ‘dream school’ — did you have a moment of realization at all when you first put on a practice jersey or anything along those lines?
A: The first day I got here and the first day I started shooting here I was by myself in the gym and I sat by my locker and just took it in. But I’m here now, so it’s time to work. I can be happy about it for a little bit, but I’m here to do my thing, I’m here to do a job and I’m going to do that job. That’s going to be the main thing for me, because it’s about the team. But it really did kick in the first day I got here.
Q: Jahenns Manigat has been around for a few of these Australia workouts, what’s it been like to get reps and pointers from a guy that you probably grew up watching once upon a time?
A: Jahenns is a really smart player. He has a really high IQ, so he knows what he’s talking about. Watching him when I was a kid, he was a good player at Creighton, so he knows what it takes. He makes me a better player and a better point guard. He helps me see the floor better, be more assertive, be more talkative. He’s given me advice that will help me become a better player in the future.
Q: A lot of your teammates have complimented your tenacity on defense, especially on the ball. How did you develop the mindset to be that type of the player, because it doesn’t seem conventional?
A: I feel like I’m a winner and I believe that defense wins games. I take pride in defense and I feel like it gets me going on the offensive side. I try to play hard on defense, compete, work, and I feel like that helps me make plays for myself and my teammates on the offensive end. Defense gets me going.
Q: What have learned so far about the differences in defending at the college level compared to high school or AAU?
A: Being in gaps and being strict about how you defend. You have to be in the right gaps, you have to be in the right spot on the help side. You have to be talkative, that’s the biggest adjustment. In high school you really don’t have to talk like that, but in college you really have to talk to your teammates so they know what they’re doing. Being in gaps, being more strict, and talking more are really the biggest adjustments to becoming a more polished defender aside from on-ball defense.
Q: You’ve worked on your jump shot a lot this summer. How does your shot feel to you when the mechanics are properly aligned with some of the tweaks you’ve been making?
A: Coach Mac always talks about keeping my arm straight and keeping a high arc [on my follow through]. I feel like every time I’ve done that my shot has looked really good. I’ve been shooting the ball a lot better. I’ve been getting reps up on the gun, and with the managers and coaches, and trying to stay strict with keeping my arm up and that has really helped my jump shot out a lot.
Q: Putting on a weight was a priority for you during your year of prep school and this summer. How has your body reacted to the new strength and conditioning program so far since you’ve been at Creighton?
A: Jeremy has been amazing. I feel like he has helped me out so much with my body. I’m not flexible at all. My hips are super tight, so he’s helped me open up my hips and become more flexible … I feel like it’s going to help me become more athletic and just a better player in general. His help in those areas has really been key. He’s really big on injury prevention, too. That’s really big. He’s good at helping us stay on the court.
Q: Australia is a few days away, what are you most looking forward to about this trip?
A: I’ve never been out of the country, so I’m really excited about it. This might sound weird, but I’m excited to play against a professional team. I know pros are legit, but I just want to see it firsthand. There obviously probably will be struggles when I’m playing, but I’ll just take that in — I’m really excited for that. But I’m also excited for the zip-lining. I’ve never done that before.
Q: Is there anything you’re worried about? Some of your teammates have exactly been the toughest dudes when it comes to some of the non-basketball stuff you have planned.
A: I’m not big on the ocean. I’m not a big swimmer. And we’re supposed to climb this big bridge — I don’t know if I’m feeling that. Heights are not my thing. My stomach gets a little bit … yeah, I don’t know. I’ll do it, but I’m definitely scared for it for sure. I’ll be holding on tight to everything.