Summer Update with Troy Williams
8/4/2015 4:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The junior talks about where he wants to improve his game and more
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - We caught up with rising junior Troy Williams recently to talk to him about a variety of topics, including areas of his game he is looking to improve, what leadership role he sees himself with on the team and much more. Williams' answers to those questions and more are below:
On working with John Lucas in Houston over the summer:
"In May, I went to Houston to workout with John Lucas and other top players. A couple of NBA players were there—Tim Frazier from Penn State, Trevor Lacey from N.C. State, and others. I had a very good workout there, and then came back at the end of last month for the Nike Skills Academy. There were about 25 college players, over 40 high school players—including friends and players that I grew up playing against.
"I was able to learn a lot from Scottie Pippen. He was a person who definitely saw my games and told me how I played, how I could improve. I gained a great friendship with [Pippen], along with some other people out there.
"These days, I've been working in the gym, doing some extra shooting and watching a little bit of film. I watched some of the clips of the last game that we played last year and I'm trying to use that to focus on areas that I can improve."
On some things that Lucas stresses to help improve his game:
"He likes that I play fast, he just wants me to make better decisions—making the right plays and moves, knowing when I have an open shot and when I have to pass it, and spacing."
On Lucas' role in helping him develop:
"Really, I think of him as more of a grandfather figure. We have a very close relationship like that. I don't even see that he was the number one [NBA Draft] pick. He's like family, but he helps me with my game."
On John Lucas seeing similarities between Williams' game and Pippen's style of play:
"He said he could definitely see it. [Scottie Pippen] probably has an inch or two on me, and his hands are definitely bigger than mine, but other than that he sees it. He said the same thing that John said to me, to be more of a defensive presence and knocking down the open three. He's seen that I could do that, he just wanted to see more of a mid-range game and being able to make plays for my teammates."
On his improved outside shot and how that will help the team:
"Yes, I think I've gotten better with it, especially from our last performance to the Nike Skills Academy. I can definitely see it a lot. I like to drive and kick, and get it to my teammates, and if the defense has to respect my three-point shot, that will help get that going."
On what kind of drills he used to improve his shooting:
"I'm doing a lot of things off of the dribble. I'm still working on set shots, but I'm trying to improve my shot off of the dribble and improve my mid-range shooting."
On how his role could change with the team this year:
"There will be more perimeter play. With our new addition of big men, we have people who can return to playing multiple positions. We'll be able to make more plays on the perimeter now. But with the way we play, I could still get switched onto a bigger guy. Either way, I'm ready for it."
On how playing against post players last year helped him:
"It helped me out. I feel like I'm more ready for this year. With the way we play, switching frequently on defense, it gets me ready for those matchups. Now, I'm paying more attention to playing against guards, but I'll likely end up switching to guarding bigger guys during games."
On being in a leadership role with the team over the summer:
"I've been put in a leadership role ever since I got here my freshman year. The only thing that changed was the amount of experience I have had."
On how he uses film to help his game:
"Over the summer, I didn't really do a lot, just focused on that last game. During the year, I focus on film a lot. I usually watch film within the two days following a game. I grab one of the managers to come into the film room with me, and then I just work it from there. I've been doing it since the end of my freshman year."
On working with John Lucas in Houston over the summer:
"In May, I went to Houston to workout with John Lucas and other top players. A couple of NBA players were there—Tim Frazier from Penn State, Trevor Lacey from N.C. State, and others. I had a very good workout there, and then came back at the end of last month for the Nike Skills Academy. There were about 25 college players, over 40 high school players—including friends and players that I grew up playing against.
"I was able to learn a lot from Scottie Pippen. He was a person who definitely saw my games and told me how I played, how I could improve. I gained a great friendship with [Pippen], along with some other people out there.
"These days, I've been working in the gym, doing some extra shooting and watching a little bit of film. I watched some of the clips of the last game that we played last year and I'm trying to use that to focus on areas that I can improve."
On some things that Lucas stresses to help improve his game:
"He likes that I play fast, he just wants me to make better decisions—making the right plays and moves, knowing when I have an open shot and when I have to pass it, and spacing."
On Lucas' role in helping him develop:
"Really, I think of him as more of a grandfather figure. We have a very close relationship like that. I don't even see that he was the number one [NBA Draft] pick. He's like family, but he helps me with my game."
On John Lucas seeing similarities between Williams' game and Pippen's style of play:
"He said he could definitely see it. [Scottie Pippen] probably has an inch or two on me, and his hands are definitely bigger than mine, but other than that he sees it. He said the same thing that John said to me, to be more of a defensive presence and knocking down the open three. He's seen that I could do that, he just wanted to see more of a mid-range game and being able to make plays for my teammates."
On his improved outside shot and how that will help the team:
"Yes, I think I've gotten better with it, especially from our last performance to the Nike Skills Academy. I can definitely see it a lot. I like to drive and kick, and get it to my teammates, and if the defense has to respect my three-point shot, that will help get that going."
On what kind of drills he used to improve his shooting:
"I'm doing a lot of things off of the dribble. I'm still working on set shots, but I'm trying to improve my shot off of the dribble and improve my mid-range shooting."
On how his role could change with the team this year:
"There will be more perimeter play. With our new addition of big men, we have people who can return to playing multiple positions. We'll be able to make more plays on the perimeter now. But with the way we play, I could still get switched onto a bigger guy. Either way, I'm ready for it."
On how playing against post players last year helped him:
"It helped me out. I feel like I'm more ready for this year. With the way we play, switching frequently on defense, it gets me ready for those matchups. Now, I'm paying more attention to playing against guards, but I'll likely end up switching to guarding bigger guys during games."
On being in a leadership role with the team over the summer:
"I've been put in a leadership role ever since I got here my freshman year. The only thing that changed was the amount of experience I have had."
On how he uses film to help his game:
"Over the summer, I didn't really do a lot, just focused on that last game. During the year, I focus on film a lot. I usually watch film within the two days following a game. I grab one of the managers to come into the film room with me, and then I just work it from there. I've been doing it since the end of my freshman year."
Players Mentioned
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