Northwestern University Athletics
Early-Season Report From the Court
10/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 22, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - After four days of preseason practices, Northwestern men's basketball coach Bill Carmody gave his team Wednesday (Oct. 22) off. It seemed like a good time to catch up with him and get his assessment of the first few days.
The prognosis? Pretty positive.
"Things are going well," he said Wednesday morning in his office. "One of the things that has impressed me the most is the younger guys from a year ago -- guys like T.J. Parker, Mohamed Hachad and Evan Seacat -- really seem like they have matured. They seem more under control and have a better understanding of what they are doing out there.
"They are more confident in themselves -- they are just going out and playing instead of worrying about where they are supposed to be and where they are supposed to go."
With so few bodies available, one big question mark entering the season was the health of the team -- a situation that was exacerbated in the weeks leading up to preseason practices when senior Patrick Towne was lost for the year due to a torn achilles tendon. People are especially interested in Vedran Vukusic and Ivan Tolic, both of whom redshirted last year due to injuries.
"Vedran looks good," said Carmody. "I did not think of him as a question mark entering last week, and I still don't. He is not hurt, he is participating in all the drills, and he has been good."
"We have been bringing Ivan back a little slower," Carmody continued. "He played the entire practice Saturday, then sat Sunday. He then went all day Monday and most of Tuesday. We will probably continue that pattern with him for the time being, but he has looked good out there."
With so many questions surrounding this team, Carmody was asked if he is changing anything during this preseason compared to others in the past.
"Not really," he said. "We are still spending a lot of time teaching the offense, because if the guys are going to run it they have to know it. But we have some new guys who understand the game well and are picking things up quickly.
"Our centers -- who play the most important spot in our offense -- are different than we have had the last few years with Aaron Jennings," he continued. "At this point I would say they don't shoot as well from outside as him, but their ability to score inside is as good or maybe better."
Tolic will be battling for that spot, along with Davor Duvancic and Vince Scott.
"Davor has improved measurably again in the offseason," said Carmody. "He probably improved the most in the offseason before last year, and I think you could say the same thing about this year. He will be a hard guy to keep off the court, because he can play at forward or center.
"Vince is learning the system, but he is a smart kid, and while the center position is the most important part of our offense it is also one of the easiest parts to learn. So he is coming along nicely."
Carmody has even been impressed by his captain, Jitim Young.
"Jitim has improved from last year, which I thought would be a tough thing," he said. "He looks faster and stronger out there. He is blowing by guys without having to be as physical, and he is finishing better than a year ago."
Practices continue through the remainder of this month, and the Wildcats will be unveiled for the first time when they host the Coaches vs. Cancer All-Stars Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
