With Cheaney's Help, CJ Gunn Strives to Fill Indiana's Shooting Needs
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana guard CJ Gunn is hungry to contribute as a sophomore, so he reached out to a coach who knows how to score – and win – as well as any Hoosier.
Through a family connection, Gunn called Calbert Cheaney, Indiana's new Director of Player Development. Cheaney wasn't in Bloomington yet, but Gunn was already eager to get to work. His excitement only grew after a conversation with the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer.
Cheaney eventually joined the Hoosiers for summer workouts, and Gunn immediately latched on. Day one, Gunn and Cheaney watched film together. They went through workouts on the court, watched more film of Cheaney's career and focused on ways Gunn can improve his game.
Gunn said he noticed Cheaney lived in the midrange as a player, and he feels that can become one of his specialties too. At 6-foot-6, Gunn has the ability to rise above his opponents on jump shots, and Cheaney is teaching him to be more effective with one or two dribbles, whether he's collapsing the defense to free his teammates or looking for his own shot.
"[Our] bond is already tight," Gunn said Thursday. "I feel like [Cheaney] is really rooting for us, and he's just another piece to the puzzle in making this program great."
Indiana Hoosiers guard CJ Gunn (11) shoots the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Jalen Pickett (left) defends during the second half at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana lost 77 percent of its 3-point production from last season, including its three most frequent and productive long-range shooters in Miller Kopp, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Tamar Bates. Gunn had a reputation as a strong 3-point shooter as a four-star recruit out of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, and Indiana could really use a sophomore leap from Gunn.
As a freshman, Gunn endured his fair share of ups and downs. Playing 7.5 minutes per game in 20 contests, Gunn posted a 30.9 field goal percentage and went 2-for-24 from 3-point range. Reflecting on his season, Gunn felt he brought effort and energy on the defensive end, but he knows his offensive game wasn't clicking.
His playing time dwindled during Big Ten play, appearing in 11-of-20 conference games for 64 total minutes. Still, Gunn showed flashes of what he might eventually become, scoring 11 points in his 10th collegiate game and carrying himself with confidence some freshmen lack. But year one in Bloomington, sitting on the bench for extended stretches, tested him, mentally.
"It's difficult," Gunn said. "No path in life is going to be easy, so you're going to have those thoughts about, 'I can't do this. I'm not going to get there.' But I'm a man of God and I believe God always has my back, and through that faith, why would I give up now? You just got to keep going, and you're going to get to where you want to get to. Like I said, as long as you're in the gym and you put in that work in and your love for the game is genuine, then God got me."
So entering his sophomore year, he feels a better understanding of what coach Mike Woodson wants. There are plenty of minutes available behind veteran guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway, and Gunn is a prime candidate to fill that role.
"It's a challenge, but that's what I'm here for," Gunn said. "I didn't come here to be comfortable. I came here to be pushed outside my element and to get used to being comfortable with being uncomfortable. So I see it as a great opportunity for me to take my game to the next level."
But in order to do so, Gunn has to be more consistent on the offensive end. He feels confident in his ability to create space for open shots off screens, and he's working on distinguishing good shots from bad shots. He's also taken on additional ownership of bringing the ball up the court as a combo guard, hoping to give Woodson the option to play Gunn at both point guard and shooting guard.
Simply, Gunn has lived in the gym this summer. The whole team has, Gunn said. Valid questions surround the 2023-24 squad, which has to replace four starters, including first-team All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jalen Hood-Schifino.
But from a talent perspective, both Gunn and Cheaney have said this team has a chance to surpass the standard last year's leaders set, as Indiana brings in the 9th-ranked overall class of freshmen and transfers. If Gunn and others improve, the team chemistry clicks and Woodson finds the right rotations, it's possible.
"[Jalen Hood-Schifino] left our backcourt and he's doing his own thing in the league and that's my brother and I wish him nothing but the best, but I don't feel like we lost anything when it comes to guards," Gunn said. "I feel like our backcourt with [Kaleb Banks], [Xavier Johnson], [Trey] Galloway, me, Gabe [Cupps], we're willing to fill those shoes and if not surpass those shoes in order to be better than the team we were last year."
Indiana Hoosiers guard CJ Gunn (11) shoots a three-pointer against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks in the second half of the Hoosier Classic on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Miami (Oh) Redhawks 86-56.
Lee Klafczynski/for IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
During practice, Gunn has been going up against Mackenzie Mgbako, the Big Ten's highest-ranked incoming freshman, and he feels this competition has made both players better.
"I think [Mgbako] brings this grit and this sort of aggressiveness to our game that challenges us every day to get better," Gunn said. "He's a tough shotmaker, and he's a great player to play with. We also have a lot to learn about each other and get more comfortable playing with each other for sure."
Gunn said this year's team has goals of winning the Big Ten and making a deeper NCAA Tournament run than last season, but that'll only happen through hard work.
"We're deep this year," Gunn said. "We have all the pieces to the puzzle that we need. One thing about us and about our team – which I love and we built this culture here and coach Woodson has definitely helped build this culture – is we're in the gym consistently, every day, getting better. And that's everybody in the locker room, counting the walk-ons, everybody. So just everybody worried about transitioning and being a new team this year, I'm not worried at all about that. Not one bit. I feel like we're deep this year and we're going to handle business."
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