NU gets early jump on road trip to Italy

As a cosmopolitan sort with several European stamps on his passport, Bill Carmody appreciates what lies ahead when Northwestern makes its 11-day trip to Italy later this month.

Sightseeing. Culture. Competition. Red wine.

But as a basketball coach with 35 years in the game, Carmody appreciated more what happened Monday in Evanston.

Thanks to an NCAA rule that allows schools to prepare for their international trips, the Wildcats conducted their first of 10 days of practice at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Call it Christmas in August.

"This is what you love to do," Carmody said. "Practice is really the best part, as far as I'm concerned. May, June, July August, September - for five months, you can't even do what you want to do.

"Now it's only been three months where I've had this withdrawal. I just think this is a great opportunity to get a little jump on things."

When the Wildcats approached donors for the money that allowed the program's first overseas tour since the early 1990s, the coaches viewed it as a chance to re-integrate injured seniors Kevin Coble and Jeff Ryan into the rotation while giving freshman JerShon Cobb a jump on learning Northwestern's offense.

But with Coble's decision last month to step away from the game and Ryan's knee rehabilitation limiting him to sideline work at this point, Cobb's acclimation becomes paramount.

The slender 6-foot-4 Cobb, the Atlanta metro player of the year and a near-Top 100 recruit in the Class of 2010, boasts the athleticism and blistering first step off the dribble to play lots of minutes this season.

What asked what his game is, the easygoing Cobb replied earnestly: "I believe I can do everything. I can play the point. I can score. I'm getting better at my 3-point shot. My midrange (game) is good. I can post up. Play defense."

When told Cobb's answer, Carmody offered a mischievous smile.

"I like this guy," he said.

With his accelerated development in mind, it was no accident that Northwestern's first several five-man drills in Monday's practice found Cobb paired in the backcourt with fourth-year point guard Michael "Juice" Thompson.

Turns out Thompson and the other veterans (NU has four seniors and four juniors on its roster) already gave Cobb a head start during summer school.

"They sat down and taught me everything," Cobb said. "I'm glad they did because some things look confusing, but they taught me."