The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Strength And Conditioning Plays A Big Role Caris LeVert arrived at Michigan a year and a half ago at a pencil-thin 162 pounds over his 6-6 frame. Although he's listed at 185 now on the Wolverines' roster, he insists he's gained more than 30 pounds since arriving in Ann Arbor. That's a lot of eating, and a lot of hard work. Although LeVert insists he feels the same, movement-wise, with the added weight, he knows getting there took more effort than exerted by most folks picking up pounds. "It was definitely hard," he said. "It was easier when I first got here, to put on that 15 pounds. Last spring and summer, I added another 15, and it was really difficult. I tried to eat as much as possible — three or four meals a day, with snacks in between. It was difficult." Just like go-to moves, LeVert cultivated some signature dining habits along the way. "Definitely, chicken and steaks," LeVert said of his heavy hitters on the menu. "Those are two of the go-to foods. Fish as well. Meats, protein, anything that can help you put on weight." Turning that weight into muscle is another matter. That's where U-M strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson comes in. He's built a reputation for great effec- tiveness around Crisler Center, helping develop NBA players such as Darius Morris, Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. He's overseen the dramatic physical transformation of players such as fifth-year se- nior Jordan Morgan, who went from a doughy high school long shot at the collegiate level to a ripped, high-level contributor on a Big Ten championship team. Sanderson's before and after shots of the Wolverines are as legendary as they are secretly secured for private viewing. Michigan head coach John Beilein knows full well the contributions Sanderson makes to Michigan's success. The strength and conditioning boss sculpts the chess pieces that Beilein and Michigan's coaches then move around the board. "The strength training goes without saying," Beilein noted. "He's had some guys, like Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford, over four or five years. What he's also been able to do with Derrick Walton and Zak Irvin over a short time, and Caris and Nik [Stauskas] in a year and a half, has been terrific. "What's lost in it involves the part he plays in our injury prevention. We've been very blessed with not a lot of serious injuries … we've been able to prevent injury, and he does a great job of rehab, prehab, and our flexibility." LeVert himself has gained more than a little flexibility in terms of soaring at the rim and beyond, Beilein noted. "He'll probably get mad at me for saying this, but he was not a poster child for verti- cal jump and dunking when he first got here," Beilein said. "He was light as a feather, but he was not way above the rim like he got several times this year. "That's the thing. He's been able to play off contact, he's been able to rebound in a crowd, and he's way above the rim on some finishes, particularly in transition. That's been a great thing — he's gotten quicker, and his vertical is much better." — John Borton