The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS final against you last year? Alexander: "Every day. Valuing possessions is key. We shared a poem with the team, entitled, 'It's Only One Possession.' We're just trying to build that foundation, to get these guys to understand that the cumulative effect of winning possessions through the course of a 40-minute game is vital." The Wolverine: How do you contain expectations after two such strong years, especially with so many newcomers? Alexander: "One of the things that's fun when you try to compartmen- talize the game for young, inexperienced players is making sure they un- derstand they have to beat drills before they beat opponents. What gets measured gets done. "We put them in a series of situations where we put measurements on it, whether it's shooting drills, defensive stop drills, rebounding drills, free throws, etc., which sets the stage for them to be able to maintain an expec- tation. "Before you can get into what the expectation is — whether it be from your fan base or inside the locker room –—you have to put one foot in front of the other. Winning and beating drills, before you beat opponents, is at the epicenter of our teaching." The Wolverine: How are they doing on beating drills? Alexander: "I think they're doing a pretty good job. When you have so much inexperience, it can be sort of a see-saw approach. There are great days, or great stretches of days. Then sometimes there's that preseason fatigue that sets in, and they're not so good. "This group of guys has shown a great deal of hunger and a great deal of concentration, and an expectation amongst themselves, not wanting to let that enthusiasm and momentum subside." The Wolverine: You watched Zak Irvin come in, as a Mr. Basketball award winner from Indiana, and become a sixth man here without any obvious disgruntlement. What does that mean for what you've built here? Alexander: "Our core values govern everything we do. Zak Irvin and anyone else on our roster understands that unity, passion, appreciation, integrity and diligence are right at the core of our culture. It's very easy when you come into a program with such great examples being set by his predecessors in Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., Darius Morris, Zack Novak, Stu Douglass, Jordan Morgan. "All these guys were so selfless. How difficult it is to complain when you see Jordan Morgan encourage a Mitch McGary, who became a starter in the NCAA Tournament and handle that like a champ. It's those examples of suc- cess that leave footprints. That allows a guy like Zak Irvin to relish that role." — John Borton