The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
your ability to push off the floor and jump into the air, simple as that. His lower body strength improved dras- tically, and his power output has gone up. "All of our guys that have had big jumps in their vertical jump, when you attack the rim, the difference of finishing with five extra inches is a lot. It's the difference in finish- ing above the rim or below the rim, between getting your shot blocked, someone altering your shot, or finish- ing through contact. "It improves your overall ability to be a step quicker to create different moves. It really helps you in all facets of the game." Irvin admits he's come a ways physically over the past year-plus, and again assures it wasn't easy. "I've been working really hard on my game, staying up here for Camp Sanderson in the spring and sum- mer," Irvin said. "It's a lot of hard work. Coach Sanderson is tough. Whether we're squatting, power cleaning, the agility stuff … it shows on the court." It has shown the past several seasons, which means Sanderson doesn't have to do a hard sell on get- ting players such as Irvin to buy into working hard. He's seen those who have come through directly in front of him, and knows the score, so to speak. "When a guy like Derrick Walton Irvin was Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 2013 after posting 26.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for Hamilton (Ind.) Southeastern. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN