The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
or Zak Irvin come into this program and they see all the success of guys like Trey and Tim [Hardaway Jr.] and Mitch [McGary] and Nik and these guys, and they see the culture, I don't have to really sell what we do," Sand- erson said. "I had to do that early in my career, in the previous places I've been. Not right now. "It's a cultural thing, where guys see the development and say, 'I want to be a part of that. I want to work like that.'" Irvin could become the next poster child for development. The 7.3 rebounds he averaged in Italy shouldn't be overlooked. That cat- egory could mark one of his biggest breakthroughs this season, one that would help assuage the fears of the boards battle becoming a weak point for Michigan. Irvin averaged 1.3 rebounds per game last year, and freely acknowl- edges he wasn't ready for the fisti- cuffs involved in Big Ten rebounding. The strength strides and the vertical leap gains will factor in heavily there, he anticipates. "I didn't rebound a lot last year, so it definitely helped with that," Irvin said. "It's helped getting to the rim, and being more athletic. It's strength, staying in the weight room. Gaining five inches to my vertical, that just helps being able to shoot outside, but also playing inside as well. It's a very physical conference." He made some strides as a de- fender as well last season, but figures to build on those skills this year. "Guarding bigs last year is some- thing I struggled with at the begin- ning," he said. "As the year went on, I definitely got better with that. It was just an adjustment I had to make." Irvin admitted trying to learn even during the nearly 25 minutes a game he wasn't on the court last season. He got to watch Stauskas and how he grew in learning to use ball screens, witnessing his vision off them and ability to find open teammates. Irvin also monitored Glenn Robin- son III and his ability to move with- out the basketball, sometimes result- ing in highlight lob-feed moments. In other words, Irvin's time off the court wasn't squandered in counterproduc- tive self-pity. He's clearly excited about the chal- lenge of a new year, and the part he figures to play in it. "That plays a big role, for me not to be labeled as a shooter this year," Irvin said. "The more I'm able to be a complete player, rebounding as well, the better we'll be." Beilein assures that the opportuni- ties won't be lacking for the sopho- more wing. With Stauskas, Robinson and several others gone, it's time for the next wave to step up. "We want his shooting to be just as accurate as last year, but obviously there will be a lot more opportunities, be a lot more volume to his shots," Beilein said. "But he's making good progressions in every area." "He got a lot stronger, upper body and lower body," junior guard Caris LeVert observed. "He got more ath- letic as well. His shot is always going to be there — he's a great shooter. But he's doing more things this year, like rebounding, pushing the ball on the