Michigan Basketball: The Wolverines' X-Factor, Zak Irvin

Zak Irvin returns to lead Michigan basketball in his senior year.

It’s safe to say that Michigan basketball hasn’t exactly made improvements for next year. In fact, they’ve lost more in one year than most would deem possible.

Transfers? You bet. Guard Spike Albrecht, forward Kameron Chatman, forward Aubrey Dawkins and center Ricky Doyle will all be calling someplace other than Ann Arbor home next winter.

Assistant coach departures? John Beilein had avoided any attrition in this manner for several years, but his staff was too productive to stay at bay any longer. Bacari Alexander and LaVall Jordan have both moved onto head coaching positions.

Their best player? Yes, they lost that too as Caris LeVert has dashed for the NBA following a rough college career filled with unexpected injuries.

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One player, however, will be back. This player is Zak Irvin and he seems to stand out above the rest. Irvin is a senior ready to lead his team to the promise land in his final season of college basketball.

Irvin has never seemed to reach his potential for Michigan. He came in as a 5-star recruit, winning Mr. Basketball in the state of Indiana during his senior year of high school.

He’s yet to shoot better than 41% from the field in his three years with the Wolverines. His 3-point shooting percentage plummeted to 29.8% this past season, which isn’t going to cut it for someone who tends to thrive on his three-ball.

Despite all the cold stretches that he fell into last year, Irvin was still the go-to option late in games.

Why? Irvin is simply a clutch ballplayer, evidenced by this jump shot:

Winning this game versus Northwestern set up a matchup with No. 1 seeded Indiana in the Big Ten tournament, a game that Michigan won as well. That win propelled the Wolverines into the NCAA Tournament.

Without Irvin’s shot, Michigan likely doesn’t go dancing in 2015-16.

Irvin underwent offseason back surgery prior to last season, and was noticeably slower on the court as he regained his strength. With a full, healthy offseason ahead of him, Irvin should be athletically up to speed for Michigan.

Irvin also needs to be a more efficient player in his final year. Doing so will not only be a huge asset to the Wolverines, but will also propel his draft stock.

At 6’6, 215 pounds, Irvin could be an effective small forward at the NBA level.

But this is only feasible if he improves his ball handling, shot efficiency, and consistency game-to-game.

Irvin has the surrounding pieces to shoulder some of the load as well. Derrick Walton Jr., Duncan Robinson, and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman are all accomplished starters who will be returning next season and could give the Wolverines a boost in a solid Big Ten Conference.

Next: Losers from NCAA's NBA Draft deadline

But make no mistake about it: This is Zak Irvin’s team. How far the Wolverines go lies in his hands.

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Michigan Basketball: The Wolverines’ X-Factor, Zak Irvin

By Brian Rosen | May 31, 2016

Zak Irvin returns to lead Michigan basketball in his senior year.

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