The Enigma
Unorthodox. [Eric Upchurch, Marc-Gregor Campredon, Joseph Dressler]
Zak Irvin made six hundred field goals at Michigan. Each one seemed like a minor miracle.
I say this out of admiration. Pick up a basketball, head to the park, and try to replicate Irvin's shot. To do this, stand pigeon-toed while holding the basketball low and in front of you like a hot casserole just out of the oven; with your hands on the sides of the ball, swing it above your head on a path that passes by your left front pocket; as the ball rises in front of your face, rotate your hands so your shooting hand is under the ball; lock your elbows at a 90-degree angle; flick your wrist to release at the apex of your jump; hold your follow-through at a 45-degree angle. It'll look something like this:
You won't make it. Certainly not the first time, and probably not on the hundredth, either.
Perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise that Irvin's career was for a long time defined by its inconsistency.
After Irvin's freshman year, it was difficult to keep expectations in check. On a 2013-14 team loaded with NBA talent, he excelled in the role of unabashed gunner off the bench. He hoisted 146 three-pointers and made 43% of them, seamlessly replacing Nik Stauskas, who'd become the team's star, as the instant offense freshman who promised a whole lot more in the future.
Irvin's game, however, was extremely limited. He recorded all of 13 assists in 37 games. His defensive rebound rate was lower than Spike Albrecht's. Nearly 75% of his shots came from beyond the arc; according to hoop-math, all ten of his makes at the rim were assisted.
[Hit THE JUMP.]
Irvin embraced the dirty work while wearing ugly shorts. [Patrick Barron]
If you tuned out of the intervening two seasons, you'd be excused for not recognizing the senior version of Zak Irvin. The early draft entries of Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III, in conjunction with two injury-plagued years for Caris LeVert, forced Irvin to take on a significant scoring load while gradually adding to his repertoire.
Irvin's all-around development was masked, however, by his decreasingly accurate shooting. His three-point percentage dipped to 35% in his sophomore year, then bottomed out at 30% for a junior season in which he played with a bothersome back injury. He didn't have the off-the-dribble game of Stauskas or LeVert, the players whose development track he was expected to follow. His efficiency lagged. Michigan missed the tournament in his sophomore year, then barely made the field the next.
As Irvin became the most criticized player in the program, he quietly rounded into more than just a shooter. Michigan needed a starting power forward on the young, undersized 2014-15 squad. Irvin, a natural shooting guard, stepped in. Akin to Zack Novak on Blake Griffin, he'd occasionally find himself in comical post matchups against the likes of Frank Kaminsky. He doubled his rebound rate; ditto his assist rate.
Irvin led the team in scoring as a sophomore and junior. [Upchurch]
Irvin showed more growth as a junior, even as a shooting slump defined the first half of his season. He filled out his broad-shouldered frame, becoming a better defender and rebounder—no small development for a two/three still masquerading as a four. After LeVert broke his foot in the conference opener, Irvin took on more possessions as a high screen ballhandler. He dished out 59 assists in Michigan's 18 Big Ten games; he'd recorded 62 in his first two seasons.
While Kam Chatman's three-pointer to beat Indiana and earn an at-large bid became the most memorable play from that season, Irvin's own winning shot in the previous game proved more foretelling:
Over the next year, Irvin would develop that midrange pull-up from the shot Michigan fans most hated to see to one of the team's most reliable late-clock shots.
With the emergence of Moe Wagner and DJ Wilson, Irvin was afforded the luxury of playing on the wing for much of his senior year. For the first half of the season, he was the team's most productive and reliable scorer. He'd taken the lead.
Then Michigan started struggling, as did Irvin. The Wolverines started 4-6 in the Big Ten, and while many of their problems stemmed from awful defense by the other players, Irvin's outside shot abandoning him again didn't help. For Michigan to turn their season around, their senior captain and leading scorer would have to take a secondary role. With Irvin mired in his worst slump yet—in four games, he shot 4-for-31 from the field—many fans wanted him benched for Duncan Robinson. John Beilein knew better. Irvin was still the team's most important defensive player, capable of switching onto anyone on the court and holding his own. He'd made too many shots to not pull out of this nosedive.
Irvin developed into a steadying presence as a senior. [Campredon]
To his considerable credit, Irvin took a back seat to Derrick Walton and the Wagner/Wilson frontcourt, using fewer possessions than ever before. He eliminated the dreaded "heroball" shots from his arsenal. (Mostly, at least. Shooter's gonna shoot.) In doing so, he completed his transformation from gunner to glue guy. As Michigan surged down the stretch, Irvin rarely came off the court. He did a bit of everything: defending, rebounding, deferring, whatever the team needed at that particular moment. Scoring, too. His shot returned.
Over the final nine games of his career, Irvin averaged 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 37.4 minutes. He shot 65% on two-pointers, many of them his pet midrange pull-up, and 43% on three-pointers. Michigan went 7-2; both losses came down to the final possession. After Irvin's layup forced overtime in a Big Ten Tournament win over Purdue, Walton allowed MLive's Brendan Quinn to publish his impassioned off-the-record defense of his classmate and co-captain:
"All the (expletive) that people give Zak ... I hate it. I hate it so much. It's like, man, what else you want from the dude? What else do you want? He's played off back surgery. He's got, like, 1,500 career points. He's made a one-eighty as a player. I remember the days when Zak would shoot a contested 3 over two people rather than pass. He's a whole new guy. I mean, dude, are you kidding me? Get off my guy's back."
Irvin was a rock through Michigan's tourney run, nailing four triples in the shootout against Oklahoma State, making three of four second-half shots against Louisville, and pouring in 19 points while limiting Oregon star Dillon Brooks to 12. The team's run ended while he played the best ball of his career.
Walton will be remembered as the only guy the team wanted to take the season's final shot; Irvin should be remembered for finding the will to let that role go while transforming into an effective all-around player.
That, too, seemed like a minor miracle.
My guess said he'll probably need to shine in summer league and probably in the D League for a year before he gets a real shot, but that seems as good a place to develop as any.
If Hardaway can become a contributer working on the "D" part of 3&D, maybe there's a future for Irvin as a 9th man?
I've always questioned his handle. He doesn't seem capable of driving in traffic because he either gets the ball slapped away or makes pretty inaccurate passes to the outside. Scouts would have to really like his defensive game to overlook the down stretch he went through midseason.
A 3&D guy doesn't need to have great handle. He won't be asked to create shots by driving the lane.
That's the thing about projecting non-transcendant players to the pros. Some guys have a great skillset that is just not quite good enough to make it at the next level; other guys don't shine as much in college, but they have particular skills that can translate into narrower roles and they do well.
To use an example from hockey, TJ Hensick was an absolutely brilliant offensive creator at Michigan, robbed of a Hobey, dominant from the moment he touched the ice as a freshman. However, he is short and just not quite brilliant enough to make it in the physical, fast NHL where quick/accurate passing and the ability to physically shield the puck are key skills. He is, instead, annually a star in the AHL.
Meanwhile, David Moss was a third-liner at Michigan that was never the best nor even one of the three or four best players on his own college team, but his ability to play two ways and his terrific skill on the boards fit nicely into a niche that produced a 10-year NHL career.
Yea but he's not a great shooter, he's not even a good shooter.
2015-2016: 29.8% from 3, 65.8% FTs.
2016-2017: 34.4% from 3, 67.1% FTs.
For his career he was a tick above 35% from deep.
He's not even a good shooter by college standards much less NBA ones.
Another issue with Irvin is decision making. Go back and look at the first GIF. Besides his wonky shot progress, look at the shot clock. There's still 23 seconds left. That is NOT a Beilein possession.
I see the point you are making but don't forget context. In that gif he's approaching the 3 pt line with pace. Wagner is on the block holding down a defender with his interior threat. As he jump stops into his shooting motion the defender who is responsible for him is just getting into a defensive position (he is, effectively, out of position) and Irvin is just taking advantage of that space.
Perhaps a better analysis would be that is not a shot we'd always want Irvin to take especially on an off shooting day. But if you're a relatively good 3pt shooter and you have that kind of space, that's not a bad shot and I don't think Belein would chafe at that decision.
He's not an NBA talent. If you're JUST a 3D guy, you have to be elite at one those elements or good at both. In terms of NBA skill sets, I would put him as below average in shooting and defense. He was a good college defender but he's not athletic enough to be a great NBA wing defender even though he has the size.
Also, he has zero play making ability, can't create his own shot off the dribble, and is turnover prone.
Posters on here who only watch the college game don't realize the incredible athleticism gap between college and pro. Walton and Irvin were average/slightly above average athletes in the regards to the college game, they would be lower tier athletes in the pro game and neither is highly skilled enough to make up for that.
I had forgotten about that time Michigan had to wear maternity shorts.
Memories better left undisturbed, in my opinion.
Irvin's pet pull-up jumper was his career in a nutshell. Every time he shot it, you'd wonder what the hell he was doing. There's a guy in his face. He's off balance. His shoulders aren't squared. There's barely any follow-through, except for that weird kick when the angular momentum catches up to him. He lands niney degrees from where he started. But I'll be damned if that shot ever touched rim on its way through the net.
Great article.
Irvin's resurrection/redemption from the end of B1G play, through the conference tourney, and then the dance was great theater, not to mention viewing. So happy for him to finish his career the way he did. Thanks for the great recap, Ace.
Often when things break down the ball ends up with your best player, who has to try something. They weren't all like that, but I feel like Irvin, thrust into that #1 role, forced things sometimes because he was the one who had to.
This is the perfect description of his mid range jumper; developed "...from the shot Michigan fans most hated to see to one of the teams most realiable late-clock shots." Bingo! When nothing else would click in the offense at times, I was so relieved to see him go to the foul line extended and flip one of those off.
I am kind of amazed that he never changed that crazy flick shot to a beautiful stroke like most of Beilien's snipers. The shot was even more maddening when he went into one of his extended slumps.
Nice end to a great career, though!
Throughout all the changes, and the differences in what was being asked of him and what his teammates could and couldn't do, Irvin handled himself with utmost dignity. A team player and Michigan Man to the core. (And not many players go down as the leading scorers on multiple teams, either.)
I trashed Irvin a lot the last 2+ seasons, but I will damn sure miss him on the team. Incredible 4-year run looking back now...
Zak resurrected his legacy. Every Michigan basketball fan will now smile when someone brings up his name. So happy about that, because he is a classy guy who just wanted so much to be great for Michigan.
He had a lot of highs, and a lot of lows.
I'll try not to be too nostalgic with his latest run to overlook some of his foiables. I think what didn't help him much was his incredibly high ranking come out of high school. If he was Zak Irvin the 3-Star with offers from Nevada, Michigan, and Bowling Green, we would be remembering him incredibly fondly for overacheiving.
But he just never lived up to the hype and expectations he had coming to Michigan. Solid player, great team guy, did some awesome things but some things that made you scratch your head. Really never learned how to dribble but was able to mask that with awesome defense. He's was an important cog in the Michigan wheel this wacky season, but I think someone like Matthews can step right in and produce similar results.
In top 15, 247 had him as the 28th best player. He was basically a 5 star anywhere you looked.
Irvin is from the town next to mine. Will always have a soft spot for him. Thanks You Zak!
Irvin left it all on the floor for this program. We are endebted to his selfless play and transition. He's always been a class act and we were privileged to have him.
Hopefully he can find a niche on a team in the league as a 3 and D guy. The league is getting smaller, so that might help.
I'll miss Irvin and enjoyed his many contributions, but damn if he didn't give me a heart attack every time he tried to dribble. At least the neighborhood won't hear me yelling "stop dribbling!" as much in the future.
Major Props to Mr. Irvin.
From this distance, 4 years, no drama, tough, contributed at various positions, grew as a player both on offense and defense, good teammate, won some games.
All around I'd say a class act. Wish him all the best.
Zak was a rock. A tremendous accomplishment for someone with back issue's to play four year's of basketball. Loved his game toward the end of his career.
He, like Walton and the team really turned things around after the midpoint this year. Good or bad, he was a four year starter at Michigan and no one can take that away from him. But talking about him the in the NBA is a little silly. His shot, unless it can improve dramatically is not good enough and not sure where some thing he's a good defender. Below average there too. Let's keep it real.
I think you may be on your own there. If he was below average his player wouldve gone off in several games. At 14 per game I think he outscored the guy he was covering more often than not.
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