Spike Albrecht and Zak Irvin Named Co-MVPs at Michigan Basketball Banquet

Spike Albrecht and Zak Irvin were named co-most valuable players of the 2014-15 Michigan basketball team, it was revealed at Michigan's banquet tonight (Apr. 15).

Albrecht averaged only 7.5 points for the entire season, but he made his biggest impact in the final 11 games after Michigan had lost Caris LeVert and Derrick Walton to injury:

In that stretch, he was Michigan's second-leading scorer, averaging 12.5 points and scoring in double digits in nine games, and a model of efficiency, topping an offensive rating of 100 in all but one game. He regained his lethal stroke from deep, draining 42.6 percent of his threes. He was automatic from the line, knocking down 90.6 percent of his freebies. He orchestrated the offense to the tune of 4.8 assists per game as his Big Ten-only assist rate (28.6 pct.) finished as the sixth-best.

Albrecht also did all of this with two bad hips, for which he just underwent surgery.

Irvin played in all 32 games this season, averaging 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He posted double-digit points in 27 games and became Michigan's go-to scorer down the stretch, averaging 16.9 points in his final nine games. He also became a much better passer at season's end after spending most of his Michigan career before then just shooting the ball. He recorded at least three assists in each of his final six games after having done so only four times in the previous 63 games in which he appeared.

Albrecht and Irvin shared the honor for what was a frustrating, injury-riddled 2014-15 season for Michigan. It wasn't until late in the season when it seemed that the depleted Michigan team had found their groove, but, by then, it was too late. Michigan finished with a 16-16 record and didn't receive an invitation to the NCAA Tournament or NIT.

Here's a full list of the 2014-15 Michigan Basketball Award honors:

Bill Buntin Most Valuable Player: Spike Albrecht and Zak Irvin
Wayman Britt Outstanding Defensive Player: Zak Irvin
Travis Conlan Sportsmanship Award: Spike Albrecht
Rudy Tomjanovich Most Improved Player: Aubrey Dawkins
Sixth Man Award: Max Bielfeldt
Steve Grote Hustle Award: Spike Albrecht
Thad Garner Leadership Award: Spike Albrecht
Iron Man Award: Zak Irvin
Award for Outstanding Free Throws: Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman
Gary Grant Award for Most Assists: Spike Albrecht
Loy Vaught Rebounding Award: Zak Irvin
Bodnar Award for Academic Achievement: Sean Lonergan