Michigan Basketball: Seniors Anticipate Emotional Farewell

Senior point guard Derrick Walton Jr. isn’t getting caught up in the fanfare of his last game at Crisler Arena, but he predicted fellow senior Zak Irvin would. The Wolverines take on Purdue on senior night, and both are concentrating on the task at hand.

A win would almost assuredly punch the Wolverines’ ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

“I don’t even think about it like that,” Walton said of his last home game. “I think of it like I’ve got one more game, one more guarantee game at least so just get another win. That’s how I think about it.

“It’s actually important just because it’s another opportunity. You only get to put on that jersey so many more times, so you remember the more recent times you had. Outside of individually wanting to go out with a win, just for this team … the postseason goals still being intact … I don't think it’s a different feeling. We’re still a team that can control our own fate.”

He’s not a crier anyway, he added. However, he quipped, Irvin just might be.

“I’m not too emotional, especially when it’s time to play … when it comes to crying, I’ll leave that to Zak. He probably will," he said with a grin. "Again, I’ve got one job, and that’s to win the game. Whatever else the day consists of, that’s what it is. I know my motive and job for tomorrow.”

Irvin laughed and rolled his eyes when told of Walton’s words.

“I’ve been hearing this from him, I’m telling you, for the last week now,” he said with a laugh. “He just won’t shut up about it. I was telling him last night, ‘will you quit telling people this?’ No, I’m not going to cry.

“My mom probably will, and he thinks if my mom will, I will. I will be focused on the game. You won’t be seeing me shed any tears … I’ve really just been focused on Purdue. I’m not really thinking about this is my last time. Probably when I go through that tunnel, or it will probably hit me after the game when I’m walking through the tunnel for the last time.”

Irvin was worried about the crowd given it will be spring break for students, but this has been the toughest ticket of the year. It’s a sellout, and tickets on the secondary market are going for upwards of $150 each.

He’s doing his part to make sure the place will be filled.

“We only get four tickets for each player, so my mom had me buy 50. We’ll have 50 or 60 coming,” he said. “The Irvin gang, they’ll roll in strong. I’ll probably be able to hear them when they are yelling. They’ll probably get there way before the game. It will be a good moment for my family and myself.”

As for him …

“I just want to go out with a win,” he said.

NOTES

• Walton and Irvin both talked to former teammate Spike Albrecht, now at Purdue as a grad transfer. Albrecht is averaging 1.8 points per game and shooting only 25.7 percent from the floor, 18 percent from long range.

“I actually talked to him last night on the phone,” Walton said. “The great thing about it is he’s probably going to get as many cheers as we are. That’s probably expected. It’s not going to be weird. It’s just going to be like practice and open gym … we just haven’t seen him in a while. So it’s going to be good to see him, of course.”

Walton said he asked Albrecht if he gave away the offense to Purdue head coach Matt Painter.”

“He said no, he didn’t. You never know,” Walton quipped.

Irvin Facetimed Albrecht, as well. Beating his in-state team and his former teammate would be a great way to end the home season, he said.

“That’s a great team, but it would be nice to be able to beat Purdue on senior night, Spike being across from us,” Irvin said. “I’m excited. Can’t wait.”