Colorado University Athletics
McKinley Wright IV completes a dead lift with teammates cheering him on this summer.
Buffaloes In Good Condition On The Eve Of Practice
September 28, 2018 | Men's Basketball
Team Excelled In Off Season Strength Program
Strength coach Steve Englehart had three summer workout plans laid out for the Colorado men's basketball team. The plans, challenging both mentally and physically, caused him to take a step back for a moment.
"I was hoping they can get through this," Englehart said. "And there was a plan that I didn't know if they were ready for."
He went ahead though, and the team conquered the first plan with flying colors – on the first day.
Then came the second workout plan and two weeks later, the Buffaloes were on to the third.
"I've been doing this for a while, and it's probably one of the best off seasons I've seen," said Englehart, whose duties expanded this summer as the Director of Strength & Conditioning for Olympic Sports. "As a team as well as each individual. I know it's a smaller base of 17 guys on a team, but it's been unbelievable."
Several Buffs have increased their body weights by 10-plus pounds including returning starters Tyler Bey and McKinley Wright IV. Colorado's frontcourt duo of 7-footer Dallas Walton and 6-10 Lucas Siewert have surpassed the 230-pound mark.
Heralded freshman forward Evan Battey, who took advantage of a redshirt season to tone his body, has gone from 283 pounds to a solid 264.
"It's a compliment to the players," Englehart said. "When Tyler Bey first got here he couldn't (bench) 185 and he just did 245 this summer. He's at 365 on his squat, all the way to the ground and up. His power clean is 285 and he came in here only doing 215.
"McKinley Wright, when he got here (body weight) was 183, now he's 195. He was not strong in the upper body, although lower body he was a freak. Then he hits 505 on a deadlift. I don't care what anyone else says, it's hard to pull 505 off the floor. Being at 195 pounds, it's incredible."
Aside from the physical improvements, Englehart is quick to point out the mental development as well. Players that already had the physical tools, added mental strength to their individual resumes.
"D'Shawn Schwartz physically he was gifted, but mentally he got stronger," Englehart said. "He became a man this summer. He was kind of timid in here last year, now he walks around with his chest out, like 'watch out and let me get this.' He wants to be first on those racks every day."
As the Buffaloes prepare for the first official practice of the season, Tuesday, Oct. 2, they've taken full advantage of additional instruction allowed by the NCAA in September; from two up to four hours on the court. That, along with one more year into the system for the still relatively young Buffaloes, has allowed the entire men's basketball staff to get ahead of the game.
"We did a lot more mobility usually than what we do in September," Englehart said. "I talked to a lot of strength coaches and after talking to them and it probably benefited us a little bit doing more mobility. Everyone now knows their body so they know 'I need to do this hip stretch, this ankle, knee, this lower back, this shoulder; different mobility exercises that everyone knows now."
Colorado will now take a larger focus to instruction on the court, 46 days out from the home opener with Drake, Tuesday, Nov. 13. The hope across the board is the Buffaloes will be able to attack practice on the court as they did the conditioning program.
"I can give them the plan, but if they don't work the plan it doesn't mean anything," Englehart said. "They worked it, they enjoyed it we had fun in here, not saying every day was easy and not saying every day they walked out saying 'I love Coach Steve.' Some days you had to hit them with the truth and it's hard to hear the truth."
"Hopefully they're getting their body to play at the next level, a higher level to fulfill their dreams but overall I've been getting these guys ready for life."
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"I was hoping they can get through this," Englehart said. "And there was a plan that I didn't know if they were ready for."
He went ahead though, and the team conquered the first plan with flying colors – on the first day.
Then came the second workout plan and two weeks later, the Buffaloes were on to the third.
"I've been doing this for a while, and it's probably one of the best off seasons I've seen," said Englehart, whose duties expanded this summer as the Director of Strength & Conditioning for Olympic Sports. "As a team as well as each individual. I know it's a smaller base of 17 guys on a team, but it's been unbelievable."
Several Buffs have increased their body weights by 10-plus pounds including returning starters Tyler Bey and McKinley Wright IV. Colorado's frontcourt duo of 7-footer Dallas Walton and 6-10 Lucas Siewert have surpassed the 230-pound mark.
Heralded freshman forward Evan Battey, who took advantage of a redshirt season to tone his body, has gone from 283 pounds to a solid 264.
"It's a compliment to the players," Englehart said. "When Tyler Bey first got here he couldn't (bench) 185 and he just did 245 this summer. He's at 365 on his squat, all the way to the ground and up. His power clean is 285 and he came in here only doing 215.
"McKinley Wright, when he got here (body weight) was 183, now he's 195. He was not strong in the upper body, although lower body he was a freak. Then he hits 505 on a deadlift. I don't care what anyone else says, it's hard to pull 505 off the floor. Being at 195 pounds, it's incredible."
Aside from the physical improvements, Englehart is quick to point out the mental development as well. Players that already had the physical tools, added mental strength to their individual resumes.
"D'Shawn Schwartz physically he was gifted, but mentally he got stronger," Englehart said. "He became a man this summer. He was kind of timid in here last year, now he walks around with his chest out, like 'watch out and let me get this.' He wants to be first on those racks every day."
As the Buffaloes prepare for the first official practice of the season, Tuesday, Oct. 2, they've taken full advantage of additional instruction allowed by the NCAA in September; from two up to four hours on the court. That, along with one more year into the system for the still relatively young Buffaloes, has allowed the entire men's basketball staff to get ahead of the game.
"We did a lot more mobility usually than what we do in September," Englehart said. "I talked to a lot of strength coaches and after talking to them and it probably benefited us a little bit doing more mobility. Everyone now knows their body so they know 'I need to do this hip stretch, this ankle, knee, this lower back, this shoulder; different mobility exercises that everyone knows now."
Colorado will now take a larger focus to instruction on the court, 46 days out from the home opener with Drake, Tuesday, Nov. 13. The hope across the board is the Buffaloes will be able to attack practice on the court as they did the conditioning program.
"I can give them the plan, but if they don't work the plan it doesn't mean anything," Englehart said. "They worked it, they enjoyed it we had fun in here, not saying every day was easy and not saying every day they walked out saying 'I love Coach Steve.' Some days you had to hit them with the truth and it's hard to hear the truth."
"Hopefully they're getting their body to play at the next level, a higher level to fulfill their dreams but overall I've been getting these guys ready for life."
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Players Mentioned
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