Michigan BB Head Coach Position

[MaxBuck]

Originally Posted by HailToMichigan

How so, might I ask? It's obvious Beilein is an upgrade - he did far more this season, in a tougher conference, with less talent, than Amaker ever did.

Scorn the Beilein hiring at your own peril. He's been successful with every team he's coached. We're a long way from Brian Ellerbe here.

How nice that both Weasel fan and Buckeye fan can be pleased with this move! You may be right that Beilein is the next coming of John Wooden; please allow me to be skeptical.

Overall, I suspect we will see a terrific record for Michigan for the next year or two, until Beilein has to field talent he recruits himself. Then the program will sink further.

[jwinslow]

Sure Beilein got more out of his talent than TA, but so did a vast majority of coaches in D1.

Beilein is a good coach, but so is Izzo, Matta, Ryan, Sampson, Painter, Lickliter & Smith (hon mention: Weber). How will the coaching improvement translate in a more talented big ten, both in coaching & talent? I don't see him consistently outplacing OSU, MSU or WISC... and I have a feeling Painter & Sampson will only improve as time passes.

"Success" at UM might be placing 5th/6th in the conference consistently, with a few top-4 finishes thrown in.

(partially repeated from 07 b10 thread)

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by BucyrusBuckeye

Here is another question for you. How long do you think it will take Beilen to get the team "up to snuff" if he can? 3 years ?

2-3 years. Next year's team is going to be terribly inconsistent. Not just week to week or game to game, but timeout to timeout. Even assuming Harris and Legion stick around, most of the talent will be underclassmen, all trying to learn a new system. Only one rising senior next year. But long-term I think that'll work in their favor.

As for recruiting, just because Beilein hasn't recruited in Detroit doesn't mean he can't. He got bashed a little for having New York ties but no Detroit ties, but let's face it, having some connections in NYC is never a bad thing, and the Detroit ties will come.

Would it be nice to have a dedicated practice facility? Sure, but my opinion is, that's a bit overblown, a practice facility is really nothing more than a recruiting tool. Last I checked, Crisler's got a hardwood floor, some nets, and no "Games Only" sign on the door. So I think a new facility would be nice, but that's not what's kept Michigan out of the tournament these past few years. At the very least, I wouldn't go so far as to say the facilities are the "root" of the problem. The root of the problem is that Izzo was a rising star at the same time Michigan got plastered with scandals - the confluence of the two at the same time meant that Michigan fell much harder than they would have. Then just when they were starting to get a little mo', injuries struck and struck hard a couple years ago.

Rambling, sorry. Bottom line: Michigan struggles next year. For every surprisingly good win there'll be two bad losses. '08-'09, they start to put it back together and make their run at the tournament. I think the general baseline assumption (not just here) is that Beilein won't be able to recruit, but Detroit's a target-rich environment.

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by MaxBuck

How nice that both Weasel fan and Buckeye fan can be pleased with this move! You may be right that Beilein is the next coming of John Wooden; please allow me to be skeptical.

Overall, I suspect we will see a terrific record for Michigan for the next year or two, until Beilein has to field talent he recruits himself. Then the program will sink further.

I think it's just the opposite. It'll take Beilein a couple years to get up to speed - he's not starting from a position of strength.

And please don't put words in my mouth. I'm not running through the streets proclaiming the Gospel of Beilein. I think he's the first really legit coach we've had since Fisher. I don't think you can possibly claim I expect the second coming of John Wooden. And I think you need to give the man more credit than you do on the recruiting front. He hasn't proven he can recruit to Michigan, but he hasn't shown he can't, either.

You certainly have the right to be "skeptical", as would anyone. I think you've gone beyond skeptical into "trashing". Given Beilein's success at his other coaching stops, I don't think you have any cause to do that.

[jwinslow]

I believe you're projecting certain anti-beilein arguments from the UM boards to this one. You're arguing against certain Beilein 'weaknesses' (ie Detroit) which aren't found here, unlike the UM boards.

This is the only "doubting" I've seen of beilein's recruiting (perhaps I missed something), and the other seemed to suggest it was possible if UM would finally invest in their bball program.

Originally Posted by Buckeyedynasty

Agree 100%. Also I am not sure that Beilein can recruit the talent Michigan needs to be an elite team in the Big Ten.

It will take outstanding recruiting and/or coaching to be an elite team in this conference. I think Beilein is a good coach and an okay recruiter... so I'm not sure why this is an unfair observation.

[MaxBuck]

Originally Posted by HailToMichigan

I think you've gone beyond skeptical into "trashing". Given Beilein's success at his other coaching stops, I don't think you have any cause to do that.

I really started out by saying that WVU got the better of the coaching trade by trading Beilein for Huggins, who is a far superior coach. And by saying I was pleased by Michigan's choice. I think I've stopped pretty far short of trashing. Fact remains, I am pleased to have Beilein in Ann Arbor; so, obviously, are you. Where's the beef?

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by MaxBuck

I really started out by saying that WVU got the better of the coaching trade by trading Beilein for Huggins, who is a far superior coach. And by saying I was pleased by Michigan's choice. I think I've stopped pretty far short of trashing. Fact remains, I am pleased to have Beilein in Ann Arbor; so, obviously, are you. Where's the beef?

Overall, I suspect we will see a terrific record for Michigan for the next year or two, until Beilein has to field talent he recruits himself. Then the program will sink further.

Beilein was a hideously bad choice by the Weasels. Michigan continues their track record of coaching mediocrity. I'm sure the slow white boy theme will play great in Detroit.

I rest my case.

Anyway, the real reason I poked my head back in here:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...39/1048/SPORTS

U-M's Beilein re-hires assistant from Amaker staff

New Michigan coach John Beilein?s first hire might be his most important.
Beilein re-hired Mike Jackson, an assistant coach from Tommy Amaker?s staff. Jackson had accepted a position at Illinois State two weeks ago.

...

Jackson, whose family planned to stay in Michigan for the next year, was the staff?s most effective recruiter during his two years in Ann Arbor. The Detroit Mercy grad joined the Michigan staff in 2005 after stints at Dayton and Toledo.

...

Legion?s mother, Annette Williams, said today that Beilein told her in their meeting last week that Jackson was returning, and she said that was a major factor for her son, who is still considering whether to attend U-M.