Time to re-evaluate JB as Bball coach?
I was a big supporter of JB when he was hired. I thought, here is a guy who gets more out of less, and if he could do that at WV then certainly he can recruit even better at Michigan right?
Here are my main complaints about our coach.
1) I don't like his style on offense. We have zero inside play. There seems to be little in the offense for low post play, very little in way of attacking the basket. It is a series of handoffs and passes around the 3 point line until someone jacks one up. If people complained that RR's style was soft for the big ten, then good god I don't know how this isn't. Now, some may say that it is because of the players on the team that we have zero penetration and zero post play...but who is to blame for that? Which brings me to my next point.
2) He appears to be a terrible recruiter. I'm sorry, but I'm just going to say it. You can say all you want about Michigan's facilities not being up to snuff, but at least he can promise kids the facilities are coming, Amaker couldn't do that and he landed way more talent. Say all you want about Amakers talents as a coach, he at least recruited which I bring up to prove only that you can recruit better at Michigan than JB has done. We have a team full of nice players, no elite players. You can't reach an elite level with all role players. The only two players he had that were even close to elite, Manny and Sims, weren't his players, and no I don't count Manny as his player. We have an absolute lack of difference makers, but not just that, even great athletes. I don't want to disparage guys like Zack and Stu, they work hard and seem to be good kids, but they just aren't great athletes. You can have a guy or two like them, but when they are two of your best players, you are in trouble. And before you spill love on the players on the roster, take your Michigan goggles off. Darius Morris, for all of his improvements which have been significant, is only great compared to his teammates. Being the best player on a bad team doesn't make you an elite player. Similarly, making vast improvement doesn't make you an elite player. People are so pumped about this recruiting class, but it features a 6'1" SG and our class is ranked lower than basketball powerhouse....Alabama. You are going to tell me Michigan can't pull in one, ONE freaking top 25 class in all of JB's time? I realize Michigan is not the basketball power it once was, but not one top 25 class in all his time?
I am frustrated. I appreciate the kids on the team and the effort they give, it isn't their fault. But our recruiting has been an incredible disappointment. Where are the NBA level recruits? Even just one every two years, I'm not even asking for 4 or 5 every year like Duke or UNC. Just one every few years is a reasonable expectation. I'm starting to think JB may not be the man for the job.
January 19th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
Nobody will read this because it's long and attempts to explain basketball in a manner extending beyond "WE NEED BOARDS DAMMIT," but this is a better analysis than I could write up and particularly accurate. Very well done.
January 19th, 2011 at 4:07 PM ^
re-evaluate more than 1 program per calendar year. Besides, I think the Dominos jet is spoken for for the entire year already.
January 19th, 2011 at 4:16 PM ^
We play horrible basketball for extended stretches EVERY game... it's because every shot is from 20 feet... and teams are taking away Darius' right hand... and that's all we have.
I'm kind of tired of it... every year Belein's been here we've seen the same thing... scoreless for 6, 7 or 8 minutes.. 15 point halves... games in the 40's or 50's... HORRIFIC shooting and nothing inside... It's clear Darius needs to use the left hand.. but he doesn't... It's just frustrating to watch and root for.
Our football team was starting 90000 freshman after year three and the coach is gone...
This guy is starting 90000 freshman after four years and he needs time?...
I'm not here to say whether or not Belein is the right guy... I'm not DB.. but the hypocracy of this board is sometimes annoying.
January 19th, 2011 at 4:18 PM ^
This team has talent. They are also very young and at this stage still physically overmatched by some opponents. That will start to change next year as they mature. This is a classic midseason slump by an inexperienced team. They played big against OSU and KS but unfortunately could not get a win, and we are seeing a little frustration and doubt. This is all part of the process.
They have to regroup, regain some confidence, and we may see some better things as the season progresses. You need continuity in a program. For the first time JB now has all players he recruited. Don't jump ship now.
January 19th, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^
Didn't JB have to deal with some scholarship losses and sanctions from the Fab Five in his first few years here like Amaker did?
January 19th, 2011 at 5:21 PM ^
I didn't warn you...
January 19th, 2011 at 5:23 PM ^
A) Different sports, of course.
B) Belein has Michigan basketball on an upswing overall, but this program was in such a state when he got here that you would be a fool not to think someone was in it for the long haul if we had a shot at returning to better basketball. Roridguez put a high-flying program into a tailspin, save for recruiting Denard.
January 19th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
we were on an upswing. Now we're rebuilding within JB's tenure. Looks like we're in for a long season--Big Ten wise. Hard to say exactly where we are, but no real facts supporting upswing thesis.
January 19th, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^
He has a worse record than Amaker. Amaker inherited a program in a much worse state.
Like my post above, I would give him next year but if he doesnt have a good year next year, he will have had 4 bad years out of 5 (assuming this season doesnt turn out good).
Even his "good" season, he was 9-9 in the Big 10.
January 19th, 2011 at 6:54 PM ^
that Amaker was a better coach, I'm going to have a great big aneurysm.
And it will be on your conscience.
January 19th, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^
I regret suggesting it should be on your conscience.
I prefer to blame Amaker's mock turtlenecks for my stroke.
Amazing how Van Boven has stayed in business since he left town.
January 19th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
Though I saw many with great enthusiasm for the bball team when it was winning early, I and the rest of a minority qualified positive comments with statements about the team's youth. Youth will hit walls (especially arriving from a H.S. season) mentally and physically. Playing top-5 or -10 teams will make the impact into that wall more ugly--especially for a team that rotates 5 freshmen regularly and has 3 starting. This team is young for a couple of reasons: Manny leaves b/c he doesn't like the fit in Coach's system (I presume); 7-0 ft center recruited suffers hip injury that ends his career at Michigan. Why weren't there more seniors? I don't think the players in Manny's class stuck around or were good enough by Coach B's standard.
Coach B has a solid couple players committed for next season. And, in my humble opinion, Coach B teaches the game well. Fundamentals (see turnover rate). And his defense has gotten better each year too I think. He took a team to the second round of the NCAA that Amaker never could have done the same with (I admit that's speculation, but rest assured, I watched virtually every game during the Ellerbe/Amaker era b/c I wasn't working full-time). Michigan Bball had little to no foundation. Amaker could recruit but couldn't teach the game. Coach B teaches the game and more players will want to play for him eventually. I think his recruiting has been good FWIW. Changing coaches should not become Michigan's "thing" though. That's one of the reasons I thought RR deserved a fourth year. Now that he's gone, I'll support Coach Hoke.
Coach Beilein deserves our support.
January 19th, 2011 at 5:25 PM ^
There is so much potential in guys like Evan Smotrycz and Jordan Morgan, and Darius Morris, that this could be an excellent team once they grow up. I could see us being about a 12 seed in the tourney next season. Give the guy a chance.
January 19th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
legitimate questions, legitimate concerns--yet still supportive of the program.
January 19th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
I am as disappointed as anyone and I'm starting to know what it feels like to be a cubs fan after what Michigan sports has done to my soul dong these last two years. My mantra has become "Next Year".
JB has at least made Michigan basketball part of the conversation again...and they're gonna be better next year. My issue is how they are playing defense.
I recently watched my HD captures of the team that made the tournament 3 years ago just to see what was different. Last night while watching my son's former team play (and get their asses kicked playing m2m exclusively) it hit me.
JB has essentially given up on playing zone. He got away from it last year and this year I would say it's m2m 75% of the time or more. During their winning season it was the opposite. The 1-3-1 trap was working against the better athletes.
Having said that...these last two games have SUCKED
January 19th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
Pistons '04...?
January 19th, 2011 at 6:17 PM ^
I remain comfounded that the most vociferous defenders of JB seem to also be the most virulent haters of RichRod. But for one's personal feelings about the person, it's factually difficult to claim one has the program on the upswing and deserves more time, while the other just had to go.
January 19th, 2011 at 6:24 PM ^
Michigan BB != Michigan FB. Football drives the entire athletic departement and controls public opinion of Michigan as brand (as DB likes to say). Basketball is not nearly as profitable, and after the NCAA issues, JB was brought in to bring stability - he runs probably the cleanest program in the B10. He has overseen the development of the new training center, and also pushed for the forthcoming Crisler renovations.
January 19th, 2011 at 7:09 PM ^
I have no clue why all the support was thrown behind Belein outside of the "he is the nice guy, he leads the ethics committee" crap. I cannot stand to watch the harlem globetrotters basketball weave at the 3point line before chucking brick after brick! His pedigree was suppose to be "shooting" but his shooters cant shoot!! The recruiting has been subpar, but I do have hope for CB aka Buckets next year, with Trey Burke also...He has missed that big name guy every year in recruiting, and sooner or later he has to land one or he needs to go also. If he landed Ziegler last year, or Amir this year I would be singing a different tune. Plus basketball is a sport were you can see a turnaround much quicker, based on landing a super recruit.
Also I wasnt expecting much this year, which is bad when you think about it but losing Manny & Peedi were kind of big deals.
January 19th, 2011 at 7:17 PM ^
his style wont win championships. big ten or national.. we can pull some upsets but you do not get a banner after an upset
January 19th, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^
I have to say that I really agree with this post. The post that Fresh Meat made is an accurate account of JB. What I don't understand is why we give him a pass. Sure he is a great guy and does things off the hardwood the right way. The problem is on the court. I'm not knocking JB as a man, just as a coach and recruiter. Let's remember that there are plenty programs that do things the right way and are still successful on the floor. And to be honest, last I checked this is Michigan. We should strive for excellence in everything we do....academics, research, athletics, etc. Any time we settle for lest than greatness, we are selling ourselves short. And to be honest, most of the current team wouldn't have got picked in the CCRB (Central Campus Recreation Building for those not familiar with our campus) when I was a student.
January 20th, 2011 at 12:02 AM ^
Coach B has done a horrible job of recruiting the Detroit area
besides that
I agree he has to go
Michigan after all the probation wants a clean program, which Coach B runs
but hes not a recruiter and his system is flawed if it can't get the right pieces, which it can't, he can recruit shooters, he can't recruit a big man at all !
We need a big time Hire and turn this program back to respectability !
January 20th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
In the spirit of stealing coaches in pairs: I suggest taking the coach for the hottest team in college basketball, San Diego State's coach Steve Fisher...
Oh wait, errrr.