Beilein flips his February script

Submitted by Human Torpedo on

Beilein's struggles as you guys well know deep in Big Ten play have well documented the previous 4 years. This year though became a nice exception similar to 2011. After starting 4-5 in Big Ten play in January, we've now gone 5-2 since. Here's a sense of just how much Beilein's faded down the stretch the last 4 years:

Record in January of 2016: 6-2, Record in February of 2016: 3-5

January 2015: 5-3, February 2015: 1-6

January 2014: 8-0, February 2014: 4-3

January 2013: 7-1, February 2013: 3-4

Maybe we can hope this is a promising sign of us matching the physicality of the Big Ten

MGoBoard

901 P

February 25th, 2017 at 6:56 PM ^

That's interesting. I'd be curious about the teams we played in the respective seasons--in some years did we face tougher opponents in one month or the other?

Joined: 01/12/2015

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jmblue

February 25th, 2017 at 7:15 PM ^

This "trend" is based mostly on the last two years, when injuries took their toll.  

In 2014 we finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak.  We had a little slipup in the middle of conference play and that was it.

In 2013, we did have a slump towards the end (when Morgan was out and McGary hadn't quite hit his stride).

In 2012 we finished strongly to win the Big Ten.

2011 of course was like this season.

Joined: 11/07/2008

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alum96

February 25th, 2017 at 7:15 PM ^

It's impressive considering it's an 8 man rotation, with essentially 6 guys who really you can count on to score more than 5 any given night... AND 1 of your expected seniors really has been nowhere to be found other than 2 games the past 5 weeks.

Joined: 04/28/2012

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DMack

February 25th, 2017 at 8:56 PM ^

I remember last month around this time, many of you guys were talking about we needed to fire Belein. I indulged you guys a bit but added unless its a grand slam homerun hire, we shouldn't try to fix whats not broken. 

BeLein is an excellent coach who does a phenomenal job with the talent he gets. Michigan BB doesn't have a problem with coaching. They struggle getting the McDonalds All-Americans, so its hard to compete with Duke, Kansas Kentucky, and truly elite teams that just reload over and over and over.

I said, Michigan is a football school thats always been competitive at BB. Question is if Michigan will continue to be highly competitive because of its great coach and teacher or will they find a way to recruit better and become elite. The hoops team doesnt have a coach who is super charismatic or one with a storied career as a player or coach, that attracts elite talent. He's a blue collar guy who teaches his system and simply wins.

My point is, I would rather remain competitive than to hire a great snake-oil salesman who cant coach. If we had the talent that Duke gets, Belein would outcoach the best and dominate. i wouldnt think of trading that unless it was for a slam dunk coach who can do both  

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WindyCityBlue

February 25th, 2017 at 9:48 PM ^

I'm not one of the those who thinks JB should be fired at the end of this season.  With that said, I do think we can and will do better when that day comes.  He's a good solid coach, but far from an excellent coach overall (maybe on the offensive side of the ball).  I agree, though, he does a good job with the talent he gets, but he has no choice because he's a below average recruiter.

We've been ranked less than 15% of the time he has been coach here.  And overall, we've been an average B10 team with average B10 talent with flashes brillance from time to time under his tenure.  For some reason, people are OK with this and use excuses like "but, we are a football school!" or "but, we can't recruit AA" or "but, remember Ellerbe and Amaker?" to ratonalize this mediocrity.  If we call ourselves the Leaders and Best, then why can't we be elite in both football and basketball?!  Wisconsin is a football school too with no real history of BB success, but they have committed themsevles to being one of the most consistently elite BB school's in the nation.  Why can't we be like them?!

We have all the measureables to be an elite program and unfortunately JB is sorely under utilizing these measureables.  And there is really no excuse for this.  So for this and many other reason, there are a lot of better coaches out there, which is why I'm confident then next hire will be what really pushes this program to the heights it deserves. 

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DMack

February 26th, 2017 at 11:40 AM ^

I agree with most of the comments on this topic. I still believe that he's an elite coach, which is based on how well he does with less than super-star talent.  I think if he had a recruiting machine that worked and brought in top talent, he would consistently beat the best. Look at what he was able to do with Burke, GR3, Stauskis and company.  Average coaches dont play for National Championships or even win with great talent. 

I want Michigan BB to go to the next level as bad as anyone but I dont know anyone available could take us there. Most would struggle at something, and it would be a few years before he had the team he recruited on the floor.  Just dont want to keep starting over. 

Joined: 06/22/2015

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BigBlue02

February 25th, 2017 at 10:45 PM ^

Since Beilein has been at Michigan, he has 2 B10 championships. In that same time, Wisconsin has the same amount of B10 titles, Izzo has 3, and Matta has 3. Maybe Beilein isn't mediocre, maybe it's just much tougher to win the B10 than it was when 10 years ago. Shit, Izzo won the big 10 four times in his first 6 years at MSU and has won it 3 times in his next 16 years. We have won the B10 more recently than anyone not named Indiana or Wisconsin. College basketball isn't what it used to be so maybe we should all get some perspective. Having success in the tournament is awesome and it's fun for fans, but a one-and-done tournament isn't the best way to judge a coach, especially now when 3-14 and 4-13 upsets are happening more often.

Joined: 06/29/2009

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Richard75

February 25th, 2017 at 11:59 PM ^

By just counting the B1G championships, you're saying that all non-championship seasons are equal. For instance: MSU was a 2 seed last year and Michigan was in the First Four. Neither won the B1G, but it's quite a stretch to equate their seasons.

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BigBlue02

February 26th, 2017 at 1:35 AM ^

It's also quite a stretch to say he is a mediocre coach and not look at the circumstances (he took over a Michigan program that hadn't made the tournament in 10 years so his winning percentage is obviously going to be lower as he is basically building up from nothing, the number of guys leaving early for the draft is ridiculous for anyone not named Kentucky, the number of season ending injuries to our best players is also ridiculous with Mitch, DW, Irvin, and LeVert (twice) all being shut down for large portions of the four years prior to this year, etc..). Also, did you even read that stat on Izzo? What does it matter that they were a 2 seed last year if they didn't win the B10 and were on the wrong end of the worst upset in tournament history? Yes, we had 2 different types of seasons, but can you imagine if Beilein would have been upset by a 15 seed, then signed possibly the best recruiting class in school history and went on to be either on the bubble or out of he tournament all together the next year?

Joined: 06/29/2009

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MGoUberBlue

February 26th, 2017 at 2:54 PM ^

I am with you all the way.

I was stunned at how many posters wanted him fired a couple of weeks ago, and some still do.  This is a top notch guy and a good coach with the highest degree of ethics.  He has had a huge mountain to climb when he came here.

I seriously question whether the state of Michigan can have two top rated football and basketball teams at the same time.  Sparty under Dantonio is cooked. They slipped in some good years when our coaching staff was in upheaval, but those days are over.  They should make an effort to switch to the West Division in the B1G to win a few more games.

We have not been able to overcome the tragedy that beset the team after the Ed Martin affair, which coincided with hiring Izzo at Spartyville.  Like him or not, Izzo is one of the best coaches in NCAA BB.  I think that he's a dick, but the guy is an incredible recruiter. It's tough to overcome him in this state.

Joined: 06/06/2011

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Blue from Ohio

February 26th, 2017 at 12:03 AM ^

Completely agree.  No one in the big ten is dominant.  After the win today, I was looking at the B1G standings and the top 2 teams, Purdue and Wisconsin, we've beaten.  This is truly the most open year it's been for who can win the B1G tournament.  It still seems to me we're a softer team away from home, but if they can bring the same intensity, we can win the B1G tournament.

 

Joined: 08/30/2013

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snarling wolverine

February 26th, 2017 at 12:49 AM ^

The big concern for me is the fatigue.  We always win our BTT opener under Beilein but the next day, when we have tired legs, usually lose.  We don't play that many bench players and take a lot of outside shots (which tend to come up short when you're leg-weary).  Last year we managed to win two BTT games and I think we could again, but winning four in four days seems like a tall order.

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