Mgoblog on the 2007 search and Beilein
While I vaguely remember tracking the last coaching search here (and following EERhole in the final days), I wasn't sure if the positivity about Beilein I remembered matched reality, so I quickly sifted through the archive. The consensus was pro-Beilein, with tactics and player development being the strongest positives and recruiting the lone concern. As Brian asked, is it "even possible for anyone to recruit worse than Tommy Amaker?"
A sampling of the links:
https://mgoblog.com/content/unverified-voracity-so-over-chris-lowery
https://mgoblog.com/content/beilein-redux
https://mgoblog.com/content/coaching-search-update
https://mgoblog.com/content/beilein-official
Brian rejecting comparisons of Amaker and Beilein
Okay, first the assertion that Beilein is a "safe bet" just like Tommy Amaker. This is ludicrous. Tommy Amaker had been a head coach for all of four years. Seton Hall failed, failed, had a Sweet 16 run as a ten seed with two OT wins, and then failed miserably despite the return of most of the Sweet 16 team from the year before. Amaker did reel in the nation's top recruiting class before "failed miserably." How on earth does this constitute a safe bet? The the dueling NIT appearances in their (hypothetical) final years before becoming Michigan's coach are vastly different. If last year's WVU Sweet 16 team, which returned their stars from the previous year's run, had collapsed into the NIT and then we had decided to hire Beilein, that would be equivalent.
Amaker had proven very little, especially in comparison to Beilein, who has been a head coach for twenty-nine years and has transformed the basketball programs of every school he has been at for the better. Yes, he has as many NIT appearances as NCAA appearances. He's also spent most of his career at places like Richmond and Canisus. Everywhere he's been he has produced winning teams. Amaker had one (ONE! ONE ONE ONE!) successful year, but had indicated a hell of a recruiting ability. If Beilein is Loretta, Amaker was Dave Kingman.
I also found it interesting that a lot of the preliminary analysis of Beilein focused on the 1-3-1.
It makes sense. That and 3 point shooting are what he was known for at WVU. Even at Michigan early on in his tenure the 1-3-1 was a staple.
Those two things and Pittsnogle.
It's more of a reflection of his ability to innovate and, with Yaklich especially, let someone else lead.
Looking back at it now, I kind of see the 1-3-1 as a "I don't really know how to coach defense, so I'm going to throw out something gimicky that people aren't used to."
Once he started getting better athletes, the usage greatly reduced. As the defense improved under Yaklich, it disappeared.
It basically disappeared long before Yaklich. By the Burke years Michigan was basically a man-defense team with occasional change-ups that didn't work.
Never change Brian!
gotta love the passion combined with data and insight - he is why this blog still exists/grows/affords him a luxury vehicle to drive to the round table (well-deserved I might add)
The one thing I always remember about Beilein's hiring is that he had one big promoter in the Detroit media: Michael Rosenberg.
Yes, THAT Michael Rosenberg. The same Freep creep who fanned the tiny flame of Stretchgate into a self-serving bonfire. But before that, he was a huge proponent of UM hiring this coach from West Virginia.
So, even thought Rosenberg is about as welcome in Ann Arbor as a case of chlamydia, I have to give him his due. The last 12 years showed he was right at least about one thing.
I'm gonna miss Beilein so much. Looking back to all the 2007 articles and where we were then vs. where we are now and how fun (most of) the last 12 years have been. Couldn't have hoped for more from Beilein's tenure.
the 'update' post includes a note that we didn't contact:
- southern illinois (chris lowery)
- butler (todd freaking lickliter)
- vanderbilt (kevin stallings)
thank goodness we didn't.