Some interesting updates about 2019 basketball commit Cole Bajema
Cole Bajema's father on his son's recommitment:
https://twitter.com/theo_mackie/status/1132348363121274880
On Beilein:
https://twitter.com/theo_mackie/status/1132358664524881920
On Cole's development:
Some don’t think Warde handled the coaching hire well and “took too long”. The man is out here calling up recruits to pitch them on staying committed. Well done, Warde.
who’s some? 1201 lol
and maizen
Honestly, it wasn't just him (and his sockpuppets). For a few days he was generating a lot of upvotes by criticizing Manuel. For some reason, Warde is guilty until proven innocent in the eyes of some of our fans.
There are a lot of people who have been completely against Warde Manuel since the second he was hired for absolutely no reason. They are constantly ready to jump on him for everything that happens. I truly don't understand what he did to these people. It may be as simple as he followed Jim Hackett. I just don't know.
After Brandon (Hoke) and Martin (RR) I think we've been conditioned to criticize the ADs. Hackett getting Harbaugh was awesome, so Warde has big shoes to fill.
For this particular search, when Beilein left, after having flirted with the Pistons last year it felt as though we all should have known this was happening. It didn't feel like Warde knew this was happening, and it didn't feel like he had a short list ready. Add on going to S. Aftrica instead of staying home and fighting to keep our best coach ever and it looks like he wasn't doing his job. Not to throw the race card, but some people have a problem with African Americans in positions of power, when it came out that Warde was only looking at black candidates that group was inflamed. Even non-racists were a bit inflamed becasue Billy Donovan was out there and seemingly poachable.
All that said, I think Juwan Howard is a slam dunk as a coach. There might be some criticism of Warde (and Howard) when we struggle with a depleted roster next year. When Howard gets his first "Fab 5" and begins lighting it up, all of this will be forgotten.
Warde ended up doing a great job with the hire, but the reason there was some criticism was the way the search happened. Beilein leaves out of the blue and then it's radio silence from the ad for a week. The fact that there was a weekend in the middle there didn't help. But even Sam Webb didn't have a good handle on who the candidates were. We just lost the best basketball coach we've ever had and it was nothing but wild speculation so people panicked.
Warde hired his new coach in what, eight days? And he targeted Juwan very early on.
I think he managed things reasonably enough. But some here seem to have been ready to criticize him from the start. There were a lot of "I have zero confidence in Warde" posts.
I'm sure that when Juwan loses his first game, they will re-emerge to post: "I KNEW this was a bad hire. MANUEL!!!!"
At that point in time it was awesome but years have passed. Even though at home we could lose all 3 rival games. It looks like the switch to the spread was a year too late. The D is bound to take a step back because thin at DT. B10 is running the ball when it gets cold etc. I'm happy with the Howard hire but he did not due all he could to try and keep Coach B at Michigan. Just my thoughts.
I wasn’t against him before reading your post. But now that I know he was hired “for absolutely no reason”, I have some concerns.
John Beilein spent the past 40 years as a college basketball coach and in that has not left behind a single bit of disrespect from anyone.
In this sport, that’s not a career, that’s a miracle
He continued to recruit after he left Michigan. He in no way, shape, or form had any obligation to do that, but he did out of the goodness of his heart. He probably did the same for Jalen Wilson, so hopefully that helps with re-securing him
It's a nice gesture, but the manner in which he left some salt with the players and families.
I'd say it was more than a gesture. Even while I recognize that the timing of his departure greatly complicated the search for his successor.
By and large the players understand...of course it's never going to be 100%. But he didn't burn any bridges. Some were shocked, maybe even upset...that's normal.
He handled everything with class, as he should.
Let's be real...if in 3-4 years Juwan Howard left to replace Scott Brooks with the Washington Wizards or Boylan with the Bulls (which I don't think happens, I truly think he's comfortable being at Michigan as long as we'll have him)...but "if," we would all have John Beilein at the top of our list to come back to Michigan.
This is not a Mattison situation (which still wasn't the end of the world, the man wanted to be a coordinator...but whatever #BeatOhio, amirite?), we should all be happy for Coach B. and ready to welcome him back when it's time to put him in the Michigan Hall of Fame.
Some of you need to quit kissing Beilein's ass. He didn't want to be here anymore and he left. That's what I'll remember him for. He left us high and dry and left at a terrible time. "There's no good time to leave". Bullshit - After the season ends is a good time.
He left one of the best places in the world for a lame NBA gig with a shit team and a maniacal owner. And that's supposed to be a step up? No F'ing way am I buying that bullshit. If there's anyone who was born to be a college coach it was him.
@Matte
Do you actually blame Beilein for wanting to get out of the dirty business of college basketball. The business of kids leaving after a year or two?
Brutal. I don't blame Beilein one bit. He owes UM nothing and has always done right.
You're exactly right, Beilein owes us nothing and we owe him nothing...
Time to move on and support the coach that wants to be here.
Hail.
This article describes what I was getting at better. Also delves into other parts of the program that Howard can improve in order to keep players at school instead of jumping at the first sight of NBA draft-potential.
Beilein didn't even meet with the players to tell them in person that he was accepting the Cavs job. That's pretty un-Beilein-like.
Typical.
It's never easy to leave for another job. I don't know that I'd want my coach to call a team meeting and then tell us he's leaving - especially with it being the offseason and some guys may not be on campus. Would you want to drive back to A2, just so you can be told that your coach is going to leave?
Beilein individually texted each player, which is fine IMO.
I'll agree here... The team was dispersed for the summer, and kids live by text/Instagram, and Twitter. An individual for each is enough to do things right. Does anyone really think he wouldn't have answered if a player called? Even one of the walk-on scout team players?
At 70, he would not be at the top of the list for me.
Boo hoo. Strong people move on. Weak people complain how their feelings are hurt and they were wronged.
First post?
You must be "new" around here.
Even when he ditches Michigan, Beilein makes us love him. He truly is a magician.
Well, he’s back in
Damn I’m gonna have to become a Cavaliers fan now. At least LeFraud isn’t there anymore
Sure going to miss Beilein. His classiness is unmatched by anyone in any sport, coach or player.
We hearing any updates on the coaching spots? Yak trying to figure out what he wants to do?
sanderson is huge for the program!
22 pounds?! that's amazing!
Really excited for the kid... its funny, when he signed, people mentioned he could play a similar role as Rose, a tall shooting guard...
now they have Juwan as coach!
amazing times
He looks like he has put no a little weight in this March all-star game footage (where he dominated with 8 three-pointers)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vPLd27diVM
Being a former athlete was an asset here for Warde. Doubtful Bill Martin was calling kids to talk about their new coach ahead of an announcement.
Honest question- is it technically a recruiting violation for a former coach reach out to a recruit and encourage him to go to Michigan?
Oregon, LSU and Arizona paying recruits is apparently not a violation nowadays...
in all seriousness however, i do not believe it is; they have a pre-existing relationship now and on the heels of Beilein leaving his job at Michigan, or any head coach for that matter, i think you are allowed to contact your former recruits to discuss the move and moving forward.
AFAIK, Bajema has a signed LOI, so the contact rules wouldn’t apply. If he were not signed, then it would depend upon whatever the rules are for contact by a booster, I’d guess. (I’m assuming former staff member becomes booster).
That said, if there’s one guy on the planet who’d know, and who wouldn’t make the call if it were a violation, it’s John Beilein. :)
My criticism of Warde was hypothetical.. if it were true what was mentioned by several people, that his intention was to hire the best minority candidate, then all the criticism is deserved. If you want equal representation in the coach segment, then you'd also need to do so on the player side. Cannot have it both ways.