Three years ago today (January 27)...

Submitted by snarling wolverine on

...the Aneurysm of Leadership happened.

It's hard to believe now how bleak things seemed at this point.  We were 11-9 overall and 1-6 in B1G play entering that game.  We had shown our potential occasionally (taking Kansas to OT, for instance), but didn't show any kind of consistency.  Minnesota had just punked us in Crisler.  

At that point, Beilein was 22-39 in B1G play in nearly 3.5 years, and while he'd surprisingly taken us to the NCAA tournament in his second year, he had posted two losing seasons out of three.  At this point in late January, we seemed in danger of posting losing season #3.  There was a lot of grumbling that Beilein's system couldn't make it in this conference.

Then the MSU game at Breslin.

Novak not only was a vocal leader that day but drained six threes and scored 19 points as we stunned MSU, 61-57.  At the time, it seemed like it might just be another fluke good game, like the Kansas one earlier, but as it turned out, it started the ball rolling.  Would it have happened if we'd lost to State that day?  I don't know.  At the least, we probably wouldn't have made the NCAA tournament in 2011.

From January 27, 2011 onward, Beilein and Michigan have gone 40-14 in B1G play, 80-27 overall, made the tournament every year, won a B1G championship, and made the national championship game.  It's cool that we can pretty much pinpoint the day the turnaround started.

MGoBoard
Basketball

snarling wolverine

January 27th, 2014 at 8:02 AM ^

We could, admittedly, go back two more years and point to the wins over UCLA and Duke in 2008-09, too.  Those were essential to getting the NCAA bid that year - and that tourney bid probably bought Beilein the time he needed to continue rebuilding.

But the day three years started what has simply been dominant play from this program.  Up until then we seemed like a scrappy team that occasionally punched above its weight.  From then on, we've just plain been really good.

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 97940

PeterKlima

January 27th, 2014 at 8:12 AM ^

This makes me think of people who are bummed about the FB team this year.

First, it usually takes longer to turn a FB team around because kids can't play as early.

Hoke has also had some ups and downs his first three years.

Maybe we just need some on the field leadership this year?

Joined: 08/24/2008

MGoPoints: -313

mGrowOld

January 27th, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^

Not to hijack your hijacking attempt but I also thought about football.  Except I went one coach  further back than you and played "what if" with an entirely different staff in place these past three years.

 

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 212539

Njia

January 27th, 2014 at 8:13 AM ^

"Give Michigan credit ...But I recall some bad officiating. And the injuries we suffered really hurt us. And I think there was something in water that day because a couple of our guys were a little slower than usual. And ... I'm getting choked up here ... One of our guys couldn't even see because of dust or something in his eye when he tried a couple of those jumpers ....:

Joined: 09/15/2009

MGoPoints: 35773

jmblue

January 27th, 2014 at 8:59 AM ^

Minnesota had just punked us in Crisler.

I attended that game, and remember it pretty vividly. The score wasn't that lopsided but Minnesota absolutely destroyed us on the glass, getting second chance after second chance. It felt like we were dominated. I've been a Beilein fan for a long time (I loved watching his WVU teams) but that was definitely a point where it was getting discouraging.  Our small lineups were getting killed on the glass and didn't seem to shoot well enough to compensate at the other end. Up until then, Beilein's teams would always rank near the bottom of the league in 3-point percentage. Then came the MSU game, and wow, what a change.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102715

DK81

January 27th, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^

I was at that Minnesota game also, it was freezing cold outside that night. Hard to believe the very next game they would start an unbelievable run. I remember leaving the Minnesota game and hearing whispers from the Fire Belien crowd.  What a difference a game makes.

Joined: 02/11/2012

MGoPoints: 604

LSAClassOf2000

January 27th, 2014 at 8:41 AM ^

As I recall, we went 9-5 overall (8-3 in the conference) the rest of the way that year too, so it seemed evident that something clicked somewhere and since then, we've gone 24-10 and 31-8 overall in the last two complete seasons. We seem to be on track to put up a performance somehwere in the middle of those two at this rate - an awesome run indeed. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130561

Webber's Pimp

January 27th, 2014 at 9:08 AM ^

I love this post and I think Novak was an important cog in the wheel. But the turnaround started the day Bill Martin (that's right- our much maligned sailing afficionado ex-AD deserves some credit) hired John Beilein. I am convinced Coach B is one of the top coaches in the game and I don't think you'll get much argument from the so-called experts. It's about time Beilein gets the recognition he deserves...

Joined: 09/12/2010

MGoPoints: 2692

snarling wolverine

January 27th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^

No doubt - I'm certainly not downplaying Beilein's role.  He is fantastic, one of the best coaches we've ever had.  Novak was a kid he wanted (when pretty much no one else did) and bought into what Beilein was selling, which was essential.  And then of course Beilein's offense got him a lot of those good looks from 3 in that game.

 

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 97940

Mr. Yost

January 27th, 2014 at 9:11 AM ^

Of the game or the Novak freakout?

As for this game, #1 - it's weird seeing THJ and Horford on that team for some reason, it feels like forrever ago. #2 - this absolutely is the turning point in Michigan Basketball.

God Bless Coach Beilein, GO BLUE!

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

The Geek

January 27th, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^

Very thought provoking and interesting look at our beloved MBB team.

The dark ages were tough... But I realistically couldn't be happier with where we are today.

Great post OP!

Joined: 09/08/2009

MGoPoints: 24837

JimBobTressel

January 27th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^

Do you ever get the feeling that some people try a little too hard to find signifnicant meaning in simple moments? Lol not taking a shot against OP per se...but you know.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 4235

JimBobTressel

January 27th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^

Looking back, it definitely was. No one's denying that. It's just that this whole "Anuserym Of Leadership" meme that's been going around this site since that day has been a little over-dramatized...something you can't deny. To hear people tell it, it's like Novak was channeling Vince Lombardi.

When I think of the biggest moment in that game, I think of Stu's cold blooded 3.

Apologize if my post was misunderstood.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 4235

snarling wolverine

January 27th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^

Well yeah - but I (and I think most people) use it as shorthand to describe his whole performance that day.  I'm obviously not literally arguing that the game was won on a sideline outburst.  

Novak kept us alive in the first half and helped us buld that big lead, and then as they were coming back, Stu slammed the door shut.

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 97940

Cold War

January 27th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^

I believe in leadership and Novak's was part of the turnaround. I don't believe one event like this turns a program around. Thinking a player freakout will turn the football program around is silly and delusional.

What happened is we had the right coach and we stuck with him. Hopefully we'll have the same wisdom with Hoke.

Joined: 01/15/2012

MGoPoints: -3144

samsoccer7

January 27th, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^

My sister's fiance is a former player and she's met a lot of the guys the last few years (Burke most polite; GR3 making ice cream shakes that would kill a diabetic.) When she met Novak she asked me if I had a question. I had her ask about the aneurysm of leadership and he wasn't very happy with it. I don't think that's what he wants his legacy to be. Don't want to be a Debbie downer but just keep it in mind.

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 11862

snarling wolverine

January 27th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^

Fair enough.  As I said above, I'm really referring to his entire performance that day, not just that one scene.  He carried the team that day.

I will say though that he certainly doesn't have to be embarrassed about the outburst - to me, it's great moment of a guy showing how much he wanted to win.  (Granted, maybe we should stop calling it an "aneurysm.")

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 97940

All Day

January 27th, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^

I was at this game with my professional mentor, who was a hugely active Sparty-alum. I didn't have to say much after the game, but he had the most sick-to-his-stomach look on his face. He gave me his ticket stubs, program, parking pass, anything that could possibly remind him of that evening. It was awesome.

Joined: 12/10/2009

MGoPoints: 573

WolverineHistorian

January 27th, 2014 at 9:50 AM ^

As I recall, the Minnesota game was a few weeks earlier and going into this game, we had just come off back-to-back ass kickings to Indiana (who won 6 games all year) and Northwestern. That was when people everywhere were calling quits on Beilein and I was agreeing with them. I remember fans screaming on the radio that if we can't even compete with the bottom teams of the B1G, what's the point of keeping him? Watching that game against Sparty, which was also a Thursday night game, I was just amazed at how long we had the lead. And then Stu's shot....epic.

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 55460