UM BB: Coach Belein Observation
This season of UM basketball is one of the most exciting seasons I have ever watched and I'm cautiously excited for the future. There is one thing that I have noticed about Coach Belein that I haven't really ever seen in other coaches, and I watch a lot of college basketball.
Our team is young and they make a lot of stupid mistakes including the classic freshmen turnovers and Manny Harris-esque shots. I think last night's 5 second call was the first one I had seen in a year. However, when these mistakes are made, Coach Belein turns to the bench and makes it a teaching moment. I've noticed that he immediately is telling the players how you should hold the ball in that situation, which way to move, etc.
I would think this would be common sense among coaches throughout the NCAA and maybe I'm mistaken but I can't recall seeing this too much in other games I have watched. I'm not saying Belein is the only coach doing this, but it sure explains the improvement we see in his players year after year.
I wanted to get your thoughts on if anyone else had noticed this and what other aspects you think make his coaching that truly improves players. Just a good old basketball discussion.
Go Blue.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:24 PM ^
This season of UM basketball is one of the most exciting seasons I have ever watched
Dude, fab five years?
January 13th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
I guess I should've added "in the last decade" or "in recent memory"
January 13th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
Maybe Clarett was in Jail w/ no TV? Never saw those years apparently.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^
I was thinking earlier today that we should do the full court press. I was reading about how Petino used it while he was coming up as a coach to attempt to marginalize the talent deficiancy on his roster. Full court press = turnovers = more opportunities to score. It seems with our 3 happy offense this would lend itself perfectly for us. Full court press = turnovers = more opportunities for three pointers = more three pointers made. That was my thought. Once we have a high talent level accross the entire roster again we can return to normal every once in a while traps and solid D. That's my thought.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:34 PM ^
I think you want more depth than we currently have in order to press with regularity.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^
Not a bad idea, but I agree with jonny, only because I would worry about us getting into foul trouble. There have already been a few games that Novak and Morgan have fouled out in. Goes without saying that that has hurt us.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:52 PM ^
It doesn't really lead to more fouls, but it can easily cause you to give up easy baskets if guys don't know their assignments. It's something that's easier to do with experienced players. I don't know that Beilein does a lot of full court trapping, but the principles aren't totally different than a halfcourt trap (like the 1-3-1).
Other zone defenses and man to man defense are easier than full court or half court traps. This team will get there, but I doubt we'll see a ton of trapping this year.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^
I think you have to realize the fab 5 was almost 20 years ago, and many fans probably weren't even alive or too young to have seen it. So yeah, this is the best hoops they have seen at Michigan.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
This is so sad on more than a few levels....
January 13th, 2011 at 4:33 PM ^
Heck, I'm 22, a Bulls fan and can barely even remember the Jordan years all that well.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:41 PM ^
Jordan? Like, Michael Jordan? The baseball player? What does he have to do with the Bulls?
Just kidding, I know that you mean the actor from Space Jam.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:55 PM ^
that fat white guy from Jurrassic Park?? interesting
January 13th, 2011 at 4:35 PM ^
I grew up outside of Michigan but traveled to Michigan many times a year since my entire family lives there. Both of my parents went to State, I don't know what to say about this, and my granpa went to Michigan. So growing up I had plenty of State and Michigan shirts, however the Fab Five made me love Michigan and hate State. The rest is history and yes I still get excited seeing Juwan Howard on the bench for the heat.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:36 PM ^
Damn kids, get off my e-lawn!
January 13th, 2011 at 4:37 PM ^
and a big thank you for reminding me that I am in fact - old.
January 13th, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^
at 27 i can very clearly remember the fab five, and the anger and heartbreak of sitting in crisler, watching on the big screens they had there when webber called time out. another reminder that current undergrads are waaaaaaay younger than me.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^
that never happened... per the NCAA...
January 13th, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^
That Belein is regarded as a top coach... he is. Starting next year I think we will start seeing a program that is in the NCAAs nearly every year with the occasional deep run, as well.
I can see this team and coach B's system develope with every game. I am very excited!
January 13th, 2011 at 9:35 PM ^
Yes, I'm spoiled. I expect Final Fours, not spoiling Kansas' top 5 ranking.
January 13th, 2011 at 4:54 PM ^
sort of. He uses it as a screaming moment. He's famous for bending the ear of someone on the bench every time someone messes up on the floor. Hilarious.
January 13th, 2011 at 5:35 PM ^
I've noticed this as well since he started coaching here 4 years ago. Definitely a good sign, but in the heat of the moment (i.e., when one of the players on the floor made a mistake), I can't help but think, "Darius makes that mistake 4 times a game, what good is telling John Bartelstein to not pick up your dribble when he is never going to play? Is Beilein actually telling the players on the floor what they're doing wrong at any point?"
He is obviously doing that in practice and film sessions, but I can't help but think we have the most fundamentally sound back-end of a bench in college basketball.
January 13th, 2011 at 5:40 PM ^
Obviously, I was spoiled as I went to M in the late 80's when you had Glen Rice, Gary Grant, Rumeal Robinson, Roy Tarpley, Loy Vaught, etc......won a National Title my junior year. I don't think anyone on this team would have started on those teams.
The enthusiasm is great and I am optimistic for the future, but here we are in year 4 and so far Beilein has been no better than Amaker - in fact I think his record could be worse. Honestly, I am disappointed. I think we have made the tourney once in the last 12-15 years which basically means we have been mediocre at best - half the teams in the B1G seem to make the tourney roughly.
January 13th, 2011 at 5:42 PM ^
and he is always looking for some player to educate on something. In this regard, he is the anti-Amaker. Tommy never seemed to have anything to say to anyone. Beilein has a lot to say to everyone about everything that happens in every game. I love that about him. It is so clear that he knows SOOO much. I am not crazy about his system, but I love how much he knows and tries to teach.
January 13th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
but i am way excited about the future. they appear to be playing well and wanna know the top 3 on andy katz's new power rankings?
1. tOSU
2. Kansas
3. Syracuse
we took all 3 of those teams right to the end with one of the youngest teams in the country. he's obviously doing a lot of things right
January 13th, 2011 at 6:49 PM ^
Til He can recruit some Bigs inside who can actually do some damage offensively against teams like MSU, OSU,Wisconsin, we will be NIT bound !
We need a Banger inside, plus a Pittsnogle type would be nice, a big man who can shoot the 3 .
A solid 5, and a banger 4
Coach B can recruit guards, no doubt on that
and he is a good fundamental coach
January 13th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
Interesting. I've read that Beilein is an excellent teacher of the game before. There was a post about a month and a half ago ("Spartan has high praise for Beilein") linking a Rivals post by a Spartan fan who had a great time at a Michigan game. I think he mentioned Beilein's qualities as a teacher of the game. Unfortunately, the link brings you to a Rivals page saying that the message is no longer in their system.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:36 PM ^
Michigan? In football, I can understand due to the lack of support, talent, harder competition, etc. In basketball, though, the big east is a tough conference.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:50 PM ^
I live about 5000 miles away from Michigan, so it wasn't a pleasant surprise to see them on the television here. I think the basketball team is getting better, and the coach does appear to be doing a lot of the right things. It is one of the most exciting seasons since the Fab 5. Hopefully, they'll broadcast a couple more games out here in the middle of the Pacific before the end of the season. Thanks for the nice post.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
I love this team, and really think they'll surprise people this year and next. This team is one of the youngest in CBB, yet just took the #2 and #3 teams in the country down to the wire. Amazing job by Beilien if you ask me.