BBall: The Killer B's & Winning vs. Building

Submitted by rayfrom19 on

Tommy Amaker and Brian Ellerbe won games....neither of the them built a Program.  For the first time in god knows how long, Michigan won a tough recruiting battle in basketball with Max Bielfeldt.  Since Beilein came to Michigan, there have been countless numbers of battles where Michigan came out the bridesmaid.  Names like Casey Prather (Florida), Try Zielgler (CMU), Sir Dominic Pointer (St. Johns) and too many in-staters lost to MSU to name.  Even though Max is not a Top 150, I was skeptical none the less.  For whatever reason we just simply always lost when it came down to UM vs. Anyone else.  The classic zero-sum game.

Getting Biefeldt wasn't even the biggest recruiting news of the week.  I contend that this weeks headline was that Mr. Trey Burke was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball.  Now here is an amazing trivia question:

Question: When was the last time Michigan got an Ohio Mr. Basketball?  Answer: Easy-E Eric Riley - 1988

1988!!!  Unbelievable!!!  In fact, only 3 Ohio Mr. Basketball's have ever played for UM (Riley, Gary Grant & Phil Hubbard).  So now you see the building of a Program 

The 2011 Killer B's: Biefeldt. Burke & Brundidge.  Oh yeah, I forgot one.....Beilein.

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bmdubs

March 26th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^

No. I love it! We really are laying a solid foundation. If we sweep MSU again next year, which I think is highly doable and probable, that could set us up to win more higher profile recruiting battles - especially in state

Joined: 09/05/2010

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caup

March 26th, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^

I read in today's Chicago Tribune that the only reason Max didn't choose Illinois is because they didn't have a scholarship for him and asked him to be a walk-on.  He did the smart thing and chose a full ride to a better school.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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M-Wolverine

March 26th, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^

It's a fine use of a scholarship in an area of need when we're going to have a number available next year, and will probably develop into a useful player over 4 years, but this wasn't really a steal from anybody else, and not a recruit a program is built around. With the current momentum we need to land some top players, and at least one in the frontcourt. Hopefully another good season, and the opening and upgrading of the facilities will allow him to have his pick of the litter.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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justingoblue

March 26th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^

I definitely do not think Beilein is a middle of the pack coach. Look at Canisius, Richmond, WVU and now this year's team. He's taken every program he's been to and turned it around, and each was in big trouble before he came.

Also, take a look at the last few minutes of OSU, Duke, Wisconsin. I can honestly say that we were never outcoached in those times, even though Coach K is going to become the winningest coach in history.

Joined: 11/16/2010

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AlwaysBlue

March 26th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^

If losing Zeigler to CMU counts, then I'm not sure how we can say the Beilein always lost recruiting battles.  Morgan had a CMU offer (along with Oakland and Xavier); Christian (Alabama, Cal, Penn State), Vogrich (Stanford, Northwestern, Wake Forest), etc.  Had Brundidge not committed so early he surely would have had an impressive offer list.

Having said that, I do think Beilein is focused on building a program around kids more likely to stay 4 years.  He's comfortable with a combination of kids who can contribute as freshmen and those who can develop over a couple of years.  When he talks about what he looks for in a recruit he seems to start with their desire to play for the University of Michigan, their basketball aptitude and their passion for the game.  If faced with a 4 or 5* kid without those characteristics and a 3* with them I have the impression that 9 times out of 10 he's taking the 3*.   

If the positive trend considers I'm sure the Wolverines will get a bump up in terms of the level of talent that shows serious interest but I don't think Beilein will substantially change the basic profile of the kind of kid he's looking for. 

Joined: 11/23/2008

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xxmgobluexx

March 26th, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^

This kid looks like a good pickup but this wasn't a recruiting coup with his commitment. I like that he is coming here but this isn't a recruiting I will be bragging about until/unless he does something on the court.

Joined: 09/18/2010

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Jasper

March 26th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^

I think there are traces of insanity in the original post.

"For the first time in god knows how long, Michigan won a tough recruiting battle in basketball ..."

Hey -- I'm happy about Mr. Bielfeldt.  He seems like a high-character person with good potential on the court.  It wasn't a given that he'd choose Michigan, but how dramatic was the process, really?

Here's a short list of bigger catches, post-Fisher.  I'm surely forgetting some people:

* Lavell Blanchard (considered the #1 overall player at one point by some high school recruiting analyst)

* Daniel Horton

* Dion Harris

* Manny Harris

* DeShawn Sims

* Darius Morris

Joined: 12/30/2010

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MaizeAndBlueWahoo

March 26th, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^

Not sure exactly which games Ellerbe and Amaker won.  Losing records in the conference, etc.  Winning and building a program aren't exactly mutually exclusive.  It's not a choice.  You make it sound like Beilein chose to build a program at the expense of winning games, but it's by winning games that he's building the program.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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719Yoop

March 26th, 2011 at 3:51 PM ^

I think this is one of the best recruiting classes that Beilien has brought in, Burke is going to be a star eventually in my opinion (A lot like Talor Battle). Brundidge is just a bowling ball going to the basketball which will open up space for our shooters. I like where the program is headed. 

Joined: 06/08/2010

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