Beilein: Caris NOT cleared, tells reporters to "back off"
Beilein on LeVert: "I want to be clear about something with Caris. Nothing is clear."
Beilein says LeVert will get out there when he's ready, "I need everybody to back off, stop projecting. Thank you."
Seriously, what the hell is going on? He was cleared, now he's not? How do we just know absolutely nothing about this injury?
Beilein gets paid millions of dollars to coach this team, and he needs to be accountable to the media when our star player is out for weeks with a mysterious injury.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:31 PM ^
Right, there is no strategic benefit to it. Alienating (finicky) fans does not strategically affect basketball games, the things Beilein is trying to win.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^
Ok and what's the "strategic benefit" in obfuscating for weeks? This strategy has hurt the team more than it has helped. It's become a distraction. If it weren't a distraction Beilein wouldn't have given such a testy answer to reporters.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^
The benefit is that it can affect opponents' preparation for Michigan. If they think LeVert might return, they can waste valuable time on the practice court/in the film room getting ready for him.
As for Michigan, if the other guys on the team know what LeVert's status is, there shouldn't be any problem with what Beilein tells the media.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:05 PM ^
1) His teammates don't seem to have any idea what's going on (https://twitter.com/nickbaumgardner/status/694737411281174528)
2) Do you really believe the uncertainty about Levert's injury is having any effect on opponents' preparation? Indiana, MSU, and Minnesota all seemed to play just fine against us relative to what you'd expect from those teams.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:16 PM ^
So, just for the record, from a single tweet from 10 days ago quoting a single player, you've concluded that "his teammates don't seem to have any idea what's going on." That's some solid evidence there.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:31 PM ^
I mean, Beilein has been completely inconsistent in the way he speaks about this. First, a month ago the Levert injury was "temporary" (https://twitter.com/BFQuinn/status/687728432864612352). Then earlier this week he was cleared by everyone and the decision was his to play or not. Today Beilein says both he and Levert still need to clear him.
Meanwhile the team has been playing terribly. You can dismiss Duncan Robinson's quote as just "a single tweet from 10 days ago quoting a single player" or you can evaluate this holistically and see a situation that is confusing at best, unstable at worst.
February 12th, 2016 at 5:01 PM ^
Or maybe the players were briefed to be evasive?
If Beilein is engaging in gamesmanship, it wouldn't work too well if his players blew his cover.
In any event, given that the team has gone 7-4 without Caris in the lineup - with all four losses to ranked teams - I don't think this issue is affecting the locker room that much.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:48 PM ^
I strongly feel that Beilein does not "need" to do anything to please the media. He owes Kaufman nothing.
This is a University not a pro sports franchise. I hope that Simon is having an impotent meltdown.
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February 12th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
All this, just because some random Illinois player stepped on his foot. We've been so unlucky the last couple of years on the injury front.
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February 12th, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^
Maybe time to look at our S&C program? I know everyone loves Sanderson and all those pictures of players looking jacked that he posts on twitter and such, but we have suffered an inordinate amount of injuries. McGary, Walton, Levert, Irvin have all suffered serious injuries in the past couple of years. That can't be a coincidence.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:04 PM ^
Its possible. Irvin and Mitch both had back issues.
But Walton's injury was an ankle, and Caris' is something in his foot. Those are generally things that just happen in basketball. While you can strengthen an akle, its usually after an injury. Its hard to keep it from rolling if thats the way it lands.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:26 PM ^
For all the fawning media coverage Sanderson has gotten over the last couple years (see here, for example: http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/11/michigan_strength_con…), you'd think he'd face a bit of scrutiny for the team's injuries. And for, you know, being totally manhandled athletically by so many teams on our schedule.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
Players cleared...but not cleared
Players writing open letters to fans saying how after 2 blowouts the team "gets it" and discovered "grit" in those blowouts, but blew an 18 point lead to the worst team in the BigTen and almost lost after those discoveries.
Will a statement from the AD expressing support for JB be next?
Things are not well with basketball it would appear.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
Didn't Rose sit out a season a few years back even though he was technically cleared to play? Same scenario except was Rose guaranteed millions. Any Bulls fans out there.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^
I won't be surprised one bit of Caris just sits out the rest of the season. He is likely looking out for his NBA future, which is understandable if that is the case.
February 12th, 2016 at 7:31 PM ^
His NBA future is limited based on his ability to actually complete a season (in the NCAA, not 82 game schedule).
He's talented, but also injury prone.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
If you're going to complain at least get the facts correct. It does not say that Caris has not been cleared to play. For me, your inability to comprehend the tweets just ruins your credibility.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:18 PM ^
my credibility with RileyPrince is shot!
February 12th, 2016 at 2:57 PM ^
I trust JB. It's not like he ordered a Code Red or anything.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^
did you order the Code Red?
February 12th, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^
YOU'RE GOD DAMN RIGHT I DID!
February 12th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
Beilein gets paid to coach the team. Not to be accountable to the media. Neither he, nor Caris, owes us fans any explanation. If he cant go, he wont play. He'll play when and if he can.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
What the fuck is up with a portion of this fanbase and their obsession with Michigan coach's supposed obligation to disclose all information to the media (and hence them), especially injury news?
It's almost as if, once a Michigan coach starts to struggle, people begin to search for complaints to make about why coaches aren't fulfilling their obligations. It's almost as if, let's say, the lack of winning may not satisfy their ravenous need to be pissed off about this lack of winning, so they need to justify their infuriation by lumping on more frivolous complaints.
The coaches at Michigan owe the media nothing except showing up at press conferences. Anything else is a bonus to you. Let the coaches do what they think is best for the team and player; take joy in their successes and sorrow in their defeats, and honestly, shut the hell up about not getting more injury news.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:13 PM ^
a portion of this fanbase and the insistence that Beilein is immune to any criticism whatsoever.
If we really should "let the coaches do what they think is best for the team and player," and just shut up, why does this blog exist? Why did Hoke or RR ever take criticism? That's WHAT WE DO ON THIS SPORTS BLOG.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^
No coach is. But that criticism doesn't include complaining about him not devulging injury information to the media.
Complain about the lack of big development. Complain about how awful the defense has been. Complain about recruiting. I mean, there's some I'll agree with and some I won't, but you can complain about it. At the end of the day, those are all complaints directly about how and why the team isn't winning.
Injury information doesn't fall into that category though. And that's why that's a stupid thing for a fanbase to constantly bring up as soon as they start having other complaints about a coach not winning enough.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^
I think JB gets a lot of criticism for his two foul strategy, his recruiting misses, his defensive principles, and other things. But whether or not he discloses the injury of a 21 year old kid to a bunch of fans just so they are included shouldnt be a reason.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:27 PM ^
You're being ridiculous, Andy.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:16 PM ^
on the internet, it's probably time to realize that they may not be the problem.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:34 PM ^
his curse was not directed towards a any michigan fan. Also, I have no no problem telling a whiny, entitled prick that he is being so regardless of his fandom
February 12th, 2016 at 3:33 PM ^
If we go 1-1 last week against MSU and Indiana people would probably be praising Beilein for getting the media to back off. You are right, people are projecting their frustation with the teams performance on this situation. Does it even matter what Beilein says? Caris will return when he is ready to play, end of story. Its as if people honostly think that Caris is sitting back saying "Man, my team is struggling out there, and at this pace we may not make NCAA tourny, but I'm not going back out there, I have my NBA draft stock to worry about".
February 12th, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^
I can't decide what's more annoying - your attitude or the attitude of people who think Beilein needs to provide constant detailed updates.
"Shut the hell up about it" is not a morally superior position. In fact, if you're going to ask fans to buy tickets, buy merchandise, attend games, donate to the program, and follow the team throughout the season, it's a little insulting when you then refuse to provide any clarity on an injury to their favorite player.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:30 PM ^
Because three out of the last four Michigan coaches in football and basketball have suddenly had a bunch of petty criticisms levied on them as soon as some fans whiff a hint of adversity in the programs. And each time those criticisms snowballed and eventually hurt the program. So we had one successful football season in seven and now we want to act a way that leads to similar things with basketball, all because some fans want to bitch about not getting some info they have no obligation to get
February 12th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^
So petty criticisms of coaches is the reason we had one successful football season in seven? Huh. I thought it was because of awful coaching.
How did criticism of Hoke hurt the program? Fan outrage was arguably a key factor in his firing, which helped the program immensely.
And people were getting irritated at the Levert situation well before the losses to MSU and Indiana. In any event, how has criticism of Beilein hurt the program?
February 12th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^
If everything that's team business was kept as team business, this blog wouldn't exist. Caris suffered a seemingly innocuous injury that has taken several weeks to recover and we still have no timetable for his return. I dunno why some people on here expect fans to not want information about it. There have literally been no details about the injury and we're all stuck playing the guessing game of "will Caris be back this week?"
February 12th, 2016 at 3:09 PM ^
This blog has been fine and will continue to be fine with Fort Schembechler. Certainly, they'll take more information when they get it (they got more information during the Rich Rod years), but this blog makes a living with many, many other things besides injury updates.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^
What about all the recruiting updates? That's team business and we don't need to know about them. Any coaching changes are team business and we don't need to know about them. When you have a star player missing significant time for an injury that is obviously a lot more serious than it initially appeared, it's natural for the fans to wonder what the fuck is going on. And Beilein has not made things any better for himself with the way he's handled this whole situation. First he said Caris was cleared to play, which made only Caris look bad when he continued to sit games out, now he's contradicting what he initially said. It's a PR blunder and fans deserve to not be kept in the dark about it.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:19 PM ^
The main source for recruiting info is the recruits.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
Not necessarily. Coaches, family, people from inside the Michigan program all provide recruiting updates.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^
Most of the recruiting news is publicly known; they come from 3rd-party sources that have communication with the kids (who typically announce when they get offers). The coaching situation was a bit different, but at the same time those are adult men and women who are oftentimes talking to the media themselves and getting their story out.
If Lavert wants to talk about his injured ankle or whatever on Twitter, then by all means ask him about it. But if he's saying it's an injury and he's not talking about coming back tomorrow, that is all the news you've got and you have to run with it as-is. Beilein screwing up with his comments is on him, and he then clarified it. That's going to have to be enough for now. If people want more "insider info", then scour the internet and you'll find rumors and snippets. But the idea the fans are owed personal information that won't have a relevant impact on their lives is unnecessary.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:34 PM ^
Then why follow the team outside of games if we're not deserving of information about the team? That's the whole idea behind sports journalism.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:57 PM ^
You should be happy, because apparently there is tons of information out there for you to follow with your team. Dakich wrote an open letter, the Freep had a nice article on Austin Davis. Go ahead and follow. The program, the players, and the recruits are giving you information for you to follow.
But are you seriously staking your fanhood on "I deserve injury information"? You're not going to follow the team or care about the team if you don't get injury information.
I'll tell ya, I tend to follow the team both during games and outside of the games because I care about the team. If Beilein and Caris believe it's not my place to know about Caris's injury, then ya know, I'm not going to bitch about not getting injury information, because... I care about the team.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^
Where exactly did you read that I'm staking my fanhood? If there's information out there about the status of our basketball team's star player then yeah, I would like to know. At least, I'd like to know something beyond "He's cleared to play but then he isn't". Being concerned about the status of a player that could potentially really help the team's performance obviously means that I don't care about the team. I'm sorry that my desires for just a little bit of information don't fall in line with your idea of what being a good fan is, but I'll make sure to check with you next time before I post anything to make sure that I'm being a good fan.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:33 PM ^
I'm sure everyone on this blog would love to know more about this injury, because we care about Michigan (which is why we follow both in and outside of games). The difference is that while I'd love to know about the injury I don't need to know and no one is obligated to inform me.
I hate to break it to you guys, but in life there's a huge difference between what you want and what you are obligated to receive.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
Great, thank you for explaining how life works to me. Really needed that lesson from a stranger on the internet.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:42 PM ^
Because here you are feeling obligated to something you want
February 12th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^
I'm glad you took time out of attempting to analyze football schemes on a message board to teach me life lessons. Thank you very much.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:50 PM ^
And not just the Xs and Os. So you're welcome.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:57 PM ^
I have plenty of role models in my life. So I don't need life lessons from some armchair coach on the internet. But thanks anyways.
February 12th, 2016 at 5:05 PM ^
I'd rather be criticized and called names about something I know (that being an arm chair coach that also is a coach) rather than be criticized for something I didn't know.
February 12th, 2016 at 5:14 PM ^
And yet you're very willing to criticize someone you don't know