There is no question that John Beilein is a godsend to Michigan basketball. He has transformed Michigan to a basketball program the likes that had not been seen for years. The argument that he cannot recruit fails to resonate to some because he has identified less heralded players and turn them into 1st round NBA draft picks. Also, there is no question that Beilein has suffered from the greatness of this development as the attrition took its toll this past season.
Do I trust Beilein to continue developing players? Yes.
Do I believe that Michigan has solid footing with its assistant coaches and training staff? Yes.
Can Michigan continue to win? Yes.
That said, the 2013 Final Four roster was somewhat of an aberration. Beilein took several unheralded players and made them lottery picks. That does not happen very often and cannot be an expectation year in and year out. The roster that is assembled now is not even close to that, not by a long shot, even with an All Big Ten caliber Caris Levert.
Here is the rub...and my lone complaint with Beilein is that he and his staff did not proportionally capitalize on the Final Four appearance and Elite 8 run. Not by a long shot. In retrospect, Chapman, Doyle, MAAR and Irvin are not the same as Jabari Parker, Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Okafor, etc. I guess that is where the frustration lies for me. I thought Michigan after 2011-2013 would be elite. Elite meaning get the absolute best of the best in recruiting and that has not materialized. So, I understand where those who have concern for recruiting are and where the disappointment lies. It is going to take diamonds in the rough and years to develop and striking lightening in the bottle for Michigan to make a Final Four unlike the Duke, Kentucky and even Michigan State's of the world.
Thoughts???
This post was edited on 4/15 6:29 PM by rpgoblue
Do I trust Beilein to continue developing players? Yes.
Do I believe that Michigan has solid footing with its assistant coaches and training staff? Yes.
Can Michigan continue to win? Yes.
That said, the 2013 Final Four roster was somewhat of an aberration. Beilein took several unheralded players and made them lottery picks. That does not happen very often and cannot be an expectation year in and year out. The roster that is assembled now is not even close to that, not by a long shot, even with an All Big Ten caliber Caris Levert.
Here is the rub...and my lone complaint with Beilein is that he and his staff did not proportionally capitalize on the Final Four appearance and Elite 8 run. Not by a long shot. In retrospect, Chapman, Doyle, MAAR and Irvin are not the same as Jabari Parker, Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Okafor, etc. I guess that is where the frustration lies for me. I thought Michigan after 2011-2013 would be elite. Elite meaning get the absolute best of the best in recruiting and that has not materialized. So, I understand where those who have concern for recruiting are and where the disappointment lies. It is going to take diamonds in the rough and years to develop and striking lightening in the bottle for Michigan to make a Final Four unlike the Duke, Kentucky and even Michigan State's of the world.
Thoughts???
This post was edited on 4/15 6:29 PM by rpgoblue
