I follow hoops recruiting as much or more than most. Going all the way back to the early 70s when Orr hauled in Campy Russell and CJ Kupek as part of a blockbuster class. Of course, there were no rating services back then, but Campy would have been top 10, maybe #1. Freshmen still couldn't play. When the freshmen became sophs, the chemistry was not good between the upperclassmen (Wilmore et al) and the newcomers. Campy left a year early (unusual in those days), and the class had a couple of trips to the dance, including a nice run in Campy's final year - capped by an upset of Notre Dame. They were better after the upperclassmen graduated. But they couldn't live up to the hype.
I mention this only to point out how assembling a lot of talent didn't guarantee anything then or now. The question has come up regularly about whether and how to recruit the top 20 players. Some say "don't bother." We will always lose out to UK, KU, Duke, etc. Some say to pull out all the stops, fawn over them, tell them what they want to hear, that's the way to get them to Ann Arbor. Beilein needs to play the game, short of cheating. Forget about the "good teammate" and "running through the door to come to Michigan" thinking.
IMO, there are reasons to stay the Beilein course. First, we will almost always lose out to the Dukes and UKs head to head for elite players - no matter what we do. So why compromise on principles? That is not to say "don't try", because we will win those battles on occasion. Second, Beilein's principles result in teams that play a beautiful brand of basketball once the players have absorbed the system and the culture. By the end of last season, after all of the adversity, Michigan was playing the best basketball outside of Wiscy, MSU and Maryland with a depleted, freshman laden roster. They were a joy to watch.
Third, Beilein doesn't recruit ratings. And he develops players. Player development is partly coaching, but it's also tied to recruiting kids who are gym rats - who will do what it takes. I don't need to give a lot of examples, but Trey and Nik are the poster children. A 3 star who became national POY as a soph, and a 60 something ranked player who took B1G POY as a soph. Who will forget Trey's videos of his workouts in preparation for coming to Ann Arbor? Novak and Spike are just as remarkable in their own way. Unranked guys who contributed greatly to our success - way beyond what anyone envisioned.
Make no mistake. Talent level puts a ceiling on success, but we can get the talent for title contending success without compromising principles, without a bevy of 5 stars, because those principles - good teammates, high IQ, extreme work ethic, buying into the culture - are not just feel good ideas, they produce results. Next season will be another test of Beilein's principles. Anyone want to bet against him?
I mention this only to point out how assembling a lot of talent didn't guarantee anything then or now. The question has come up regularly about whether and how to recruit the top 20 players. Some say "don't bother." We will always lose out to UK, KU, Duke, etc. Some say to pull out all the stops, fawn over them, tell them what they want to hear, that's the way to get them to Ann Arbor. Beilein needs to play the game, short of cheating. Forget about the "good teammate" and "running through the door to come to Michigan" thinking.
IMO, there are reasons to stay the Beilein course. First, we will almost always lose out to the Dukes and UKs head to head for elite players - no matter what we do. So why compromise on principles? That is not to say "don't try", because we will win those battles on occasion. Second, Beilein's principles result in teams that play a beautiful brand of basketball once the players have absorbed the system and the culture. By the end of last season, after all of the adversity, Michigan was playing the best basketball outside of Wiscy, MSU and Maryland with a depleted, freshman laden roster. They were a joy to watch.
Third, Beilein doesn't recruit ratings. And he develops players. Player development is partly coaching, but it's also tied to recruiting kids who are gym rats - who will do what it takes. I don't need to give a lot of examples, but Trey and Nik are the poster children. A 3 star who became national POY as a soph, and a 60 something ranked player who took B1G POY as a soph. Who will forget Trey's videos of his workouts in preparation for coming to Ann Arbor? Novak and Spike are just as remarkable in their own way. Unranked guys who contributed greatly to our success - way beyond what anyone envisioned.
Make no mistake. Talent level puts a ceiling on success, but we can get the talent for title contending success without compromising principles, without a bevy of 5 stars, because those principles - good teammates, high IQ, extreme work ethic, buying into the culture - are not just feel good ideas, they produce results. Next season will be another test of Beilein's principles. Anyone want to bet against him?
