was this a conscious decision by Beilein to drastically change our style and emphasis as a way to get an advantage in today's game? Or "it sort of just happened, so I will just ride it since it is working" type of thing? Let me explain.....
Beilein started talking about defense three years ago. I mean constantly and u can't win without defense, etc. It is like he made a conscious decision to change and (maybe, not sure) recruit differently. At the time he took Mathews, we were all like, "does he even fit? Can't shoot worth a lick and Calipari barely played him." Then Simpson showed up and looked awful offensively. Barely played. Then hired Donlan to be defensive coordinator. That had mixed results. Then he hired a DC again in Yaklich and it just took off. I have been amazed at the transformation. when asked why has the defense gotten so good, Beilein answered, "Cuz I stopped coaching it." What head coach says that or is secure enough to admit that and hire a DC in hoops?
I wonder if he looked at the explosion of the three ball and the five out offense becoming the rage and thought his style wasn't going to be as successful as it used it to be and he needed to go against the grain and get an advantage in a different way. I have never seen a coach change like that and do it late in his career, a career that was already so successful. Old coaches are usually set in their ways and don't welcome new ideas and new assistants like he has. It's been fascinating to watch. Put a tape in from 2005 or 2010 and it is hard to believe those WVU/Michigan teams are being coached by the same guy.
Beilein started talking about defense three years ago. I mean constantly and u can't win without defense, etc. It is like he made a conscious decision to change and (maybe, not sure) recruit differently. At the time he took Mathews, we were all like, "does he even fit? Can't shoot worth a lick and Calipari barely played him." Then Simpson showed up and looked awful offensively. Barely played. Then hired Donlan to be defensive coordinator. That had mixed results. Then he hired a DC again in Yaklich and it just took off. I have been amazed at the transformation. when asked why has the defense gotten so good, Beilein answered, "Cuz I stopped coaching it." What head coach says that or is secure enough to admit that and hire a DC in hoops?
I wonder if he looked at the explosion of the three ball and the five out offense becoming the rage and thought his style wasn't going to be as successful as it used it to be and he needed to go against the grain and get an advantage in a different way. I have never seen a coach change like that and do it late in his career, a career that was already so successful. Old coaches are usually set in their ways and don't welcome new ideas and new assistants like he has. It's been fascinating to watch. Put a tape in from 2005 or 2010 and it is hard to believe those WVU/Michigan teams are being coached by the same guy.
