Michigan basketball coach John Beilein lauded for success despite lack of depth
Michigan coach John Beilein stands in front of the team's bench, which contributed just 16.7 percent of the Wolverines' minutes played last season. That was the third lowest percentage in Division I basketball.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Who says you need depth to succeed in major college basketball?
Michigan basketball coach John Beilein went through the 2011-12 season with hardly any, and earned a share of a conference championship in the process, something that drew the attention of SportsIllustrated.com on Wednesday.
SI.com's Luke Winn listed his annual college basketball coaching awards, and included Beilein as the coaching having the "Most Success With The Least Depth."
According to Winn, Michigan's reserves accounted for 16.7 percent of the team's minutes on the season. Only two teams played their bench less than Michigan in all of Division I college basketball a year ago, Siena and Youngstown State.
"No one got by with a shorter rotation than Beilein," Winn wrote. "After losing point guard Darius Morris to the NBA earlier than expected, and then big-man Jon Horford to a medical-redshirt year, the Wolverines' coach allocated just 16.7 percent of his minutes to reserves.
"And yet, Michigan managed to finish in a three-way tie for the Big Ten regular-season title -- the first time that's happened since 1985-86."
Michigan's bench leader in minutes played, by the end of the 2011-12 campaign, was sophomore forward Evan Smotrycz -- who finished the year averaging 21.1 minutes per game after being removed from the starting lineup 18 games into the season.
The Wolverines will have to replace Smotrycz's minutes next season, as he recently decided to transfer to Maryland.
The only other Michigan reserve to see action in all 34 games a year ago was guard Matt Vogrich, who logged 10.7 minutes per contest.
Despite losing Smotrycz, as well as senior starters Zack Novak and Stu Douglass, Michigan could have more depth next season with the addition of a highly-touted four-man recruiting class that features five-star wing Glenn Robinson III, four-star forward Mitch McGary, four-star guard Nik Stauskas and three-star guard Spike Albrecht.
Also, Horford and fellow forward Max Bielfeldt are expected to compete for minutes after redshirting the 2011-12 campaign.
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
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Comments
Luke Bromberg
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 4:39 p.m.
Two things one John Beilein's system has to change if Michigan wants to beat good teams. And number two Darius Morris asked John Beilein's if I should go and John said yes so if he said Darius would haste stayed with Michigan for one more year.
heartbreakM
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 3:05 a.m.
Ah, depth is overrated :) Reason we lost to Ohio was great team defense by Ohio, they were hitting their 3's and we weren't (except for Smot), and Michigan's continued reluctance to pound the ball inside. Ohio played better. No matter the depth, we lose that game. But depth in college ball is a double edged sword. If your players are great, they leave early (think Trey this spring, Darius last year). If they aren't so great, they stick around, but then they get criticized for not being that good. MSU didn't even have the best depth this year either and yet, they were great once they got into a groove.
Engineer
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 1:29 a.m.
rocco hit the nail on the head. If you have no depth after five recruiting classes the blame is yours. Michigan had a nice season but not all that great. Getting bounced in first round by a MAC school is nothing to brag about. If we are happy just to make the tourney then we are doing great. If we want more final games like Grote/ Green years or Rice years or Fab five years then recruiting needs to get better year after year. This staff has been given a LOT of time to get it in gear. Their seat should be very very hot!
Jim
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 12:10 p.m.
Wow! You think Beilein should be on the hot seat after just winning Michigan's first basketball Big Ten Championship in well over 20 years? My opinion here, but it seems like the coach, the team, and the direction the program is headed are all doing very well... Much better than any of the recent coaches before Beilein.
rocco
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 11:35 p.m.
This is a lefthanded compliment from Sports Illustrated. Beilein's failure to recruit depth was the reason for the one and out in the tournament. Michigan will be starting almost from scratch in fall 2012 with so many "highly" rated recruits. The team will still lack depth and the inside positions. I don't consider any of the returnees top level players. Once again, Beilein will have to do more with less. That might get him praise from some of the Michigan faithful, but it won't get him tournament wins.