The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/315684
2014 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE have been undefeated in the non-con- ference that year. The schedule was the schedule. "I laughed so hard when I heard people say Arizona was a must win. The early season is such a great mea- suring stick of who you are and what you have to do to improve going for- ward." The Wolverine: So is getting tested in the early games more important that running the table early? Beilein: "It depends on your team, but we'll always err on the side of playing a very challenging schedule." The Wolverine: What are your thoughts on the 2014-15 lineup of games? Beilein: "We go to Arizona, and The Legends Classic is going to be de- manding as well. We're still search- ing for some more games, so I can't tell you, but it will be demanding. "We have been playing 23 or 24 BCS games a year on the schedule. Only the very toughest schedules are featuring that many BCS games." The Wolverine: You've achieved great success here and talked about your fit with Michigan. Will that make it tougher to eventually say that's enough? Beilein: "I don't think about this that often. What I do know is that this is a terrific fit for me, for my family. I plan on coaching as long as I'm excited and enthused about it. I really am excited and enthused right now." The Wolverine: How fulfilling has it been to see the way this program has been embraced? Beilein: "I think this staff has been a great fit. I think it's hard not to like this Michigan basketball team of the last couple of years, the young men on the team. You listen to them in a press conference. You watch them with autograph seekers. "They're pretty easy to like. It's the culture we wanted to have. Now we want to keep it going." ❑ * Comments on the signee from MGoBlue.com. Beilein Fulfilling Promise At Michigan When Michigan reached into West Virginia to snag John Beilein as the Wolver- ines' head basketball coach, plenty of serious basketball minds called it a home run. Bob Knight, Rick Pitino and others insisted he is an X's and O's genius, and was bound for success when paired with Michigan's resources. They hit the mark on that those predictions like Nik Stauskas nailing a clutch three-pointer. Beilein has gone from a hoped-for revival wizard for a moribund Michigan basketball program to an Ann Arbor phenomenon over the recent seasons. Af- ter a decade without an NCAA Tournament appearance, Michigan has reached the Big Dance five out of the past six seasons, including four in a row. Beilein insisted he wanted to get the Wolverines to the point where those in the locker room knew nothing but reaching the NCAA Tournament come March. This fall, his roster reflects that goal.