I The Michigan Daily Beilein's a coach's coach I "I think he's definitely in the top five (coaches in the country), and I think he's the best teacher. He and Bobby Knight are right up there as the best teachers in the country." That quote might be a little partisan. After all, it's from Patrick Beilein, the son and former player of new Michi- gan men's bas- ketball coach John Beilein. But the son's r opinion, while admittedly biased, certain- ly isn't unique. DANIEL Howard BROMWICH Garfinkel, co- founder of the Broms Away Five-Star Bas- ketball camp that produced coaches like Rick Pitino, Hubie Brown and John Calipari, told the Roanoake Times "(Beilein is) the best coach in America today, except for maybe Coach K and Pitino. He's definitely in the top five." New Jersey Nets general man- ager Rod Thorn echoed that senti- ment. "He could coach anywhere and do really, really well," Thorn told Yahoo Sports. "He's one of the best coaches in all of basketball." After his team played West Vir- ginia this season, Georgetown coach JohnThompson IIIexplained that if you couldn't appreciate the way the Mountaineers played bas- ketball, you didn't know anything about the game. George Washington coach Karl Hobbs has referred to Beilein as the best coach in the country. Athletic Director Bill Martin was aware of all this recogni- tion, and when he consulted other coaches about Beilein, he received similar reactions. "We love learning from him," one said. "I look at a lot of his tape to see how he does stuff," another told Martin. But Beilein doesn't need any of these compliments. His record speaks for itself. He's succeeded at every level, posting winning records in 26 of his 29 seasons as a head coach, including stops at Erie Commu- nity College and Nazareth. He took Canisius (who?) to the NCAA Tour- nament in 1996 (it hadn't been since 1957) and advanced to the second round with Richmond in 1998. Beilein took over at West Virgin- ia after a 2001-02 season in which the Mountaineers finished 1-15 in the Big East. Within just three years, he had them in the Elite Eight and followed that with a trip to the Sweet 16. Before this past season, West Virginia lost four starters and 83 percent of its scoring. The team was picked by many to finish last or second-to-last in the 16-team Big East. "I'm only putting West Virgin- ia this high - i.e., next to last - because of Beilein," Gary Parrish of CBSSportsline wrote. "This team, quite simply, is going to be ter- rible. The only question is whether things will be down for one year, two years or longer?" Beilein the led his team to a 9-7 conference record, good enough for seventh in the conference. West Virginia defeated then-No. 2 UCLA in February (the Bruins stomped Michigan by 37 points two months earlier) and went on to win the NIT Championship. In my most recent column, I enu- merated the reasons former Michi- gan coach Tommy Amaker should be fired. I specifically pointed to X's-and-O's, results and player development, declaring that Amak- er fell short in all three areas. Beilein is widely considered one of the best X's-and-O's guys in college basketball. Other coaches respect him for it. For an example, look no further than the NIT semi- final, where, trailing by two with two seconds left, he designed a play that freed Darris Nichols for a game-winning 3-pointer. It looked a little different than Amaker's "lob-the-ball-to-Jerret-Smith-at- halfcourt-and-start-the-offense-with- 10-seconds-left-on-the-shot-clock" play. Michigan coach John Beilein has proven he has what it takes to help Michigan's basketball program succeed. In terms of results, Beilein's teams have averaged 25 wins in the past three seasons and have been to the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 in that time, in addition to winning an NIT championship this year. "An awful lot of teams have been watching us play at the end of the year the past few years," Beilein said. That's you Michigan, don't be shy. Beilein hasn't had the chance to coach any stars - not a single play- er of his has ever played in the NBA. But he turned unknowns Mike Gansey and Kevin Pittsnogle into household names and crucial con- tributors on an Elite Eight team. At Michigan, Beilein will finally have a talent pool from which to recruit potential stars. The results are still to come, but for many, they don't seem too far off. "I think he saw this as the elite level," Patrick Beilein said. "He did all he could at West Virginia. (Michigan) is a program that he can take to Final Fours, and that really intrigued him." His father opened yesterday's press conference by calling his arrival in Ann Arbor a "thrilling day." Coach Beilein, Michigan's more than thrilled to have you. - Bromwich can be reached at dabromwi@umich.edu. This column originally ran on April 5, 2007. Senior Dion Harris was unable to help the Michigan basketball team push past Na 1 Ohio State. Bucks crush hopes By DANIEL LEVY Petway found Sims alone under Daily Sports Writer the rim. But the senior's dunk hit the back rim and came out. What if? After Michigan stopped the That pesky question has hov- Buckeyes on the ensuing posses- ered over the Michigan basketball sion, Harris drew a foul and went program in recentyears. to the line for a one-and-one situ- And Saturday's 65-61 loss to No. ation. The 86 percent free throw 1 Ohio State was no different. shooter came up short on his first The Wolverines had numer- attempt, leaving the Wolverines ous chances down the stretch but down two. couldn't make the plays or shots "I think I'm a great free-throw they needed in the final minutes shooter, and to go up there and to pull off the upset. Those closing miss those with the opportunity moments soured what seemed to to tie the game, that's going to be be a huge Michigan victory in the tough (to get over)," Harris said. making. "That's pretty much all that's The importance of knocking goingthrough my mind." off the nation's top team, coupled Needing a stop and a score in with the emotion of Senior Day, the final minute, Michigan failed would have been a fitting way for to corral the rebound off a Mike Wolverine seniors Dion Harris, Conley Jr. miss, and the Wolver- Brent Petway, Courtney Sims and ines were forced to foul. Butler Lester Abram to say goodbye to calmly sank a pair of free throws Crisler Arena. Instead, barring an with 10 seconds left to ice the improbable run in this week's Big game, as disappointed fans head- Ten Tournament, the teamwillbe ed for the exits. back at Crisler the following week "We lost a game that we had to take another crack at the NIT. in our hands," Harris said. "We "When you come so close and should have won." you know you have to getthis win, The magnitude of the game (a moral victory) doesn't really was evident from the outset. Har- mean anything," Sims said. "Slip- ris sank a shot from downtown for ups like we had at the end of (Sat- three of his game-high 19 points, urday) cost us the season." and Michigan (8-8 Big Ten, 20- Michigan's agony began when 11 overall) jumped out to a quick Harris sprung loose for a 3-point- lead with its four seniors starting er with the score tied at61 and two together for the first time since a minutes remaining. Harris's shot Feb. 13 loss at Michigan State. bounced in and out, and Ohio State But it wasn't until early in the took the rebound the other way, second half that everyone got a resulting in a Jamar Butler lay-up taste of just how badly Michigan that gave the Buckeyes their first coach Tommy Amaker wanted lead since the opening minutes of this game. the second half. First, Michigan drew what The Wolverines tried to answer appeared to be Greg Oden's third on their next possession when foul, but the official assigned the foul to Ohio State' s Ivan Harris instead. On the next possession, Dion Harris drove right at the Buckeyes' 7-foot freshman phe- nom and drew contact without a call. Following that, Sims attacked the basket. Again, there was con- tact but no whistle. That was all Amaker needed to see. Feeling his team wasn't get- ting its fair shake in the lane, the normally reserved and collected Amaker immediately jumped in the official's face and drew an uncharacteristic technical foul, as he angrily ripped off his jacket. "Any time you see your coach fired up likethat,you know he's in it with you," Petway said. "I think we were already playing hard, but I think we looked up and saw him battling for us as far as the offici- atingsowe saidwe'regonnabattle some more for him." Michigan responded to Amak- er's passion with a 14-6 run for a 51-44 lead with nine minutes remaining. Ohio State (15-1,27-3) countered thanks to six of Oden's team-high 16 points, and tied the game at 55. Michigan came right back with a Jerret Smith triple and three- point play from Sims to regain control, 61-55, with four minutes left in front of the raucous Crisler faithful. But the fans' faith quickly turned to despair. Ohio State clawed back once more and this time the Wolverines were out of answers. Instead, Michigan was once again left to wonder "What if?" This article originally ran on March 5, 2007. Borseth ready to start By CHRIS HERRING Daily Sports Writer The Michigan women's bas- ketball team was all smiles as it looked on at newly hired coach Kevin Borseth's press conference at the Junge Family Champions Center last Friday. But no one was more excited than Borseth himself. "You have no idea how big a thrill it is to be standing in frontof you," said Borseth, whose hiring was announced last Tuesday. "I always envisioned myself coach- ing on an elite level, and Michigan was always the job I dreamed of. You've got a hectic schedule ahead of you. That's why the University of Michigan Credit Union specializes in the financial needs of students. We've tailored our Free Checking product to help you simplify your life and make managing your finances easier! " No monthly maintenance fees " No minimum balance requirement ".Free MemberNet {Online Banking and Online Bill Pay . 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(231),933-,242 Sponored by " elo iri iiKeyBank IUNNIN PIT For more info go to www.bighousebighearf.com or call 734-929-9027. H OME OFHE MICIEGAN WOLVEINIES 1000 S. Sta'e St. (734) 764-4600 C E A'" E 32Awww.umich.edu /yost PUBLIC SKATING Public Skate Admission: seataiemsepr aW7 Students: $3 Skate Rental: $2 Weekdays 12-12:50 pm Weekday Noon Skate: $2 Thursday 8-950 PM Noon Skate Rental: $l Thursay 89:50pm lisvciuiit Cospons Av'ailahle Saturday 2-3:50pm* - Sunday 2-3:50 pm *Some Saturday sessions cancelled during home Michigan football & hockey games. What a wonderful thrill to be able to come here and live this dream." In pursuit of that dream, Bors- eth left his position as head coach atWisconsin-GreenBaylastweek. There he compiled a216-62 record over nine seasons, capturing a reg- ular-season conference title every year and leading his team to seven NCAA Tournament appearances. But the Bessemer native will have his hands full if he hopes to achieve the same success in Ann Arbor. Just two Michigan teams have ever won 20 or more games in the program's 25-year history, and just one coach, Sue Guevara, finished with a career winning percentage more than .500. Borseth replaces retired coach Cheryl Burnett, who finished 35- 83 during her four-year stint at Michigan. Five seasons removed from a winning record and fresh off a 10-20 season, Borseth said it may take time for the Wolverines to show vast improvements. "The first year is normally a learning experience from (the players) standpoint and from my standpoint," Borseth said. "The second year is normally the toughest, because if you have any level of success in that first year, the expectations are far greater in the second one. But then that third year seems to roll, and all of a sudden things begin to hap- pen." Borseth's recruitment may help things happen sooner than lacer. Prior to hiring Borseth, Ath- letic Director Bill Martin said he was interested in a coach who had strong recruiting ties in the Midwest. Borseth's resume fit the bill, having spent 11 years as Michigan Tech's women's bas- ketball coach before leaving for the Wisconsin-Green Bay job in 1998. Borseth, 52, got extra insur- ance by making a hire of his own, adding former Grand Valley State head coach Dawn Plitzuweit as his associate head coach. Martin said Plitzuweit's exten- sive knowledge of the area's top high schoolers left an impression on him. "I was taken aback by not only her knowledge of not only our players (at Michigan), but all the top recruits in this area," Martin said. "She could name every one of them and list their strengths and weaknesses. That was a sig- See BORSETH, Page 8E