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Posted on Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 7:22 a.m.

In two months, the Michigan basketball program has gone under a complete overhaul

By Michael Rothstein

The Michigan basketball program may not be going through a tectonic plate-sized shift like others in college sports this week, but the Wolverines have gone through their own personal realignments since the end of the season.

After the season, Michigan coach John Beilein said there would be changes. But this many?

The core of the Wolverines program has all departed Ann Arbor since the end of the season, eliminating the final traces of the Tommy Amaker era.

The Wolverines’ top two scorers and perceived leaders from a year ago, DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris, are gone. As of this week, all three assistant coaches that started last season, Jerry Dunn, John Mahoney and Mike Jackson, are no longer employed by Michigan.

Beilein has ensured one thing - this team, for the first time, will be one entirely of his own making.

He has a coaching staff that is completely new, but of his own choosing. He had brought Dunn and Mahoney with him from West Virginia and re-hired Jackson from Amaker’s staff. In their place. Beilein promoted Jeff Meyer from administrative specialist to assistant coach and brought in Bacari Alexander and LaVall Jordan.

“When you see that much transition, you know, it immediately signifies some sort of a shift in the plan for the program,” said Scout.com national basketball recruiting analyst Dave Telep. “What that shift is, is a question for the head coach.

“But when there’s that much change, it usually signifies a shift in the thinking behind the scenes.”

Beilein made his staff younger - and more in touch with the state of Michigan. Alexander and Jordan grew up in the state and have connections in Detroit. Meyer has been an assistant across the country.

“I love the make-up of this staff,” Beilein said in a statement when he hired Jordan.

Beilein better. In his first three years, Michigan has had two losing seasons and one NCAA tournament appearance. In all, Michigan is 46-53 under Beilein and 21-33 in the Big Ten. They are 8-26 on the road in Beilein’s three seasons.

Next year’s team will rely on a young frontcourt - no potential candidates with any size have played in a college game - and a backcourt that struggled in 2009-10.

But this is finally Beilein’s team comprised of only his talent and his leaders in guards Zack Novak and Darius Morris.

They recognize there are no more crutches of the past to lean on.

“I’m just going to go in and do simple leadership stuff,” Morris said. “Leading by example and really teaching the new freshmen that come in what Michigan basketball is going to mean over the next couple years under coach Beilein.

“It’s all his staff, all his players now so there’s no excuses about how things should be ran and however he wants it to be run, I’m going to do my best to relate that to the players.”

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.

Comments

jojojo

Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 5:35 a.m.

Tater suggests "Since MSU's administration is cheap, I would expect them to hire an ex-Izzo assistant with "potential" at a lower price than going out and getting a great coach. I would then expect two years of gradual decline followed by three of rebuilding. " Sounds a lot like Izzo's hiring.

voiceofreason

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 9:46 p.m.

2sweetblue, You're right. We would have to enroll quite a few parolees to compete with State in the "enrolled criminal athletes" category!

2sweetblue

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.

Lets have some class and stop referring Sparty to Misdemeanor State. We have a lot of work to do before we can even compete with State

1998pa

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 1:48 p.m.

so, just to recap your thoughts, tater, every single decision made at michigan state will result in the worst possible outcome, while every move that michigan makes will result in an optimal scenario. and there's really little to no chance we'll see anything but this dreamlike circumstance over the next 10 years, right? oy vey. thanks for the brilliant insight...

IoniaDawg

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 9:54 a.m.

I feel much better about U of M's future chances in b-ball and football with the arrival of the new athletic director. I think coaching changes will happen if Michigan doesn't start playing like "Michigan" again. The football and basketball coaches were both brought on board by the previous AD. I think it is win now or turn the page and go with different coaches.

robotmonster

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 9:09 a.m.

There is plenty of talent for Michigan to recruit, here in Michigan, regionally and nationally- regardless of whether or not Izzo stays or leaves. Actually, Michigan still has the edge nationally, even with six final fours under Izzo. Furthermore, note: Morgan, Roe and and incoming recruit are all from Ohio; Lucious is from Wisconsin, and final four star and now LA Laker is from Illinois.

WSC

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.

You don't mean "gone under a complete overhaul", do you? You mean to say "undergone a complete overhaul", correct? That would actually make sense.

rnich231

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 8:19 a.m.

Now you just need Dantonio to move and UM might have a chance to sign some of the top football players in the state again!

rnich231

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 8:17 a.m.

Now you just need Dantonio to move as well and then maybe UM would have a chance to recruit some of the top football players in the state!

kid dinomite

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 7:55 a.m.

Unlike football, basketball only has a few players that you can give offers to a year. Even if MSU offers a abnormally large amount of 6 offers, their is way more then 6 Div1 prospects in Michigan. Detroit, Flint, Inkster ect have tons of players. They just go elsewhere. MIchigan needs athletic big men, hopefully they recruit better in state.

mmsufish

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 7:32 a.m.

It's a pretty sad day when something bad needs to happen at the State University for your school to have something to be encouraged about!!

81wolverine

Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 6:39 a.m.

Now we just need Izzo to move on to Cleveland so Michigan has a chance to sign some of the top players in the state again!