John Beilein took some time after Michigan’s exhibition match-up against Northern Michigan to talk to the media. He discussed his lineups, what he thought of the freshmen, his team bringing down 19 offensive rebounds and more. You can watch in the embedded media player below or read the notes and quotes after the jump.
- “We get so much out of (the game) it’s incredible.” They will watch video and go over positives and negatives. “Northern Michigan didn’t come in and just throw it up and allow us to get 80 points. We had to guard them for 30 seconds a lot.” Said having to work defensively is key. For young teams, playing good defense often is the best offense.
- Said some of his players were unselfish “almost to a fault.” Tim Hardaway Jr., in particular. Said making 3-pointers early was big for sharing the ball.
- On Spike Albrecht’s performance (16 points, six assists, three rebounds): “He surprises me every day … he makes you smile to watch him play.” Said he doesn’t pass the eye test but certainly delivers.
- Beilein didn’t plan on putting all the freshmen in the game at once, as he did at the end of the first half — it just worked out with who he was trying to get minutes for. “They’ve never been on the same team before, they’ve always been separated in practice.”
- Said of Hardaway’s performance (13 points, five assists, eight rebounds) that he needs to “see himself as a guard, that’s a different role sometimes.” Implied that it’s more the role of creator than scorer. Liked especially that Hardaway had no turnovers, rebounded.
- On the last time one of his teams had 19 offensive rebounds: “I don’t think it was in this century.” Said that Jordan Morgan is more agile and quicker under the basket, allowing him to get more rebounds. Emphasized that they need to continue to “get Mitch in better shape.” Said Mitch McGary is now sprinting in practice.
- “(McGary) tires himself out with his energy,” Beilein said, referring to Mitch’s fist pump and chest-beating after his and-1 in the first half.
- Said he picked Matt Vogrich for the fifth starter spot tonight because he was “the most consistent every day in practice offensively and defensively.” Nik Stauskas and Vogrich have both been shooting the lights out, but defensively felt he needed Vogrich to start.
- “Nik now knows both the two and the three, as we experiment with things. I think you can see he sees the floor very well; I want him to take the ball and make some plays, as well.”
- They thought “long and hard” about naming Josh Bartelstein captain. Said Bartelstein is “the most selfless, team-team-team guy I may have ever coached.” Named Tim and Jordan as captains today, said the situation could change as the season goes on. Bartelstein “has the ear of this locker room, and he has the ear of this coaching staff, as well.”
- On Trey Burke’s demeanor on the bench: “He’s handled all of this very well.” Burke will be back practicing with the team tomorrow.
- “There’s no point guard controversy.”
