John Beilein spoke to reporters, including MLive’s Brendan Quinn, at the United States Basketball Writers Association Luncheon in Indianapolis. Beilein was at the event to honor Austin Hatch, who received the USBWA’s Most Courageous Award.
The Michigan head coach also reported that Spike Albrecht would be undergoing hip surgery, a procedure which will affect both hips, shortly and will miss the offseason. Beilein told MLive that his senior point guard would have to procedure “very quickly and miss the entire summer.”
“A tough situation,” Albrecht said. “I don’t want to sit out, but I also don’t want to go through another season like I went through this year, but if that’s the only option and that’s the best option, then I’ll do it.”
Albrecht averaged 30.7 minutes per game as a junior and led Michigan down the stretch despite clearly playing through pain.
Beilein not expecting any transfers
Beilein also told reporters that he’s not expecting any additional transfers this offseason.
“Everybody seems to be all onboard 100 percent,” Beilein told MLive. “Obviously, we’re not with them 24 hours a day, but I love their attitude right now.
“You never like to say it’s 100 percent, but we feel like this team — we’ve worked out everybody — seems to be really fired up about next season and their role they can have on our team.”
Wolverine senior Max Bielfeldt is expected to move on after graduating – he has been in talks with Bradley – but Beilein feels that the rest of the roster should return – pending Caris LeVert’s upcoming NBA decision.
Michigan added a commitment from German forward Moritz Wagner on Sunday and will also add Williams College transfer Duncan Robinson to the rotation next season.
LeVert still undecided, stock slipping?
Michigan has been soliciting NBA feedback for Caris LeVert since he was sidelined in late January, but the 6-foot-7 junior still hasn’t made a decision on his future.
“We have been gathering information since the time, really, when his injury occurred,” Beilein told the Free Press. “I think we’re almost at the point where I think he has enough information, but we don’t have everything yet.”
He has until April 26th to make his decision and right now he appears to be in no hurry. LeVert’s injury also remains a concern as he was still in a walking boot as of last week.
“He has dreams of playing in the NBA, but at the same time, he understands that it’s not about playing in the NBA and giving up a Michigan education to be drafted,” Beilein told MLive. “It’s about giving up a diploma from Michigan to have a career in the NBA. Those are the things he’s sorting out.”
LeVert has been slipping on draft prognostication websites. DraftExpress currently projects him as the 24th pick in the draft and he was tabbed as a top-20 pick in early March. NBADraft.net moved LeVert to its 2016 Mock Draft while ESPN’s Chad Ford has LeVert at No. 33 on his Top 100 ranking.
