Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from John Beilein leaving for Cavs

It’s horrible timing for Michigan basketball

John Beilein doesn’t owe the Michigan basketball program anything. The man took a program that couldn’t sniff the NCAA tournament and reached the national championship game twice. He made the Sweet 16 four times, the elite 8 three times. He also led the Wolverines to nine NCAA appearances, won two regular-season Big Ten championships and two tournament titles.

He leaves as the winningest coach in Michigan history. We all owe him a debt of gratitude. Yet, it doesn’t mean that the timing of his departure isn’t horrible for the Wolverines.

The timeline is working against Michigan in two ways. One the list of high-end college coaches available to hire, like Fred Hoiberg, who just went to Nebraska, has dwindled.

So the coaching search might be a challenge unless Michigan poaches from another college, which could well be the case. It also kills UM in recruiting. I see zero chance of Franz Wagner coming now or Jaevin Cumberland, a graduate transfer that was considering Michigan basketball.

Until a coach is hired, it’s unlikely Michigan will sign any recruits and that could leave the Wolverines will a huge hole at shooting guard next season.