THE MODERATOR: We’re joined by head coach of Michigan, John Beilein, and student?athletes. We’ll start with an opening statement by Coach Beilein.COACH BEILEIN: I’ve had a lot of really good teams over the years, some emotional locker rooms. That one was as emotional, or most emotional we’ve ever had.The team unity that we had, the sacrifice we had from the five seniors that did not get to play very much, to these young guys just buying into the whole team concept. I said to Tracy on CBS, I said, Team 96, there’s so many former coaches at Michigan, so many coaches around the country that would love to take my place and coach these guys, and my coaching staff. For me to have this coaching staff and Team 96 was incredible.We feel bad about it. We could have done some things better, every one of us, today and got a win. At the same time Louisville is a terrific baseball team. I have not seen that quickness anywhere, and we’ve played some really good teams. The quickness is incredible and it got us a couple times today.THE MODERATOR: Questions at this time for the student?athletes.Q. Trey, thoughts on getting that close and the hurt of not getting over the top. TREY BURKE: It hurts a lot. Just to get to…
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Provisioning for Atlanta
So the stars aligned (thanks to #THC) and I’m heading to Atlanta Friday morning. I plan to hit a few events including the open practice with camera in tow, so check back here for the occasional update. Initial provisioning: Those are my 1993 Final Four tickets & I’m bringing them along as part of my 20 year therapy. Starting to understand a little better what Jalen’s billboard really meant: Meanwhile, check out this timeless ad from MaraWatch: Follow MVictors on Twitter and stay tuned for updates from Atlanta.
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Full John Beilein Presser (April 4, 2013)
From the Final Four, via U-M Media Relations. As usual some good stuff out of Coach B. and I think he handled the Mike Rice question spot on. An interview with: COACH JOHN BEILEIN THE MODERATOR: We’re joined now by head coach John Beilein of Michigan. We’ll start with an opening statement and then take questions. COACH BEILEIN: It would be very obvious that the University of Michigan is so proud to be back in the Final Four. Our university, our team, all the staff that’s involved that’s worked very hard to get Michigan in this position. We’re practicing hard. We’re looking toward to today and tomorrow’s practice. We still have a lot to do if we’re going to be successful. But we’re all engaged and going to do our best. But on behalf of the whole university, we feel a great amount of gratitude to be back in the situation again. THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach Beilein. Q. Coach, could you trace a little of your history with Coach Boeheim, what it’s like to face him now.
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Two Decades in the Making
photo: Melanie Maxwell at AnnArbor.com I was at the 1993 Final Four in New Orleans two decades ago as a U-M student and it was certainly a trip I’ll never forget it. After we drove down (yep, from Ann Arbor to New Orleans) we went over to pick up our tickets. Just a moment after they were in my hands I was offered $3,500 my pair to the semis and finals from a broker holding a bound stack of bills the size of a roll of duct tape (my primo student seats were 18 rows behind the bench). I remember Mitch Albom happened to be there at that moment and saw us struggling with the dilemma. He asked us if we were staying out of trouble or something like that. (None of your business old man!) For a few different reasons I couldn’t bite on that tasty offer. File under Cool Story Bro. The sting of that brutal ending in ‘93 lingers for sure but the whole experience was amazing. The semifinal game against Kentucky was one of the best I’ve ever seen and the ensuing trip to Bourbon Street and the ensuing sunrise, etc.., were truly epic. And regarding that sting, I’ve seen enough football nailbiters—both bitter and sweet—to numb the pain of Webber’s untimely timeout. I still…