When I heard the pairings yesterday, I was not as daunted by "Michigan" as I was by their coach, John Beilein. We've seen this guy before, and it wasn't pretty. In fact, lacerating.
That was late Fall of 2006, and it was Beilein's last year as coach at West Virginia. We played them in the first game of a pre-season tournament in Orlando.
Remember, it was earlier that year that we'd beaten Nevada, and taken Boston College to within one half of the Sweet Sixteen. While our tournament dreams were shattered the last half of that game, it appeared Montana was ready to step onto the national stage, possibly as a true mid-major power. West Virginia would be the first test, and many thought we would win that game.
Mr. Beilein had other ideas. His defense was suffocating, the screens and cuts utterly precise, leading to way too many layups, and they simply didn't turn the ball over. We got hammered. If he says he doesn't remember us, there's a good reason why. It was a forgettable game on both sides.
I just hope our fan base and our coaching staff know what they're going up against Thursday, because Beilein could be coaching a squad of Little Dribblers and make this a close game. With Michigan's talent? It's gonna be rough.
That was late Fall of 2006, and it was Beilein's last year as coach at West Virginia. We played them in the first game of a pre-season tournament in Orlando.
Remember, it was earlier that year that we'd beaten Nevada, and taken Boston College to within one half of the Sweet Sixteen. While our tournament dreams were shattered the last half of that game, it appeared Montana was ready to step onto the national stage, possibly as a true mid-major power. West Virginia would be the first test, and many thought we would win that game.
Mr. Beilein had other ideas. His defense was suffocating, the screens and cuts utterly precise, leading to way too many layups, and they simply didn't turn the ball over. We got hammered. If he says he doesn't remember us, there's a good reason why. It was a forgettable game on both sides.
I just hope our fan base and our coaching staff know what they're going up against Thursday, because Beilein could be coaching a squad of Little Dribblers and make this a close game. With Michigan's talent? It's gonna be rough.