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U of M MEN'S BASKETBALL 2016-2017
Good little write up on one our new assistants:
New Michigan assistant coach Billy Donlon has earned a reputation for defensive prowess, and many feel that was one of the primary reasons head coach John Beilein brought him in to replace Bacari Alexander. Donlon became a clear priority once Alexander took the University of Detroit job and assistant LaVall Jordan was hired at Milwaukee, and Beilein got his man.
Donlon?s success at Wright State is well documented. He won 20-plus games in three of his last four seasons, including a 22-13 record last season (13-5 Horizon League, second place), and was still let go in a decision that angered many.
Wright State?s loss is Michigan?s gain. Kentucky head coach John Calipari singled out Donlon?s defense as the reason his team didn?t play well in a 78-63 victory over WSU last year.
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Billy Donlon
USA TODAY
?This was Wright State ? they played pack line, they played zone, they stayed in the lane, they spread the court,? he said. ?They picked one of my guys who couldn't guard the dribbler, and they hung around because of it.
?Billy did a great job. They did what they had to do to have a chance to win. They had a chance to win the whole game. I didn't think we played particularly well, but I?ve got to give Wright State credit for having us play that way.?
Beilein, too, remembered a number of Donlon teams over the years that gave his own teams fits ? ?like, how are we going to score on these guys?? Beilein said when Donlon was hired.
Donlon, meanwhile, still fondly remembers the effort against Kentucky.
?We played a little different than the pack line - we play the gaps,? he said. ?There?s a difference - not a big one, but there is one. We play the gaps, and Kentucky ? they?re well coached. We really wanted to tease them into threes. We didn?t want them attacking the lane or attacking the rim, but they only shot ten of them and made two.
?I remember telling our guys before the game, if we can get them to shoot in the 20s or close to that from the three-point line, it could be a great night for us. What you want to try to do when you play the gaps ? it?s constant guys in position. The most important thing is getting in position and trusting your position.?
You?ve still got to know where your man is, he added, but it?s more important to see the big picture.
?Pack line guys would emphasize the same things, getting yourself into position, anticipating where it?s going to go next to get yourself into proper position next,? he added. ?But yeah, I thought we had a decent plan for that one, and they still scored close to 80 on us.
?Point guard] Tyler Ulis ? it?s hard to play against such a terrific point guard. The hardest thing to prepare for on the defensive side of the ball is when you have an elite point guard, because he?s going to get it every time almost and there?s not a lot of some game planning for that. He?s going to have it in his hands. Just think about preparing for Trey Burke; then think about preparing for Trey Burke under John Beilein. I was smart enough not to put Michigan on the schedule that year.?
The coaches started practice Wednesday with a clear plan on what they were going to work on. The details will remain in house, but it?s clear Donlon is a great fit and could provide significant help with defense, an area in which the Wolverines were lacking last year.
?Coach Beilein was one of the first five people to call me after [Wright State] let me go,? Donlon said. ?Anytime we talked we might spend three minutes on the actual job of it, and then basketball or life for another hour.?
Now's the time to shift the focus to the job, and Donjon appears more than ready.
New Michigan assistant coach Billy Donlon has earned a reputation for defensive prowess, and many feel that was one of the primary reasons head coach John Beilein brought him in to replace Bacari Alexander. Donlon became a clear priority once Alexander took the University of Detroit job and assistant LaVall Jordan was hired at Milwaukee, and Beilein got his man.
Donlon?s success at Wright State is well documented. He won 20-plus games in three of his last four seasons, including a 22-13 record last season (13-5 Horizon League, second place), and was still let go in a decision that angered many.
Wright State?s loss is Michigan?s gain. Kentucky head coach John Calipari singled out Donlon?s defense as the reason his team didn?t play well in a 78-63 victory over WSU last year.
Cqozfcjycroaby8kis6w
Billy Donlon
USA TODAY
?This was Wright State ? they played pack line, they played zone, they stayed in the lane, they spread the court,? he said. ?They picked one of my guys who couldn't guard the dribbler, and they hung around because of it.
?Billy did a great job. They did what they had to do to have a chance to win. They had a chance to win the whole game. I didn't think we played particularly well, but I?ve got to give Wright State credit for having us play that way.?
Beilein, too, remembered a number of Donlon teams over the years that gave his own teams fits ? ?like, how are we going to score on these guys?? Beilein said when Donlon was hired.
Donlon, meanwhile, still fondly remembers the effort against Kentucky.
?We played a little different than the pack line - we play the gaps,? he said. ?There?s a difference - not a big one, but there is one. We play the gaps, and Kentucky ? they?re well coached. We really wanted to tease them into threes. We didn?t want them attacking the lane or attacking the rim, but they only shot ten of them and made two.
?I remember telling our guys before the game, if we can get them to shoot in the 20s or close to that from the three-point line, it could be a great night for us. What you want to try to do when you play the gaps ? it?s constant guys in position. The most important thing is getting in position and trusting your position.?
You?ve still got to know where your man is, he added, but it?s more important to see the big picture.
?Pack line guys would emphasize the same things, getting yourself into position, anticipating where it?s going to go next to get yourself into proper position next,? he added. ?But yeah, I thought we had a decent plan for that one, and they still scored close to 80 on us.
?Point guard] Tyler Ulis ? it?s hard to play against such a terrific point guard. The hardest thing to prepare for on the defensive side of the ball is when you have an elite point guard, because he?s going to get it every time almost and there?s not a lot of some game planning for that. He?s going to have it in his hands. Just think about preparing for Trey Burke; then think about preparing for Trey Burke under John Beilein. I was smart enough not to put Michigan on the schedule that year.?
The coaches started practice Wednesday with a clear plan on what they were going to work on. The details will remain in house, but it?s clear Donlon is a great fit and could provide significant help with defense, an area in which the Wolverines were lacking last year.
?Coach Beilein was one of the first five people to call me after [Wright State] let me go,? Donlon said. ?Anytime we talked we might spend three minutes on the actual job of it, and then basketball or life for another hour.?
Now's the time to shift the focus to the job, and Donjon appears more than ready.
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