The following story from the Ann Arbor News

Crisler could get minor updates for 2007-08 season
The planned renovation of Crisler Arena is still in its early stages, but the lights could be brighter and the sound better at the basketball venue come the 2007-08 campaign.

Athletic director Bill Martin said the athletic department has commissioned a study of the court lighting and sound system.

"My intention, if we can pull it together, is to have to have a totally new lighting and sound system for this coming season," he added.

The athletic director said he hasn't gotten a cost proposal for the audio system yet, but he said the new lights could cost in the range of $700,000 to $900,000.

This isn't much, but could make a really big difference if it does indeed happen.

The biggest question, in my mind, is what does this mean? Does this mean they're taking Crisler seriously and this is the first step of serious changes that will take place a little at a time but to gradually improve it sooner than later?
-or-
Is this Martin's attempt to go through a partial upgrade to get people off his back for a least another 5 years?

Either way, it's much better than doing nothing, and the fact that it could likely happen before THIS season is awesome. Hopefully the new coach, the new lights and sound, and a new buzz can get the fans there and create an intense, real homecourt advantage.

Michigan will have to have some serious success to pull fans into Crisler. Our superintendent's son goes to Michigan and he went to like 8 games this year. He said the fan turnout was embarrassing, half empty most of the time. Pretty sad. I think they'll need to have some real success to get those bandwagoners off their seats.

Upgrades are nice but 700-900k? That is pennies to Michigan. WTF? They don't seem to care at all about bball. I think they just make basic changes to keep the fans and alum off their backs.

I concur that I hope this is nothing but a stop-gap, not a perceived long-term fix.

That place is oooogly, and a few new light fixtures and a sound system isn't going to make it a mecca.

Michigan will have to have some serious success to pull fans into Crisler. Our superintendent's son goes to Michigan and he went to like 8 games this year. He said the fan turnout was embarrassing, half empty most of the time. Pretty sad. I think they'll need to have some real success to get those bandwagoners off their seats.

Upgrades are nice but 700-900k? That is pennies to Michigan. WTF? They don't seem to care at all about bball. I think they just make basic changes to keep the fans and alum off their backs.

You are preaching to the choir, Tre. Though I did hear that Martin is also considering buying an entirely new stock of brooms for the Crisler Arena Sanitation Engineers.
Anything short of a major announcement in the range of MILLIONSES of dollars in renovations or a new arena should fall on deaf ears. It's time for this University to either make an attempt to be a PLAY-UH, or give up altogether on basketball. I don't see where "gradual" upgrades or little changes that add up, in 45 years, to a sparkling new Crisler mean a damn thing.

It was good news to see Beilein and Martin next to Bill Davidson at yesterday's Piston game lol

Some thoughts and updates from the last few weeks regarding Chrisler and the atmosphere.

1 - from Eric Lacy's blog -

Crisler Arena definitley looks a little nicer these days.
All the seats were cleaned and the lighter looking floor seems to brighten the place up a bit.
The maize seats don't look grungy anymore
Plans for new lighting and sound systems are still in the works and hopefully in place by fall.

2 - UM will host UCLA Dec. 22. Remember, Duke is supposedly on the schedule as well, though not sure who will host the game.

3 - also from Lacy blog, later on, re: Maize Rage

Props to UM student Steve Wolters, newly appointed president of the Maize Rage student fan section, for sending me an e-mail about his recent meeting with coach Beilein, one he says was extremely positive.
Like Beilein, the group definitely wants more of a home court advantage at Crisler.
Some goals the group has for next season are 2,000 student season tickets sold compared to 960 last year, a midnight madness event in October and a "Maize Rage mini-camp" that would introduce students to real basketball practices and game preparation.
The group also wants to get more students in the lower bowl, keep them unified and push for a more reliable campus bus system for transportation to the games.
Doubling the size of the student section and getting more into the lower bowl? Even if nothing else changed, that's a better atmosphere.

4 - UM announced Nike is out and adidas is in. 8 year deal worth $7.5 per year. Not sure what the value of the old Nike deal was, but found this quote about the money -

Added U-M athletics Chief Financial Officer Jason Winters: "We believe the new partnership is one of the strongest in college sports. Funding from the new agreement will provide added resources to our long term facility renewal plan."

Obviously that money will not all go to the basketball facilities, and even if it did it's a fraction of what is necessary, but money is money and it's a nice start.


Bottom line, I keep seeing little signs of change in the program. I want this program to be great, but it's insane to expect that right away. Seeing little steps like these, taken consistantly, will help the program get back where it belongs. It's when steps like this cease that fans of a program like this should worry.

I heard Nike offered 28 mil and Adias offered 60 mil.

Doesnt take much to figure out which was the better deal.

Baby steps, baby steps people. Little things go a long way sometimes.

It's a shame to think back to the Fab Five days and remember Michigan's legacy was built on black Nike's and then have to switch because Beilein is old school and a better deal came along.

The deal had nothing to do with Beilein...........its a deal to outfit every team at Michigan. If you really think that Beilein had something to do with this then you are on crack. This deal invovled two people: Bill Martin and Jason Winters. Do you really think that they went around campus and asked Lloyd, Rich Mahoney, John Beilein, Red Berenson, Hutch and others what they think. 60 million vs. 28 million is a no-brainer for sure. If Starbury came by and offered 60 million they would be our sponsor. If Baby Gap came by and offered 60 milliono they would be our sponsor.

First of all, Jethro there is not a chance in hell that UM gets 2,000 students to buy tickets compared to 900 last year unless they drop the price to near nothing.

Secondly, the switch to Addidas is horrible. I understand the 40 million difference. However, Nike makes the best and their stuff looks the best. You want recruits to feel your gear, feel you uni's, etc.. Maybe it doesn't matter to some here, but to the ballers, it matters.

First of all, Jethro there is not a chance in hell that UM gets 2,000 students to buy tickets compared to 900 last year unless they drop the price to near nothing.

Secondly, the switch to Addidas is horrible. I understand the 40 million difference. However, Nike makes the best and their stuff looks the best. You want recruits to feel your gear, feel you uni's, etc.. Maybe it doesn't matter to some here, but to the ballers, it matters.

I understand that Adidas makes Michigan jerseys in maize and blue, as opposed to Nike, which makes them in maize and blue.

I understand that Adidas makes Michigan jerseys in maize and blue, as opposed to Nike, which makes them in maize and blue.

40 year olds generally have a firm grip on what incoming recruits like and what appeals to them. "Damn it boy, in my day all we had was Chuck's so quit complaining and put on them British Knights I bought your ass!"

Better watch it, Izzo is 40 ish. Maybe he thinks recruits need to wear Keds.

I don't expect they will jump from 900 to 2,000 overnight, but we're talking growth here. Add 100 students in Maize to a student section in an arena that seats less than 14,000? It's a difference. Every person counts and I like the fact that the guy has a goal. You know, like that precious goal of winnign the Big Ten? Goals are very important as something that makes you work and stretch. If the guy wanted 1,100 people in the student section people would think it was a joke. A very acheivable goal to grow the section by 23%, but it wouldn't be worth talking about. Instead he puts a goal out there that will actually get people going and any success is worth it.
I don't expect you to be intimidated, but the Izzone has what, 2300? This guy wants to try to set up a similar atmosphere to the one that gives you chills. If you want to criticize him for that, so be it. Until then, I'm impressed that people are making the effort.

I'm impressed that Belein even knew UM had a basketball program.

I'm impressed that Belein even knew UM had a basketball program.

Apparantly, he didn't because Michigan was the only school in Michigan that was not represented at the AH shootout this weekend that I attended.

He's keeping busy-

Still more targets continue to emerge in Michigan head coach John Beilein's quest for talent from the class of 2008 (and beyond). Beilein has been anywhere and everywhere in the past few weeks, catching a number of future potential Wolverines in action.

Beilein is known for taking detailed notes while scouting prospects, so odds are he's filled a few pages in recent weeks. He made the most of his time in Cincinnati at the adidas Takes 5ive Classic held in early July in identifying Wichita (Kan.) guard Jordan Cyphers as a player in which he was interested before watching two more potential targets square off – Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy small forward Jared Swopshire, a 6-7 wing who can play just about every position on the floor, and Carmel (Ind.) 6-3 guard Stuart Douglass, a sixth man on his team last year who shot the ball well at Beilein's Michigan basketball camp in late June.



Tanner Smith
"I talked to them a little bit afterward and they said they liked the way I played, and how I might be good in their guard system, so they wanted to watch me play some more," Douglass told Purdue Rivals.com reporters in July. " said he reminded me a lot of the players he wants to recruit at Michigan, the type of ball-handler and shooter."

As for Swopshire … despite his thin frame, FlaVarsity.com reports he uses a variety of fakes and quick moves to beat bigger defenders, has a long reach and is effective on the glass on both ends. He uses his length on defense to tip and steal passes, while offensively he can create off the dribble and hit mid-range shots.

"Oozing with potential, Swopshire is a big time small forward prospect," Rivals.com's Jerry Meyer reported. "He has a smooth shot and a feel for scoring off spin moves in the mid-range. A smooth athlete, Swopshire could stand to add a dose of aggression to his game. More aggression and strength and quickness work should make this skilled prospect a more explosive player."

At least one source believes Swopshire will be hard to pry from the South.

More recently, Beilein was spotted at the Nike Peach Jam in N. Augusta, S.C., where Southeast Michigan AAU squad The Family came within two points of a title, losing in the final on an overtime triple at the buzzer. Class of 2009 standout DaShonte Riley, a lanky center from Detroit Country Day, helped beat the Georgia Stars, 52-44, in a semifinal contest, notching nine points, 14 rebounds and 11 blocks, even scoring on a sweet turnaround jumper over talented, fellow 6-11 center Tony Woods, Rivals.com's No. 3 center in the class of 2008.

The better news on Riley: he plans another Michigan visit, this one in August. He notched eight points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks against the guard-orientated New York Gauchos in the final … he also lists Michigan State, Kansas State and others. Watch for more in a story to come.

As for the Stars – word has it Beilein was watching Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan guard Tanner Smith, a Rivals.com three-star combo guard with good range, before Smith was injured prior to the semifinals. Smith will visit Auburn, Georgia and St. Joseph's at the end of the summer … he was thought to have suffered a broken tibia, but it turned out to be just a sprained ankle.

TheWolverine.com scout Jacey Zembal of sister site TheWolfpacker.com reported, "He's tall and lanky but has some point guard skills, which makes him unique. He's very unselfish and has a certain slickness when penetrating and dishing. He is surrounded by a ton of talent, which allows him to showcase his best attributes. I can see his recruitment changing after this week."

Whether that means U-M will be more heavily involved remains to be seen.

[b]Another story-
talked to a dad of one of U-M's current players a few months back after Beilein was hired. He remembered being at a gym at some tiny AAU event in a remote part of the country where you wouldn't expect to find a whole lot of coaches. There was one, though, sitting in the front row scribbling notes as though he was trying to cram for a final exam.

It was Beilein, as you'd guessed. Had already done his homework on the "four and five stars," knew who he had a chance to land and who he probably didn't, and wanted to make sure he had his bases covered in case the Plan As didn't work out (and let's face it - there are really only so many Plan As you can recruit anymore).

He's been anywhere and everywhere, and when he's either, he's evaluating. Not schmoozing, etc., but working to find the "hidden gems."

He should have been there at the shoot-out, but apparently he's working his ass off.

Beilein is known for taking detailed notes while scouting prospects, so odds are he's filled a few pages in recent weeks. He made the most of his time in Cincinnati at the adidas Takes 5ive Classic held in early July

Must have been a bunch of shitty players there.