Great 2015 article below.
I can see why PJ would be so persuasive in getting Spike to join the team. These guys are 4 years apart, but cut from the same cloth. Here's hoping they will bring out the best in each other, and make the PG position one of our great strengths this year.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...an-spike-albrecht-st-1016-20151015-story.html
Beilein said that had Albrecht lived in a different country, he would've been coveted as undiscovered gem.
"No one at our level was recruiting him," he said. "If he was from Spain, the way he played, there would be more interest. Just because he's from Crown Point, Indiana, doesn't mean he wasn't good enough to play for us."
Beilein was wrong about him being a role player.
Albrecht became an integral part of the rotation his sophomore year.
His 18-point performance off the bench in the 2013 national title game against Louisville as a freshman earned him his first five minutes of fame.
He worked his way into the first five last year, starting 18 of 31 games.
By the end of the season, after Caris LeVert went out with a foot injury, Albrecht was the go-to player against Ohio State in a late-season home game.
It was an amazing realization for Beilein.
"They were in a box-and-one, denying Spike everything," Beilein said. "He was the key for us."
Painter had his Albrecht moment two years ago when he offered P.J. Thompson, a 5-foot-10 point guard from Indianapolis Brebeuf, a scholarship. Thompson helped fill a need for the Boilermakers, distributing the ball and running the offense.
"I took P.J. Thompson because of Spike Albrecht," he said.
I can see why PJ would be so persuasive in getting Spike to join the team. These guys are 4 years apart, but cut from the same cloth. Here's hoping they will bring out the best in each other, and make the PG position one of our great strengths this year.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...an-spike-albrecht-st-1016-20151015-story.html
Beilein said that had Albrecht lived in a different country, he would've been coveted as undiscovered gem.
"No one at our level was recruiting him," he said. "If he was from Spain, the way he played, there would be more interest. Just because he's from Crown Point, Indiana, doesn't mean he wasn't good enough to play for us."
Beilein was wrong about him being a role player.
Albrecht became an integral part of the rotation his sophomore year.
His 18-point performance off the bench in the 2013 national title game against Louisville as a freshman earned him his first five minutes of fame.
He worked his way into the first five last year, starting 18 of 31 games.
By the end of the season, after Caris LeVert went out with a foot injury, Albrecht was the go-to player against Ohio State in a late-season home game.
It was an amazing realization for Beilein.
"They were in a box-and-one, denying Spike everything," Beilein said. "He was the key for us."
Painter had his Albrecht moment two years ago when he offered P.J. Thompson, a 5-foot-10 point guard from Indianapolis Brebeuf, a scholarship. Thompson helped fill a need for the Boilermakers, distributing the ball and running the offense.
"I took P.J. Thompson because of Spike Albrecht," he said.
Last edited:
