Michigan coach John Beilein did his players right.
Friday, Beilein announced he will lift transfer restrictions previously levied on senior guard Spike Albrecht and sophomore center Ricky Doyle.
MORE: 31 best teams to not win NCAA Tournament | 2016 coaching carousel
In addition to the Big Ten rule of restricting intraconference transfers, program rules restricted Wolverine players from transferring to another school on Michigan's schedule for the next two seasons.
But after heavy media scrutiny of the program policy, including a scathing column by Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde, Beilein had a change of heart.
"After initially granting a transfer release for Ricky (Doyle) and a fifth-year graduate transfer for Spike (Albrecht) consistent with the established norms regarding intraconference transfers, I am now removing all restrictions regarding their recruitment by other universities," Beilein said in a statement. “While I have concerns about the current transfer policies as well as potential effects to the landscape of collegiate athletics, we should do what is right for Ricky and Spike as they decide to further there education and basketball careers elsewhere."
Friday’s statement is a complete 180-degree turn for Beilein, who previously defended the Big Ten’s policy that forces a transfer to sit out a season if they choose a school within the conference.
“Having a kid sit out a year is not like going to jail,” he said (via Yahoo Sports). “It’s a slippery slope. I want what’s best for Spike but also what’s best for our program. You train a guy and develop him for four years and suddenly he’s the starting point guard at Michigan State?”
Albrecht will graduate in May after playing just nine games in 2015-16. He was told there wouldn't be a scholarship for him if he decided to stay and play a fifth season at Michigan, while Doyle simply decided the Michigan system “wasn’t right” for him.
In the release, Michigan outlined each player's available path to transfer:
— Spike Albrecht will graduate this May from U-M with a general studies degree. He will seek a medical redshirt in order to utilize a fifth-year of eligibility and enroll as a graduate student. If he chooses to transfer to a non-Big Ten school, he will have immediate eligibility. If he chooses to transfer to a conference school he will need approval from the Big Ten of his intentions to transfer, however, he will have immediate eligibility, if and when granted.
(This is the same situation graduate transfer Max Bielfelt was in a season ago. Bielfeldt won his appeal and transferred to Big Ten member Indiana.)
— Ricky Doyle will transfer and have to sit out one season due to NCAA transfer rules. He will have two years of eligibility remaining. If he elects to transfer to a Big Ten program, he will have to sit out a season, as well as lose an additional year of eligibility pursuant to Big Ten intraconference transfer rules.
(Doyle is a big beneficiary of Beilein's lifted restrictions — he can transfer to all but 13 Big Ten schools free of penalty.)
Even if this decision was made reluctantly, Beilein did the right thing for his players.
It's a small step in the right — and best — direction for the student-athlete's interests.
Omnisport's Travis Durkee contributed to the report.
