"He was going to be in there at the end when we needed stops, " Beilein said.

WSJ: Morgan, LeVert and Albrecht keys for Michigan

Beilein is in his sixth season at Michigan, and this is his first Final Four.

WSJ: Michigan's Beilein still loves to look back

"We'd be playing a game, maybe it would be a big game, " Beilein said.

WSJ: Boeheim & Beilein a game within the game