The Michigan men's basketball team's inconsistencies have caused plenty of problems on the court.

But they're making Michigan coach John Beilein's job more difficult off the court, too.

Beilein has been traveling the country scouting and recruiting high school players, but has struggled to identify his team's needs for future seasons, because many of his current players haven't established themselves.

The coach, who claimed to be going on recruiting visits every off-day, said he has never done this much in-season recruiting in his 30-year career. Players said the team has adjusted to assistant coaches taking over while Beilein is recruiting.

"They don't tell us too much," sophomore Ekpe Udoh said. "They just tell us that they're on the road trying to get good players for us."

Beilein can't talk to recruits while on visits, but calls them afterward. He has had difficulty talking to prospects at times because he thought he would know more about this year's team by now. But the uncertainty has created what he hopes is an appealing recruiting pitch.

"I think it's a great opportunity for them to come in and say 'Well, I've got a chance. I've got a 50-50 chance of playing,' as opposed to 'Hey, we've got one scholarship left. Do you want it or not?' " Beilein said.

Beilein said he's looking for versatile players, rather than players specialized in a particular skill.

Senior small forward Ron Coleman is the only starter who will graduate this year. Earlier in the season, that void seemed like it would be nearly impossible to fill. No other Wolverine small forward was playing particularly well. And neither of the two players already committed for next year - shooting guard Stuart Douglass and center Ben Cronin - play the position.

But junior forward Jevohn Shepherd stepped up and played well while Coleman was sidelined with a sprained ankle. In particular, Shepherd displayed a strong perimeter game, a staple of Beilein's offense.

The arrival of Arizona transfer Laval Lucas-Perry, who sophomore DeShawn Sims called the strongest player on the team, creates the possibility of a three-guard lineup.

At other positions, Beilein specifically pointed to the recent emergence of redshirt freshman forward Anthony Wright and freshman point guard Kelvin Grady as two developments leading him to rethink his team's needs.

The Wolverines have three scholarships available for next year. If they use two on Douglass and Cronin, two would available for the following year. Shepherd will have used up his eligibility by then. Beilein said he'd like keep one for next year, so the possibility of taking another transfer will remain. University of Detroit Jesuit High forward Jordan Morgan has already committed for 2009.

Beilein has confidence in his recruiting ability because each of the previous teams he coached remained successful for a period after he left. West Virginia, his former school, is 16-7 and projected by ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi to make the NCAA Tournament.

At 6-17, Michigan is nowhere near that level, but Beilien has a simple plan to turn his new team around.

"You try to get the best player available, then you also make sure that they can do a lot of the things you want them to do," he said. "Then it will work."