Dusty May does not want Michigan to get caught up in 'all the extra stuff' with Michigan State rivalry

Through two rivalry games, Dusty May has passed with flying colors at Michigan. Two wins against Ohio State is something people in Ann Arbor always love to see. But there might be a different game that means a little more in the basketball world coming up for Michigan, facing the in-state Michigan State Spartans.

May is going up against Michigan State for the first time on Friday and knows the importance of this game to the fan base. At the same time, he is hoping his team does not get caught up with any “extra stuff” because of the occasion. The hope is to prepare and execute just as they would for other opponents.

“Our focus has to be on us playing basketball,” May said. “The rivalry is great for everyone else but if we’re consumed with all the extra stuff then we’re not focused on what we need to do as far as getting back in transition defense, knowing personnel tendencies, things like that.

“Obviously, we know the importance of the rivalry but we’re not going into it relying on our fans, relying on anyone else to win the game because it’s a rivalry. We have to put in the work, we have to prepare, and we have to perform at a high level in that environment.”

Friday will be a ranked matchup, the rivalry’s first since Jan 2020. Michigan is just a couple of spots ahead in the latest AP poll, coming in at No. 14. Tom Izzo‘s squad is at No. 16 after splitting two games last week. The two teams are at the top of the Big Ten standings too as the Wolverines currently have a one-game advantage.

Bragging rights is usually pretty big in this game but a little more will be at stake.

Michigan may have a leg up as they will not play until then. Michigan State does have another big-time showdown before heading to Ann Arbor, hosting Purdue. Pressure-filled games are beginning to add up for the Spartans and becoming normal down the stretch.

May will have an opportunity to rest his team and get some extra preparation in. A win would get his team closer to winning a Big Ten regular season title, something the program has only done once since a 2014 title.

Even so, taying focused on the task at hand appears to be the main focus for May.