WATCH: Dusty May, players discuss 75-63 win over Virginia Tech
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Michigan Wolverines moved to 5-1 on the season with a 75-63 win over Virginia Tech in the Fort Myers Tip-Off event on Monday night, setting up a date in the championship game against either South Carolina or Xavier on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.
Michigan was led in scoring by junior wing Roddy Gayle Jr., who had 20 points on the night and was a constant throughout the night. He also felt that the Wolverines flexed their muscles and showed they are a tough team in the hard-fought win.
“I mean, we’re a tough team, we’re a veteran team, so I feel like that showed,” Gayle said after the game. “I feel like it was not going our way, but we just stayed the course and played Michigan basketball. That’s why we ended up coming back. I feel like we answered a lot of questions and had a good time. As far as Michigan basketball, I feel like the narrative was that we were soft. And I feel like we were able to answer that question and rise up to the challenge and show that we have some toughness.”
Gayle played a physical game at each ends of the floor and fought through a few things, including getting poked in the eye in the win. He spoke about what the key to playing through that was.
“Just play hard, man,” Gayle said. “Play hard and make the right plays, you know, sometimes you fall into some of them situations, but I’m saying as long as you’re making the right play every time, I feel like that’s just a common denominator.”
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The crowd at Suncoast Credit Union Arena was Michigan-friendly with a majority sporting the Maize and Blue, and head coach Dusty May shouted them out after Monday night’s win.
“I’d like to shout out Wolverine Nation. They turned this into a home game,” May said. “A couple of the the workers outside said that they felt like this was the best crowd that they have seen. And they’ve had some schools that travel well in this event. So, I want to show gratitude towards our fans. They did give us extra energy.”
Watch the full sessions with the Michigan players and May using the players embedded above or on our YouTube channel.
