Dusty May on Michigan State guard Tre Holloman shoving L.J. Cason, Phat Phat Brooks during game: 'I was just proud of our guys to show the restraint that they did'

Michigan Wolverines basketball freshman guards L.J. Cason and Phat Phat Brooks were shoved by Michigan State junior guard Tre Holloman late in a 79-62 loss Sunday in East Lansing.

Michigan freshman guard Justin Pippen was set to shoot free throws with 37 seconds remaining as Michigan State subbed multiple times, with those substitutions causing a long delay in the game. Michigan State has a tradition of having seniors kiss the hardwood floor on the last home game of the season — sometimes after the game, sometimes during it.

Cason and Brooks were standing at mid-court awaiting the Pippen free throw attempts when Holloman approached them and started a physical altercation that included a couple retaliatory shoves beyond the MSU junior’s initial contact.

Michigan head coach Dusty May was asked about the incident again Monday morning, sharing his thoughts on what Holloman started.

“No. 1, do I know the customs or traditions of any other Big Ten school? No, I don’t, and won’t know until I experience it,” May said. “I don’t watch Michigan State documentaries. I didn’t have a Sparty foam finger growing up, so I have no idea what they do.

“I know this: The officials walked over and said that they have a tradition on senior night where their players kiss the logo as they’re coming off the floor. It’s gonna take some time. Great, that’s awesome. These seniors deserve it. And, on top of that, these guys earned a Big Ten championship. I have a lot of respect for what that team did this year. Going 17-3 in this league and battling the way they battled, I have a lot of respect for what that team did.

“Now, as far as what happened after that, from my perspective: I’m standing on the sideline, and keep in mind, [MSU forward] Coen Carr had just gotten a layup a couple minutes before on the last free throw, the missed free throw. He sprints past us, they advance it. So, we had talked about being more alert on free throws.

“I think it’s Pippen at the line, L.J. and Phat are at half court. I think [MSU forward] Frankie Fidler comes out of the game, kisses the floor, hugs his teammates. This is a little bit fuzzy; this is all off memory, this was not on the TV copy. No issues whatsoever, goes out, does his thing.

“I think maybe they’re subbing for another senior at that point, and our guys, Phat and L.J., are standing at the exact spot they were when Fiddler kissed the floor — not doing anything other than just standing there. And then out of the blue, they’re still standing at half court, and the Michigan State player comes up and two-hand shoves them in the chest.”

May’s recollection of the events are what a combination of the television copy and other videos show. Michigan players that were in the game had every right to stand on the floor, and MSU players have the chance to do whatever they want on the way out of their final home game. Holloman, however, earned a technical foul, for his actions, and Cason received one for shoving back.

“Now, the Spartan logo is about a third of the court,” May continued. “The game is going on. I didn’t know that this happened like during the game. So, if we needed to back them up to the other end or put all of our guys … I don’t know what we’re supposed to do in that situation.

“I know that we had two freshmen standing at half court, and they’re respectful, great dudes. Obviously, this was not the first person to come out and kiss the floor. We had already agreed to the officials and whatnot. That’s my perspective on it.

“I’m very proud that our guys didn’t retaliate in a different manner that could cost them playing in the Big Ten Tournament. To have that self-restraint and self-discipline and realizing that they’re representing Michigan the way they do. I was very proud of that moment, because that could’ve gotten really, really ugly.”

May was asked what he’d have his players do next year, if Michigan was playing MSU on its senior day and the Spartans tried to pull the same antics of holding up the game instead of waiting until after to do any tradition. Last season, MSU waited until after the game to have seniors kiss the floor.

“Next year, I’d like to have the lead,” May said with a smile. “Next year, I would say, ‘Hey, guys, move back five feet.’ Once again, this is competition, man. We’re playing a game, and our guys are standing at half court. Once again, it wasn’t as if Frankie Fidler is coming out of the game … it was just something happened during that.

“And this is a long period — you guys have the time — it was three, four, five minutes. They never moved. A player had already done it. What I would tell them differently: Keep your antennas up for whatever that behavior was. I’d ask them, ‘Hey, guys, move back 10 feet on defense, because they’re so fast in transition.’ I’m giving them credit for that, as well. I’d tell our guys to move back 10 feet.

“But, as far as knowing the positioning we’re supposed to stand and things like that during Michigan State’s senior day, I wasn’t aware. On Netflix, it’s never popped up on my queue if it’s Netflix or Prime or whatever the case.

“But once again, I don’t think it was a big deal, either. I was just proud of our guys to show the restraint that they did in not making it an issue that could cost them playing in the Big Ten Tournament.”