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WATCH: Dusty May discusses expectations for Michigan basketball season, takeaways from exhibition games

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•10/28/24•

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Dusty May
Michigan Wolverines basketball head coach Dusty May at his preseason press conference. (Photo by Clayton Sayfie / TheWolverine.com)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines basketball head coach Dusty May met with the media Monday morning, one week before his team’s season opener against Cleveland State. Watch video of his press conference below.

Head coach Dusty May

May began his press conference with an opening statement, discussing what he learned about Michigan in its two exhibition wins over Oakland and Toledo.

“We’re excited to get back to practice,” May said. “We’ve learned a lot about our team the last couple exhibition games, and so we’re excited if we can make some changes and get going as it’s gonna come at us fast as we get into season.”

May said Friday that his team was more skilled than it is physical, but he believes the latter aspect can improve as Michigan goes along.

“No question, we put a major emphasis yesterday on finishing through contact, having more determination / explosion around the basket. I feel like after a good solid practice yesterday, we made significant improvements. And a lot of times, it’s what we emphasize as coaches that we improve at the most, and as a staff we haven’t emphasized that nearly enough. We played a team that could expose that area, so it pointed us in the right direction.”

Michigan has been without guards Jace Howard and Justin Pippen in preseason, but they may be available for the Cleveland State game.

“They’ve been in and out,” May said. “It’s day by day. It’s how they’re feeling. I think if we had the conference tournament tomorrow, I think they’d both be ready to play. But we’re also not going to bring them back too quickly now. Their long term health is extremely important to us and to them. I think we’ll see both of them … I anticipate both of them being cleared for Cleveland State. If not, then very soon thereafter.”

Michigan doesn’t have captains at this point, and May isn’t particularly interested in naming them.

“There are certain things that are extremely important to me, and everything else, the players make a lot of internal and external decisions in our program,” May said. “That’s been more player led than coach led.

“Who are our captains, by the way? I don’t even know. Leadership is open to all. We are a cohesive group, and we don’t have captains.”

Michigan will take on Cleveland State next Monday at Crisler Center.

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