Michigan's Roddy Gayle Jr. discusses 'hate' from Ohio State fans, looking forward to 'opportunity to go back to Columbus and perform'

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In an era of rampant player movement, Michigan Wolverines basketball junior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. made one of the most interesting moves of the offseason, transferring from Ohio State to its arch rival.

No. 20 Michigan sits atop the Big Ten standings and will travel down to Columbus for a game against Ohio State Sunday afternoon, and Gayle will be public enemy No. 1. He’s motivated to show out, coming off a 14-point performance in a big win over No. 7 Purdue.

“I know that this is an opportunity for me to go back to Columbus and perform, especially with how I felt like I was treated after I made the decision to come [to Michigan],” Gayle said Friday afternoon.

“For me, it’s more about bragging rights, to be able to play against some of my best friends. Hopefully, we can get a W.”

Gayle said there were examples of Ohio State fans letting him have it in person, but that he’s felt most of the vitriol on social media after committing to Michigan last spring.

“I can’t really blame the fans for me entering the transfer portal and going to Michigan. I received a lot of hate for that, but at the end of the day, I get it; it’s fans being fans,” he said.

“I feel like it gives me the opportunity to be able to kinda prove myself, prove what [Michigan head] Coach Dusty [May] had in store, prove what I think was the best decision for me.

“There were some instances, especially when I entered the transfer portal, around school, if someone would see me. I kinda feared the possibility of what people might do to me when I was out there. It’s whatever.

“I know that, as far as players and staff, I knew it would never go that far. But it’s just kinda the landscape that we live in nowadays.”

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Gayle knows he will be the center of attention from the crowd Sunday.

“I’m pretty good at tuning it out,” he said. “I know when the game is going, I’m not gonna really be worried about what other people think or the crowd and stuff. I’m just gonna try to do as much as I can to help my team win.”

Gayle still keeps in touch with some of his former teammates, including starting point guard Bruce Thornton, reserve guard Colby Baumann and starting forward Devin Royal.

Thornton runs the show for the Buckeyes, and Gayle is attempting to help his team prepare to stop him.

“I know that kid’s game like the back of my hand,” Gayle said with a laugh. “We’ve played one-on-one so many times, and even in practices. Some of his moves, I feel like he’s gonna be a little surprised when we jump on it.”

Roddy Gayle Jr. discusses Michigan’s starting lineup change

Gayle was replaced by graduate guard Rubin Jones in the starting lineup two games ago, and the Wolverines have maintained their winning ways, beating Indiana and Purdue.

May explained that his decision to place Jones in the starting lineup was so that Gayle could pick his spots better without as many ball-dominant starters on the floor. Additionally, Jones is a “connector” who doesn’t need as much usage, which could help the offense flow better.

The example May used with Gayle and to the public was Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal recently being moved to the bench, allowing him to be more assertive with the second unit, not playing as many minutes with fellow stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

“That communication that I had with Coach May was very important for me to just go out there and play my game,” the Michigan guard said. “It was very informative for him to give me that kind of confidence that, ‘Yo, we’re bringing you off the bench not because you’re not performing, but we want you to perform more.’ 

“It was a great communication that we had. And it’s hard. Our starting five, we’ve got people, everybody averages, what, 12-plus points. It’s hard to pick your position, especially with very versatile guys. 

“So just my ability to come in the game and impact the way I did against Purdue, that’s kinda what I imagine moving forward. Especially when he mentioned the idea of Bradley Beal doing it, and I actually caught some Phoenix Suns games and just watched kinda how he was able to deal with it.”

Gayle is excited for more production to come in his new situation.

“After the first four minutes of the game, you don’t know who started, who came off the bench,” he noted. “I didn’t think my minutes changed at all. I don’t feel like my role changed. I feel like I’m still a leader out there on the court. I feel like guys still respect me. The only thing that changed was that I came in three minutes after the game started instead of tip-off.”