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The best one-year turnarounds in Michigan basketball history, led by the 2024-25 season under Dusty May

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•05/11/25•

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Dusty May
Michigan Wolverines basketball head coach Dusty May led his team to a Big Ten Tournament title in 2025. (Photo by Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Michigan went 8-24 in 2023-24, posting the most losses in program history, which prompted the firing of head coach Juwan Howard. New head man Dusty May promised big and delivered even bigger — stacking 27 victories, cutting down nets as Big Ten Tournament champions, advancing to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and finishing No. 10 in the final Associated Press poll.

Going from eight to 27 wins — a 19-victory difference — marks the greatest one-year turnaround in program and Big Ten history.

In fact, there have only been three other occurrences of Michigan notching 10-plus more wins than the previous season — 1918-19 (+12), 1991-92 (+11) and 2008-09 (+11).

None of those instances were in the first year of a head coach’s tenure, however, making May’s turnaround not only the greatest but also more unique. At the same time, it’s worth noting that the player movement in this current era is much more prominent, with players being able to transfer as many times as they want. May brought in six transfers and three freshmen, completely revamping Michigan’s roster.

In a recent interview with The Wolverine, May deflected credit and instead praised his coaching staff and players for getting the job done in year one.

“I never marvel at myself,” the Michigan coach said. “I marvel at how our guys came together and gave us something to show as proof that we could play different ways … that we could figure it out, and that we could do it at this level. 

“Obviously, we’re aware of all the questions people have when you move up. It’s the same for every mid-major to high major coach.”

There have been five times, meanwhile, that the Maize and Blue have recorded nine more victories than the prior campaign — 1962-63, 1970-71, 1973-74, 1983-84 and 2005-06.

Michigan did it this season by playing the 10th-toughest schedule in the nation, too, per Kenpom. The Wolverines had a challenging slate in Howard’s final year, as well, checking in fourth in strength of schedule.

The Wolverines also went from worst to first in the Big Ten, in a sense, finishing last at 3-17 in 2023-24 and winning the Big Ten Tournament this past March. In the regular-season standings, U-M placed tied second with Maryland (14-6), behind only Michigan State (17-3).

Here’s a look at the biggest one-year turnarounds in Michigan basketball history.

First SeasonWinsSecond SeasonWinsDifference
2023-2482024-252719
1917-1861918-191812
1990-91141991-922511
2007-08102008-092111
1961-6271962-63169
1969-70101970-61199
1972-73131973-74229
1982-83151983-84249
2004-05132005-06229

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