Michigan coach Dusty May explains philosophy on calling timeouts: 'I wish there was that magic wand'

Michigan Wolverines basketball head coach Dusty May has refrained from calling timeouts while the opposition is on a scoring run at different points this season. Many coaches feel comfortable stopping play when the other team has momentum, and May has done it at times, but he also has a reason for not burning all of his timeouts.

“Other than the data?” May responded when asked if he has a philosophy on calling timeouts.

“A good example is last year [at Florida Atlantic]: We’re playing Arizona in Vegas, and they jump up 9-2, and I call a timeout,” the first-year Michigan coach said. “And then a couple minutes go by, and they’re up 18-2, I believe, and an assistant said, ‘Hey, Coach, use one.’ I said, ‘I just used one, and they’re on a 9-0 run.’ So let’s try to get this game loosened up, opened up.”

On average, Michigan’s opponents have gone on 8.2-0 runs over the course of 18 games. The Wolverines, meanwhile, average a 10.5-0 longest run. There have been 12 times when U-M has surged to double-digit to zero runs this season.

Michigan plays an up-tempo style of basketball without many set plays. The Wolverines like to push the pace and play in rhythm, and calling timeouts can hinder the flow.

“It’s knowing your team,” May continued. “There are times when I’ve said, ‘I should’ve called a timeout there.’ But there are also times when I’ve said, ‘I shoulda called a timeout there,’ and [graduate center] Vlad[islav Goldin] bangs in a three.

“Sometimes, it’s getting the game opened up to play in our environment. This is just my opinion: With the teams that we’ve coached and the way we play, the more stoppages in the game are bad for us. We want to get this game flowing. And you watch every other team play, and after we score, they’re running down [holding their arms up] to their team to slow them up because they want it to be choppier.”

There are also situations that, besides just game flow, calling a timeout could hurt Michigan.

“I guess I could stop play five more times over the course of a game, but even there are times late in the game, you look out on the floor and they have their two best offensive players who happen to be their two worst defensive players in the game on our guys,” May explained. “It’s like, ‘OK, if I call timeout right now, they’re going to bring in their two best defenders, they’re gonna control the matchup. What’s better for us? Are we trained to play in flow, or do I want to stop and get their best defenders on our best defensive players and try to figure out what happens next?’”

Criticism may come with the way May operates with his timeout usage, which he fully understands.

“It is what it is. I know [former NFL head coach] Phil Jackson got criticized for it, [late Indiana coach] Coach [Bob] Knight got criticized for it,” the Michigan coach remarked. “I wish that there was that magic wand where you call a timeout and it immediately starts a 6-0 run, but the numbers say that is not the case.”

L.J. Cason could earn playing time soon

Michigan freshman guard L.J. Cason has appeared in 14 games this season, but he’s totaled just 6 minutes over the last five contests, and he didn’t see any action either of the last two times out.

However, May believes he’s close to earning some playing time.

“L.J. Cason had a really good week of practice,” the Michigan coach said. “I thought going into the game that he was going to get an opportunity, but it just didn’t shake out like that.

“If he continues to work and continues to progress, I think we’ll see him get in some live game action here soon. And then hopefully, he takes advantage of it and plays good, solid ball.”

Cason broke out early in the season, scoring in double figures in three of the first four games, including a season-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field with 3 assists in a 101-53 season-opening victory over Cleveland State.