ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball coach Dusty May called the upcoming game against No. 5-ranked Nebraska “the biggest game of the year” because it is the next game on the schedule.
Michigan comes into the matchup with an 18-1, 8-1 Big Ten record, while Nebraska leads the conference with an undefeated record of 20-0, 9-0 in the Big Ten.
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Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. on Peacock with the winner taking possession of first place in the conference.
May described Nebraska as “a team that’s as disciplined, as connected and as any team that we’ve seen all year,” and expressed excitement to see how Michigan stacks up against the undefeated Cornhuskers.
May spoke more about Nebraska’s strengths, highlighting the team’s role definition, saying each player “brings their own special sauce to the equation,” and that the team functions well together.
He noted Nebraska’s success in the transfer portal, mentioning players like Pryce Sandfort, Berke Buyuktuncel from UCLA, and Rienk Mast.
May also praised Jamarques Lawrence for his efficiency and Sam Hoiberg for his contributions, both visible and invisible, calling him a “team first” player who brings winning qualities.
He also discussed the significance of Michigan’s current position in the Big Ten title chase.
May said the team has “11 more Big Ten games to go, plus the Big Ten tournament, plus the NCAA tournament,” emphasizing the season is a marathon.
He stressed the importance of focusing on the immediate challenge against Nebraska, saying, “All 100% of our focus is on Tuesday.”
May praised Nebraska’s explosiveness in the second half and said Michigan wants to get back to playing its best brand of basketball: unselfish, taking care of the ball, and defending at a high level.
When asked about the discipline needed offensively against Nebraska’s unique defense that forces turnovers, May acknowledged the challenge.
May said turnovers “negate two things that you’re really good at” and affect defense.
He called Nebraska “one of the best teams in the country” and said Michigan must play really well to win.
May also reflected on learning about his team game by game, noting that officiating impacts rotations.
He praised the bench’s performance vs. Ohio State and emphasized the need for players to avoid individual agendas and share the ball to be a really good team.
Regarding Yaxel Lendeborg, May said he looks more explosive and praised his all-around contributions.
May said wants Lendeborg to read the defense and make decisions based on what the defense gives him, rather than premeditating plays.
He described Nebraska’s offense as not slowing down but playing a five-out style that challenges Michigan’s rim protection.
May stressed the need for communication and changing coverages to disrupt Nebraska’s shooting and spacing.
On guards Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason, May said their confidence has grown, but stressed that playing well is more important than stats for earning minutes.
May highlighted their effort plays, such as boxing out and rebounding, as key contributions.
He said Michigan is improving on offensive rebounding, with players like Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. working hard.
May noted Nebraska will not miss blockouts, so Michigan must make multiple efforts to win the battle on the glass.
He praised Will Tschetter‘s energy and leadership, saying he connects the defense with his voice and crashes the glass, giving Michigan another gear.
On free throws, May said the team practices shooting under pressure and encourages frequent shooting to simulate game situations.
May emphasized confidence and belief in winning regardless of free-throw outcomes, noting many shots look good even if they miss.
He concluded by praising the crowd’s energy at the last home game, calling it a “real step in the right direction” with fans invested and contributing to the team’s success.
May addressed the team’s free-throw shooting, acknowledging that struggles can sometimes become contagious.
“You look at the numbers, and you’ve got a lot of good free-throw shooters, and you hate to even bring attention to it because you don’t want them thinking about it,” May said.
To combat this, the coaching staff tries to put players in as many pressure-type situations as possible during practice.
May explained that simply shooting 50 or 100 mindless free throws isn’t effective, as science is proving.
“We encourage them to shoot more frequently to get them to where it feels like the game as much as possible,” May said.
May also emphasized the importance of confidence.
He believes that if the team is sound defensively and strong on offensive rebounds, players can approach free throws with less pressure.
“It’s not as if we can’t find a way to win even if you miss those free throws. Obviously, we want to make them all, and we’re going to practice and be creative with how we do it,” May said.
May noted that even when shooting percentages are low, the shots often look good as they leave the players’ hands.
He highlighted Aday Mara as an example, saying Mara has been “on the verge” of breaking through, and he expects him to shoot well for the rest of the season.