BUFFALO, N.Y. – The matchups are set as the No. 1-seed Michigan Wolverines (31-3, 21-2 Big Ten) will take on the No. 16-seed Howard Bison (24-10, 13-3 MEAC) in the round of 64.
Tipoff is slated for 7:10 p.m. on Thursday (March 19) inside KeyBank Arena, where the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres play.
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Head coach Dusty May spoke ahead of the team’s first-round NCAA Tournament matchup, emphasizing preparation, player development, and the unpredictability of March Madness.
“We’re incredibly excited to be here in Buffalo and have the opportunity to compete against a very well-coached Howard team that’s performed extremely well down the stretch,” said May.
May reflected on his past NCAA Tournament experience with No. 11-ranked Pepperdine in 2000, noting the lessons learned from facing a zone defense as his No. 6-seed Indiana Hoosiers got upset, losing 77-57 in Buffalo, New York.
“You’d better have a playmaker in the middle of the zone, high post. Certain things stick with you for a long time, and that’s one of those things,” May said.
Aday Mara
May highlighted the character and leadership of freshman Aday Mara during a press conference on Wednesday, describing how the forward’s personality was a major factor in his recruitment.
Mara said during his recruiting process with Michigan, money was not mentioned, as he wanted to hoop.
May emphasized that Mara’s talent was clear, but it was his personal qualities that set him apart.
“Once we started talking to him, I fell in love with him as a person. He makes people feel better just by being around them. He’s warm, engaging, and really cares about others,” May said.
May also noted Mara’s impact on the court extends beyond scoring.
“Even his passing,he once said, ‘The assist makes two people happy.’ That sums up the type of teammate he is,” May said.
May acknowledged that recruiting is about finding the right fit as much as talent.
“At the end of the day, everyone knew he had talent, but we needed to make sure we could maximize what he does well. And we felt our system was the right place for him to grow,” May said.
Despite not initially discussing financial details, May said both parties worked together to find a solution that suited the program and the player.
“I didn’t even know how much he made. It wasn’t about that. We just figured out a way to make it work for both sides,” May said.
Mara is expected to play a key role for Michigan as the team prepares for its NCAA Tournament matchup against Howard.
Roddy Gayle Jr.
Roddy Gayle Jr. will have a rare homecoming moment Thursday against the Bison in the NCAA Tournament.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound senior was born in Niagara Falls, New York, and attended Lewiston-Porter High School, making Buffalo a familiar setting as he prepares to play on one of college basketball’s biggest stages.
May said Gayle’s return offers inspiration for young athletes in the region.
“Really cool,” May said. “It’s really cool to have a local story like Rody’s. He’s such a warm-hearted guy. He’s always given back. He’s trying to get home as much as he can.”
May noted that players like Gayle can have a lasting impact on their communities, especially when performing in the NCAA Tournament.
“That’s the beautiful thing about the NCAA,” May said. “There’s so many of these stories that, if you don’t make the tournament, are never out in the world.”
For local fans, and especially young players, Gayle’s presence on the court represents what’s possible.
May pointed to past athletes from the same high school, including former Super Bowl champion Moose Johnston, as examples of hometown success stories that resonate across generations.
“If we don’t have the success we’ve had, the world doesn’t get a chance to see who they are as people,” May said.
Now, with Michigan in the national spotlight, Gayle will have the opportunity to showcase both his game and his journey in front of family, friends, and a community that helped shape him.
Elliot Cadeau
May said guard Elliot Cadeau is beginning to show the confidence the program envisioned, pointing to a key sequence in a recent game against the Wisconsin Badgers as a turning point.
Cadeau missed a 3-point attempt before a teammate secured the rebound and kicked the ball back out, giving him another chance.
This time, he didn’t hesitate.
“When you see him hit that shot, the first thing I could think about is all the work that he’s put in,” May said. “He’s been consistent before practice, after practice, working on the shots he’s going to get.”
May said confidence in Michigan’s system is earned, not given, and Cadeau’s development reflects both his preparation and willingness to adapt.
“When we recruited him, we did a deep dive,” May said. “On film, I felt like he had a good shot. Sometimes, certain things kept him from taking the highest quality shots. So we talked about our shot profile and how, if he bought into that, he could be a very efficient scorer.”
May emphasized that Michigan’s offense is designed so that every player is a scoring threat.
“We don’t want anyone on the roster that you don’t have to guard,” May said.
During the sequence against Wisconsin, May said even the coaching staff encouraged Cadeau to remain aggressive after the initial miss.
“When the ball got kicked back to him, one of the assistants said, ‘Why aren’t you shooting it? What are you thinking about? Just shoot it again,’” May said.
Cadeau responded by knocking down the shot, a moment May said reflects growing belief in his own game.
“Fortunately, he had the confidence and belief in himself to step up and make that shot,” May said.
Yaxel Lendeborg went on to hit the game-winning three-pointer to secure the victory on the next possession.
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Evolution of the program
May said the team is still evolving despite a strong record, pointing to early inconsistencies and recent adjustments as the Wolverines prepare for the NCAA Tournament.
“We weren’t very good early. We found a way to win,” May said. “That was kind of how our season was last year, too — we weren’t nearly as good as our record.”
May said Michigan relied heavily on late-game execution earlier in the season, using rebounding and playmaking to close out tight contests.
“The last four or five minutes, our guys could turn into superhuman rebounders and playmakers,” May said. “If we were close, we could find a way to win.”
This season, however, Michigan has faced a different challenge.
Blowout victories limited opportunities to develop in close-game situations, something May said became evident during the Big Ten Tournament.
“We didn’t get to learn as much about ourselves,” May said.
As the season progressed, opponents adjusted by slowing the tempo and playing more physically, changes that have tested Michigan’s adaptability.
“Teams have tried to restrict our freedom of movement and get more physical,” May said. “We haven’t adjusted to that rugged play as well as we need to if we’re going to be as good as anyone in the country.”
Still, May credited the team’s depth and balance as key strengths.
“No one plays great every game,” May said. “Our team has been deep enough where if someone has an off night, someone else is capable of stepping in and carrying the load.”
May added that players’ willingness to accept roles and stay prepared has helped maintain consistency.
“That sacrifice, the ability to stay ready when it’s not going well for you, is one of the biggest things,” May said.
NIL
May stressed that the depth of the roster allows the team to absorb off-nights from individual players.
He also touched on the challenges of navigating the modern college basketball landscape, including NIL, transfers, and coaching changes. “It’s not easy, but if you focus every day on what impacts winning and what impacts people, you can keep your compass pointed in the right direction,” May said.
Big Ten drought
The Big Ten hasn’t won a national championship in men’s basketball since Tom Izzo did it with his Michigan State Spartans back in 2000.
May acknowledged the Big Ten’s lengthy national championship drought but said his primary focus remains on delivering a title for his program.
“A lot more pride in winning one for the University of Michigan and all the people that have helped our staff and players along this journey,” May said.
The Big Ten has not won a men’s basketball national championship in more than two decades, a topic that continues to follow the conference into each NCAA Tournament.
May said representing the league still carries significance. “Winning one for the Big Ten is obviously incredibly important because we represent this historical conference,” May said.
Still, May emphasized a game-by-game approach as Michigan prepares to open tournament play against Howard.
“To be honest, now we’re in the tournament, it’s all the first possession against Howard, then the next possession,” he said.
Even with that narrow focus, May acknowledged the broader opportunity ahead.
“It’d be really, really cool to win one for Michigan and the Big Ten,” May said.
Big Ten Tournament title jitters
The Wolverines dropped the Big Ten Tournament championship to the Purdue Boilermakers 80-72 in upset fashion.
Lendeborg talked about having jiters in the game because they were used to blowing teams out, and that game was a nailbiter until Purdue opened the second half with a 22-8 run to blow it open.
May said his team gained valuable lessons from the loss to Purdue, particularly in how opponents attack and how the Wolverines respond under pressure.
“I didn’t notice jitters,” May said. “If anything, it helped. He was incredibly aggressive and performed really well in the second half. At times, he was on the verge of willing us back into position to win the game.”
May said the loss provided a clearer picture of areas that need improvement heading into the NCAA Tournament.
“We learned a lot,” May said. “It was more about how they attacked us, what we didn’t do well, and where we had some game slippage.”
May also credited Purdue’s urgency, noting the Boilermakers entered the conference tournament with something to prove.
“When you’re ranked No. 1 to start the year and have two first-team All-Americans, then come into the Big Ten Tournament as a seven seed, you probably want to salvage something,” May said. “I think their want-to was greater than ours that day.”
Michigan now turns its focus to the NCAA Tournament, where May said applying those lessons will be critical as the competition intensifies.
Looking ahead to the tournament, May emphasized staying focused on the present.
“It’s all the first possession gets Howard, then we get to the next possession. That’s how we approach it,” May said.
May also commented on staff decisions, noting the ongoing search for assistant coaches and the importance of finding individuals who can evaluate, develop, and adapt players effectively.
Michigan faces Howard in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Buffalo.