ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May previewed their Sweet 16 matchup vs. the No. 4-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide.
The game will take place on Friday (March 27) at the United Center in Chicago. Tip-off is slated for 7:45 p.m./6:45 p.m. CT.
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May stressed excitement about the second weekend of the NCAA tournament and the challenge Alabama presents.
“We’re excited to be playing in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament and just excited to compete against Alabama in Chicago and see where this thing takes us,” said May.
Relationship with Nate Oats
May described a long-standing personal and professional relationship with Alabama head coach Nate Oats, which began when he was a young assistant at Eastern Michigan University.
He credited Oats with being a brilliant coach and described multiple instances of shared learning and mutual respect.
“My history with Nate is when I was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan. I was a young assistant and still trying to learn the profession and whatnot. And Nate was at Romulus, and they had 6 a.m. workouts,” May said.
May said he has learned much from years of observing and connecting with some of basketball’s top coaches, including Oats, whom he calls “brilliant.”
May described traveling to Chicago to spend five days at the Chicago Bulls training camp with Scott Skiles, Oats, Josh Baker, and a friend who worked for the Bulls.
The trip provided him with full access to the team’s practices and coaching methods.
“That experience was invaluable,” May said. “We’ve been friends since then, and I still go every year to his coaching conference. We’ve shared a lot of thoughts.”
May also noted Oats’ time with the University of Buffalo under Danny White and the lasting influence of those connections.
“I’ve learned a lot from Nate. He’s a brilliant basketball coach and finds a way to be really good every single year,” May said. “That’s one of the most difficult things to do.”
May’s reflections highlight the importance of mentorship and networking in shaping his coaching philosophy, which has contributed to his reputation for consistency and success on the court.
Sweet 16
May described Alabama as “an elite playmaking group” with versatility on both ends of the court, but acknowledged the challenges they have faced this season.
“They shoot the ball really well, and when they’re on top of their game, they rebound exceptionally, especially the long rebounds,” May said. “Defensively, they’ve taken a step forward lately. One of the reasons they’ve struggled at times is because they’ve had so many different lineups and multiple short-term injuries, which has kept them from having consistency with any group together.”
May also analyzed the team’s upcoming Sweet 16 matchup against the Crimson Tide.
He added that injuries and shifting lineups have caused inconsistency for the Crimson Tide this season.
On Alabama’s style, May noted the team plays very fast and relies heavily on 3-point shooting and attacking the rim.
Defensively, he said Michigan’s plan will be to keep Alabama’s shots from falling.
“I mean, they’ll shoot 40 or 50 (three-pointers). They’re going to take good shots. They’re not going to shoot a lot of contested mid-range shots. They’re going to try to get to the rim, and they’re going to try to shoot threes, and we’re going to try to do a good job of keeping their shots from going in,” May said.
Player development
May emphasized Michigan’s focus on player development, like with Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr., and described how the staff breaks down opponents and prescribes multiple solutions for player adjustments in practice.
“Wherever they are at at their point of their career, we want to help them add some new stuff to the game and continue to develop and feel like they’re getting better,” May said.
May praised point guard Elliot Cadeau for his court vision, speed, and decision-making. He credited the guard with making teammates better and with outstanding assist-to-turnover numbers over recent games.
“He’s a savant with what he’s doing, and he probably doesn’t even realize all the things that he’s doing because he’s so intelligent,” May said.
Cadeau has 26 assists and five turnovers in the Wolverines’ last three games.
May said he’s a guy who makes everyone on the team better.
Returning to the Sweet 16
May said returning to the Sweet 16 in consecutive years requires careful preparation, attention to matchups, and learning from past experiences.
The men in maize fell to the No. 1-seeded Auburn Tigers in Atlanta in 2025, but this year, they’re the No. 1-seed in the Midwest, where they expect a ton of Michigan fans to be in attendance to make the atmosphere feel like Ann Arbor.
“You obviously have the atmosphere in your favor this year, where it wasn’t last year,” May said. “But when you get to this point, it’s about how you match up with the other team, how you can exploit their weaknesses, and how you can keep your weaknesses from being exploited.”
May emphasized that there is no “magic” formula from previous tournaments.
“It’s two really good basketball teams competing at a high level,” May said. “There are some differences, but also a lot of similarities. There are only a few teams in the top 25 in tempo at the Power Five level, and they’re one of the few that are actually faster than us.”
He added that while metrics may align with past opponents, personnel differences require a unique approach.
“We’re trying to accomplish the same thing, just a little differently because of our personnel,” May said.
May’s comments underline the focus on strategy, preparation, and adaptability as his team aims to build on last year’s Sweet 16 appearance.
Chicago
Michigan will return to Chicago, where it fell short against Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament two weeks ago.
→ Purdue upsets Michigan basketball, becomes first No. 7 seed to win Big Ten Tournament title
May said his team is comfortable and familiar with the environment, but success comes down to focus and execution once competition begins.
“Our guys are obviously comfortable, and it’s familiar, but once we get in there and we’re competing, it’s more about how we can follow the scouting report, hunt the greatest shots, and stay in our best version,” May said.
May’s comments highlight the emphasis on discipline, shot selection, and performing at a high level during critical moments of the season.
Big Ten teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament
Maysaid that the Big Ten’s success in the NCAA tournament reflects positively on the conference and benefits all its programs.
“Absolutely. We’ve been cheering like crazy for the Big Ten. Everyone’s done well,” May said. “It’s important for recruiting, for television rights and packages, everything that goes with the enterprise of college basketball. How we do in the NCAA tournament is incredibly important.”
Including Michigan, the Big Ten has six teams in the Sweet 16.
May also highlighted the financial and competitive impact of strong tournament performance.
“Not to mention the revenue and the shares the league gets for advancing. The better all of us do, the more it benefits everyone in the long run,” May said.
He added that competing in one of the nation’s top conferences makes the Big Ten attractive to recruits and future talent.
“When you’re competing in the best conference, it’s appealing for players considering their options,” May said.
Roster construction
May touched on roster construction and the value of size, saying Michigan’s plan emphasized defensive coverage around the basket and anticipated offensive challenges.
He also said the team believes it still has room to improve its offensive rebounding.
“If we’re really, really big, we’re going to be tough to score on around the basket. We do think that size allows you to finish around the rim obviously, but it also just keeps you where you know you’re going to be you’re going to be good defensively,” May said.
May said he has no issue with teams that have used former professional players and emphasized that coaches must operate within the rules as written.
John Beilein
May said he has leaned on the experience and insight of former John Beilein throughout the season, describing the veteran coach as a valuable resource.
May said the two stay in regular contact, with Beilein offering advice and support while being mindful of the demands of a coaching schedule.
“We talk regularly,” May said. “He knows when my off days are and when to call. He’s sat in the seat, so he understands how many directions you’re being pulled.”
Beilein, a National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame coach, frequently shares observations and reminders based on his knowledge of the game.
“He sends texts, we talk, and he gives great nuggets, things to be looking out for,” May said. “It’s incredibly valuable to have a coach like that watching your games, knowing your personnel, understanding your opponents, and having that background.”
May added that having access to a coach who is not only familiar with his team but also with the competition provides a unique advantage.
“A lot of times you may have a relationship with a coach, but they don’t know your team or the league,” May said. “For us, for me and our staff, it’s an incredibly valuable resource.”
As of Wednesday (March 25), May and Beilein are tied for most all-time wins in a season with 33.
With a victory on Friday, not only would the Wolverines potentially advance to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2021, but it could be historic as May would surpass Beilein’s 2017/18 season.