‘Sooner than later’: Michigan basketball HC Dusty May says Fab Five banners could return to Crisler Arena

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The reigning, defending 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament national champion Michigan Wolverines have been hanging banners inside Crisler Arena all spring long, but head coach Dusty May said they will be hanging another one sooner rather than later during his time speaking at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference.

In two years with the University of Michigan, May has turned an 8-24 program into banner central, winning the Big Ten Tournament championship in 2025, the 2026 Players Era Men’s Championship, the regular-season Big Ten championship in 2026, and reaching the Final Four in Indianapolis before bringing home the national championship.

But May said some of the old banners will be raised to the rafters in the future.

On Wednesday (May 27), May was part of a four-person panel to discuss the Final Four returning to Detroit for the first time since 2009, when it was held at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.

On the panel was Michigan State Spartans head basketball coach Tom Izzo, Detroit Pistons lead color commentator, and 1979 national champion Greg Kelser, May and Fab Five legend Jalen Rose, who was joyful about his alma mater bringing home the title for the first time since 1989.

May hopes the Wolverines’ future success can reconnect one of the program’s most iconic eras with the present.

While sitting next to Rose, May suggested members of the Fab Five could be included alongside them.

“We look forward to adding another banner in Crisler with Jalen and the guys on it,” May said. “Sooner than later.”

He spoke glowingly about building relationships with former Michigan stars, particularly the Fab Five, who transformed college basketball culture in the early 1990s.

“It’s been tough because I was a super fan,” May said. “I grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, and one year when they were the Fab Five, we convinced the director to change our AAU team name for one year to Bloomington Blue.”

May joked that he and his teammates copied the Fab Five’s black socks and style while following the Wolverines during their back-to-back national title game appearances in 1992 and 1993.

He later described an emotional moment when assistant coach Aheem Miskdeen met former Michigan standout Ray Jackson during the NCAA Tournament.

“I’ve never hugged a man longer than I just hugged Ray Jackson,” May said, laughing about Miskdeen.

The Fab Five, consisting of Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, Rose, and Jackson, helped revolutionize college basketball with their style, swagger, and cultural impact.

However, their Final Four appearances and records were later vacated by the NCAA because of rules violations tied to booster Ed Martin.

Michigan removed the banners associated with Crisler Center in 2002.

Rose praised May for embracing former players and continuing to build connections across generations of Michigan basketball.

“Thank you for not only bridging the gap, but delivering the goods,” Rose said. “The way you handle yourself with class and intellect is something we can all embody.”

Rose also emphasized the significance of Detroit hosting the 2027 Final Four, pointing to the city’s sports resurgence and downtown revitalization.

“When we talk about the Final Four being in Detroit, it really talks about the growth of a city and how sports can be an anchor of a town,” Rose said.

Reunion

The Fab Five were together on-site at the Final Four on April 4 for the first time in almost 30 years, alongside host Adam Lefkoe, to share live reactions and timeless stories with their unique perspectives on the (no-so) heavyweight matchup as Michigan destroyed the Arizona Wildcats 91-73 before advancing to the title game against the UConn Huskies.

Following the Wolverines’ Elite Eight blowout victory over the Tennessee Volunteers, May highlighted the cultural impact of the Fab Five, who helped reshape college basketball in the early 1990s.

“The Fab Five did as much culturally for our sport as anyone since I’ve been alive, other than MJ (Michael Jordan),” May said.

May also spoke about the Fab Five getting their banners back following their blowout victory, taking down the Gonzaga Bulldogs 101-61 in Las Vegas, while on the set with Yaxel Lendeborg, Webber, and Rose, telling them, “We want to make you guys proud as you put Michigan on the map. We’re as recognizable as we are because of guys like you, so tip of the cap.”

Regarding the banners, May said during the postgame with Rose and Webber, “It’s going to happen. We’re going to find a way.”