ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball coach Dusty May spoke after their 86-72 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers, highlighting the challenges and positives from the game.
May noted the quick turnaround after playing in Oregon on Saturday, saying, “You’re always worried about your stamina, how you feel, the energy level, and the quick turn probably helped us get it out of our system physiologically.”
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He acknowledged some fatigue but praised the team’s effort for most of the game: “For 32 minutes we played with the same edge that we played at when we’ve been at our best.”
May also mentioned areas for improvement, such as free throws, but was overall pleased with the team’s ability to travel across the country, play three games in seven days, and secure a win.
When asked about the defense slipping in the last eight minutes, May attributed it partly to maturity and the unusual schedule: “Teams typically play when they come back home after that West Coast trip, it’s always Saturday, Wednesday, and I’m not complaining because I’m sure TV had something to do with it.”
May praised the team’s competitive spirit despite the challenges, saying, “It was nice to see us really compete at such a high level, just not long enough.”
Regarding offensive involvement, May said they trust their playmakers to do their job without overthinking: “Yaxel Lendeborg, he’s a playmaker. I think he’s improving. He looked like he had some pop around the rim coming off of his calf injury.”
On the team’s improvement since the loss to Wisconsin, May highlighted defensive adjustments and the need to adapt to opponents’ strategies: “They did a nice job of isolating us tonight. Offensively, these teams are sending everyone back because they don’t want us in transition.”
May credited Indiana’s smart game plan and emphasized the need for Michigan to find other ways to be effective and efficient.
He also praised his players’ discipline and awareness in guarding key Indiana players, noting the challenge of defending veteran shooters who know how to exploit switches.
On player minutes, May explained that some players like Namari Burnett have accepted reduced minutes for the team’s success: “I just know his character. He doesn’t care about sacrificing a couple of minutes to have a chance to win at a high level.”
May highlighted Elliot Cadeau‘s improved three-point shooting and how it adds another weapon for the team: “He’s taken what the game’s given him. We have a lot of faith and confidence in his three-point shot.”
May attributed the team’s ability to get early leads to talent, experience, and buy-in to the team plan: “When you have a group of talented guys that are buying into a plan, then we’re going to be able to do this on certain nights.”
He acknowledged the need to keep adapting as the season progresses, saying, “We’re not trying to peak right now. We’re trying to play really good basketball while continuing to work through some struggles.”
May praised Wells’ rebounding consistency and emphasized the importance of simplicity and execution: “The simple has to be what carries us. What’s ultimately going to allow us to max out as a group?”
Finally, May spoke about the value of having a frontcourt that can pass well despite never playing together before: “It’s great to have tall guys that can see over the top of everything and also have the basketball IQ and experience to make the right plays.”
Look for Michigan to take the floor on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, when they’ll play host to the Ohio State Buckeyes at 8 p.m. inside Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor.
The game will feature the jersey retirement of Trey Burke, who led the Wolverines to the 2013 NCAA National Championship game before entering the NBA draft.