WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – No. 1-ranked Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May praised his team’s poise and togetherness following their 91-80 road victory over the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena.
The victory on Tuesday (Feb. 17) marked Michigan’s first inside Mackey Arena since January 2021.
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“What an incredible college basketball environment,” May said. “Several times, especially in the second half, Purdue made a play, the place erupted, and our guys were able to answer and calm the storm a little bit. I thought our poise and togetherness were incredibly impressive.”
May highlighted the bench’s contribution, which scored 34 points despite key player Aday Mara being limited in the second half.
“That’s how we’re built — a team where many guys are capable of stepping up and making contributions. Some nights, players don’t get to play as much as they deserve, but tonight we kept going with whoever gave us the best chance to win the next possession,” May said.
Discussing the physicality of the game, May said, “We knew this was going to be like trench warfare on the boards. We needed to deliver a lot of punches over 10 rounds. Our guys answered those runs with really sound play.”
May praised the development of underclassmen, crediting the coaching staff and trainers for the daily competitive environment.
“When players like L.J. Cason and Elliot Cadeau battle every day, they get better. Trey McKenney, our freshman, stepped up and didn’t look like a freshman tonight.”
May also emphasized the team’s defensive versatility and chemistry.
“They cover for each other on both offense and defense better than any team I’ve been around in 25 years. Even when one makes a poor decision, a teammate is ready to cover for them,” May said.
On the team’s No. 1 ranking, May said, “It’s great for fans and recruiting, but we don’t care about it right now. April 7 is what matters. We’re focused on winning a Big Ten championship and setting ourselves up for the best seed possible.”
Looking ahead, May said the team will treat their upcoming game against Duke like a high-stakes tournament matchup.
“We don’t know them well, so we have to execute a game plan with short prep. If we do, it’ll be an awesome win. If not, it’ll be a great learning experience moving forward,” May said.