INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines are gearing up for their NCAA Tournament national championship game against the No. 2-seeded UConn Huskies inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Tipoff is slated for 8:50 p.m. on Monday (April 6) inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Recommended Videos
Head coach Dusty May didn’t shy away from the spotlight or the scrutiny.
On the eve of the national championship, May embraced both, framing his program’s rapid rise as a product of environment, development, and belief.
“It’s an honor to be one of the two teams still standing,” said May. “Our job is to put a competitive roster on the floor that represents Michigan the way it deserves to be represented.”
Facing questions about roster construction in the modern era of transfers, May defended his approach.
Rather than focusing on how players arrive, he emphasized what they become.
“We’re going to bring in really good guys that are high achievers,” May said. “I think we all are better in certain situations than others. Our job is to help them become the best version of themselves.”
May pointed to the model of team-building at the professional level, referencing the Oklahoma City Thunder, and said he doesn’t treat MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander differently because he joined the team after leaving the Los Angeles Clippers in the Paul George trade.
Or Isaiah Hartenstein for signing with the Thunder and helping them win a championship after leaving the New York Knicks, in comparison to his team of transfers, which consists of Aday Mara, Elliot Cadeau, Morez Johnson Jr., and Yaxel Lendeborg, and their unselfish style of play as an example of culture outweighing circumstance.
Yaxel Lendeborg
Speaking of Lendeborg, May broke news that the Big Ten Player of the Year should be good to go for Monday night’s title game.
May said Lendeborg’s injury does not appear to be serious after imaging results came back clean.
“All imaging has come back clean,” May said. “He’s getting treatment and doing rehab all day today (Sunday, April 5).”
Lendeborg underwent an MRI earlier in the day after suffering a MCL sprain and a twisted ankle during the first half against Arizona in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4.
He experienced discomfort after the game, but the results showed no structural damage.
His availability moving forward will depend on how he responds to treatment and guidance from the team’s medical staff, per May.
“He’ll give it a go tomorrow, but that’ll be entirely up to him and the medical staff,” May said. “They’ll tell me if he can go.”
Despite the injury, Lendeborg played through the second half of the Final Four, drawing praise from May for his toughness and adaptability.
“We were laughing, he played that second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA,” May said. “A really good 38-year-old at the YMCA.”
May added that regardless of how Lendeborg feels physically, his presence on the court remains valuable.
“Whatever version of Yaxel we get, it’s going to be somebody that helps us play better basketball,” May said.
Building toughness through preparation
A defining trait of this Michigan team has been its preparation.
Players have repeatedly described practices as more difficult than games, by design.
“We try to create an environment that will prepare our players to play well in the games,” May said. “If we don’t play well, it’s because of our poor planning.”
That preparation, he believes, has led to a composure evident in high-pressure moments.
Michigan’s deep tournament run has been marked by poise, something May attributes to months of demanding work behind the scenes.
Reset after adversity
Michigan’s path wasn’t without setbacks. A loss in the Big Ten Tournament championship game forced a reset, but May said the response came from within the locker room.
“We knew we had lost our edge a little bit,” May said. “It was more of a reboot, getting back to what we know are the right things.”
That internal accountability has translated into dominant performances throughout the NCAA Tournament, including a 91-73 victory over the Wildcats, their fifth game of 90 or more points, setting a March Madness record.
Learning from the past
May’s coaching philosophy has been shaped by influential figures, including his time under Bobby Knight.
From Knight, he learned the importance of preparation and anticipation.
“You’re always thinking ahead,” May said. “You’re figuring out solutions before problems happen.”
That mindset extends to roster building.
May said he prioritizes personality traits, competitiveness, unselfishness, and love for the game, alongside talent.
“We look for guys who either love to compete or love to hoop,” May said. “Then we build around their strengths.”
Leadership and culture
Veteran players like Will Tschetter and Nimari Burnett have played a key role in shaping Michigan’s culture, helping integrate newcomers and maintain a team-first mentality.
“I give those guys as much credit as our staff,” May said. “They brought new players in because they wanted to be on this stage.”
That cohesion has been critical, especially in an era of frequent roster turnover.
Players echo coach’s message
Tschetter and Burnett reinforced May’s emphasis on preparation and adaptability.
“We’ve been challenged with different ways to beat teams all year,” said Burnett. “Our mindset is to dictate the pace and still play our style.”
Tschetter highlighted the team’s ability to absorb scouting reports and adjust quickly.
“Our preparation is second to none,” said Tschetter. “We’re dialed in on tendencies and ready for quick turnarounds.”
Both players credited May’s creativity, from unconventional drills to attention to small details, as a competitive edge.
Focus on the final task
Despite the magnitude of the moment, May made clear that Michigan’s focus remains narrow.
“We never ride momentum,” May said. “It’s about what we need to do to prepare to play well.”
Standing one win away from a national title, Michigan’s message is consistent: preparation over hype, development over perception, and team over everything.
“We’ve made it this far,” May said. “We’d hate to drop the last one.”