Dusty May says guards must play up to their standards for Michigan to ‘max out’ this season

Michigan head coach Dusty May said the guard play must improve in order for the team to “max out” and reach their full potential this season. Even though the guards have shown flashes of explosiveness, inconsistency has held the team back in recent weeks:

Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May said at his press conference on Monday that the guard play must improve in order for the team to reach their full potential and find success in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Even though the guards have shown flashes, inconsistent performances have held the team back a bit in recent weeks.

Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Rubin Jones have all displayed significant potential at various points this season, but their individual struggles in certain games have been a major factor in the team’s offensive slump. The trio failed to make much of an impact in the last several games, so they’ll be looking to bounce back against the Oregon Ducks on Wednesday night.

“I think (the guards) allow us to make a big jump as a team — it’s no secret that they’re not performing up to their standards for a number of reasons, and we all contribute to that,” May said. “It’s getting them the ball in the right positions at the right time. We believe in them and if we’re going to max out as a group, they’re going to be a big reason why.”

Burnett averaged 16.5 points on a scorching hot 15-of-20 shooting from three-point range in four games from Dec. 29 to Jan. 12. However, he has put up just 8.6 points on 5-of-24 shooting from beyond the arc in five games since then. His inability to consistently contribute offensively has been a noticeable issue over the last month.

“One thing I’ve learned about Nimari is when he gets in foul trouble, it takes him out of the flow. He’s been steady, but hasn’t made shots he typically makes,” May said. “His percentages are still good, but we need him to play with more aggression and have more of a defensive presence. We need him to play like he’s played all season. We’re very confident in him.”

May later mentioned that Burnett has been dealing with a “deep thigh bruise,” which could be a factor in his slump. Even though he is feeling better overall, he will have to improve upon his three-point outing at Rutgers on Saturday for the Wolverines to remain competitive down the stretch.

Gayle also found plenty of early-season success, scoring in double figures in seven straight games in December to January, but he recently suffered a dry spell as well. He has averaged 7.6 points in the last five contests, with a troubling 1-of-11 shooting stretch from three-point range. His drop in production has been another setback for Michigan’s offense.

“I think the confidence and rhythm that (Gayle) needs to be a really good shooter is not where it needs to be, but we need him to shoot it. The teams that have guys that won’t shoot open shots are the teams that struggle to find an identity,” May said. “He was in the gym (Monday) morning and he makes them in practice, so it’s just a matter of getting his confidence back.”

Meanwhile, Jones hasn’t quite lived up to expectations for most of the season. He has made a positive impact defensively and as a secondary ball handler, but his scoring has been a weak point. Jones is averaging 3.4 points per game on 32.4 percent shooting from the field this season.

With the guard play struggling a bit lately, point guard Tre Donaldson has been left to carry a heavier load on both ends of the floor. Donaldson has been great — especially in the win over Penn State last week when he scored 21 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer — but Michigan’s offense has lacked the consistency and explosiveness that is needed to contend in the Big Ten and when the calendar turns to March.