Dusty May spoke with the media earlier this week as No. 21 #Michigan prepares for a rowdy environment at No. 11 Purdue. Here’s what he had to say about some things he wants to see his team improve upon, Matt Painter, Braden Smith and more:
Big Ten play doesn’t slow down for anyone in college hoops. After a slog of a week where the No. 21 Michigan Wolverines lost on a buzzer-beater to Minnesota and edged out Northwestern at Crisler Center, Michigan has one of its toughest tests of the season on Friday at No. 11 Purdue.
Earlier this week, Michigan head coach Dusty May mentioned the depth of the Big Ten schedule can be fun, but the Wolverines have to emphasize not beating themselves and compounding mistakes.
“It’s exciting on one hand,” May said on Monday. “The other side is our physical health, our mental health, our stamina from a coaching standpoint not to get too high or too low. From a player standpoint, to not be consumed with a good game or a bad game. Just continue to work and keep putting one foot in front of the other and good things are going to happen for us. If we get too low because of the way we play individually or collectively, then that will turn into two, three, four, five losses.”
After playing two overtime games in less than 96 hours, the Wolverines took Monday off and got after it after that. As May noted, this is the most prep time they’ll have between games, and the Wolverines are trying to fix a few flaws moving forward.
“At this time of year, you’re trying to fix problems,” May said. “Because the teams in our league, the coaches in our league are so good. They find some holes in what you do, and we have to counter that and continue to get better.
“Our rebounding has to improve. We’ve got to find ways to be more disruptive on the defensive end to force some turnovers and find some easy baskets. Offensively, we have to screen better, we have to cut better. Most of us haven’t been in the Big Ten for a long time, so there’s certain things you forget, and I catch myself saying, ‘Next fall, next summer we’ll work on this more.’ But we have to play with much more physicality in our league. We have to adjust better. We got to be the aggressor when it comes to playing with physicality, and we have the size and bodies to do it.”
Focus has shifted towards the Boilermakers, one of the few constants in the Big Ten over the years thanks to the man at the helm who is coming off a trip to the National Championship Game.
“I think coach (Matt) Painter is one of the best coaches in all facets,” May said. “He’s a great teacher, he knows what he’s looking for in recruiting, his humility, the staff he’s assembled around him, he’s excellent in all areas. For him to have the type of longevity and build the type of program where they’re this good every year is extremely difficult. They’ve climbed the mountain and now they are trying to stay at the top.”
As a former student manager under Bob Knight at Indiana, May is very familiar with how loud Mackey Arena can get. He knows how important it will be to have their hand signals ready. When asked about game planning, May spoke especially glowingly of point guard Braden Smith, who’s averaging 15 points and 8.9 assists per game.
“Braden Smith, he’s a surgeon,” May said. “His ability to make his teammates better, to make the right play. I was watching courtside when they lost to (16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson) in Columbus his freshman year. And to see his growth — back then they were pressing and he looked tired and winded, now he never looks tired, he never gets sped up. You rarely see him make a solid decision, he makes good decisions repeatedly. He knows what he’s looking at, his ability to manipulate the defense. I could go on and on.”
Purdue is far from a one-man squad, though. Even after losing Zach Edey, Lance Jones and Mason Gillis, Purdue looks like a Big Ten contender with championship aspirations yet again. Big man Trey Kaufman-Renn is leading the Boilermakers in points per game (18.3), and Foster Loyer playing alongside Smith gives Purdue one of the best backcourts in the country.
“Trey Kaufman-Renn, what a story,” May said. “They have all these go there with all these accolades and everything that goes with being a young player now. He’s really good. And they just become Purdue basketball, and now he waits his turn behind Zach Edey who’s an NBA starter and now he looks like one of the best bigs in the country, one of the most efficient bigs in the country.”
This is Michigan’s first of two games against Purdue this season, and for Michigan to stay in the Big Ten title race, the Wolverines need to at least split those matchups. Winning both games would do wonders for Michigan’s NCAA Tournament resume.
“We’re excited for the opportunity coming up this Friday at Purdue,” May said. “It will be a great environment against one of the best programs in the country. It will be a good barometer for us to see where we are going on the road.”