Michigan's Dusty May on Arizona Showdown, Tough Coaching, & College Basketball's

April 2, 2026·18 min·1 clip

Coach May told Fran Fischella after two bad games: 'We're going to end up being really, really good.'

This episode of Don't @ Me features host Dan Dakich in conversation with University of Michigan men's basketball head coach Dusty May. May is a two-time Final Four coach, having previously led Florida Atlantic to the national semifinals. The discussion centers on Michigan's current Final Four run, the upcoming game against Arizona, and broader issues in college basketball. May details his team's journey, noting they assembled a highly talented roster in June but struggled with cohesion due to injuries and other commitments until a week before the season. He recalls telling reporter Fran Fraschilla after a second poor game that the team would eventually be "really, really good," with things clicking days later in Las Vegas. The status of player Elliot Cadeau is confirmed, as he is traveling to Indianapolis after an injury. May compares the logistical "busy day" of Final Four media obligations to the challenges faced by lower-level programs in retaining players. He praises the Big Ten conference's strength this season, specifically mentioning Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, UCLA, and the coaching of Ben McCollum. May cites a conversation with Brad Stevens, who emphasized the importance of an organization moving in unison without distractions. He describes his Michigan team as "normal dudes" who create "psychological safety," allowing for constructive criticism focused on winning. The coach outlines a specific strategy used during the tournament, granting players free time until 11 PM upon arrival in a city before "building a wall" around the program to focus. A surprising claim is May's assertion that college basketball has "never been better," citing 14 million viewers for Michigan's game against Alabama. He argues the primary issue is not the competitive landscape but the long-term financial health of athletes, criticizing the current system of direct NIL payments without structured oversight. May identifies a fundamental governance problem, noting that all Division I schools have equal voting power despite vast budgetary differences, which stifles meaningful reform. He offers a nuanced view on Cinderella teams, stating they will be rarer but not extinct in a single-elimination format, using FDU's upset of Purdue as an example. A memorable moment involves May recounting a friend's theory that a coach has truly won over a fanbase when poor performances lead fans to blame the players instead of the coach. He also humorously details the complications of distributing Final Four tickets to friends and family, calling it a "good problem" to have. The tone is relaxed and conversational, blending insider basketball analysis with broader philosophical discussion about the sport's state. The style is interview-based, with Dakich prompting and May offering extended, thoughtful reflections. College basketball fans, especially those following Michigan or the NCAA tournament, would love this episode for its behind-the-scenes coaching perspective. Listeners seeking a highly structured debate or breaking news might skip it, as the conversation meanders through personal anecdotes and systemic commentary.

As heard by us

Dusty May breaks down Michigan's tournament discipline and the Arizona matchup ahead.

Dusty May frames Michigan's Final Four push as both a talent story and a discipline test, starting with how quickly he recognized the roster's upside once players arrived on campus in June.

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Why you'd press play

Hear Dusty May explain Michigan's Final Four mindset, Arizona's paint-and-free-throw identity, and the 11 PM shutdown around tournament noise.

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