The Michigan Wolverines knew something had to change after they finished the season with a disappointing 8-24 record. After the season ended in such a way, it was only a matter of time before Juwan Howard got kicked out of the team.
The next biggest question after Howard’s firing was the replacement who would take over Howard’s spot in the team. While a couple of names have been linked with the position, the Wolverines eventually decided to move forward with Florida Atlantic’s Dusty May.
The acquisition is a huge move forward for May’s career, but what exactly does it mean for the Wolverines?
Why Dusty May was selected to lead the Michigan Wolverines
May is coming to the team with a strong basketball pedigree. The 57-year-old’s first foray into head coaching was with his current team when he got the job in 2017. While it did take a while for May to build the program to its full potential, the past two years saw his hard work pay off.
The Florida Atlantic Owls outgrew the CUSA in the 2022-23 season, finishing the season with a 35-4 record and making the Final Four seemingly out of nowhere. The good times continued when they moved to the AAC, finishing with a 25-9 record and a first-round exit in the 2024 edition of March Madness.
While the team had outstanding contributors in Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin, it was clear that May’s coaching and recruiting helped the team make March Madness after a 21-year absence.
Analyst explains why the Wolverines’ decision to hire Dusty May is a great one
With the team performing well, it would have been difficult for May to leave for Michigan that’s known to have difficulty in finding quality players. The biggest hurdle for the men’s basketball team is the high academic requirements expected out of their athletes.
However, GBMWolverine’s Jordan Bruetsch revealed that the Wolverines managed to convince May to leave the program he built for six years because of the major adjustments they’re willing to make academically:
According to Jeff Goodman, Michigan guaranteed May that it will be easier to bring transfers into the program. That’s a huge shift for a school that has consistently put academics first. But it’s consistent with the times. We’re at a time where student athletes are potentially going to be considered university employees, meaning it wouldn’t make sense to make them adhere to the same strict academic standards that students have.
Making it easier for players to transfer in is a huge deal. Think about it. With fewer restrictions, this year’s Michigan basketball team would have featured PAC-12 player of the year Caleb Love, who had committed to Michigan basketball before admissions turned him down, and Illinois All-American Terrance Shannon Jr. Hunter Dickinson likely stays at Michigan with that squad. That’s a team that would be a national championship favorite.
With the experience May has collected at Florida Atlantic and the tradition and resources found in Michigan, it’s not hard to imagine them becoming relevant on the national stage sooner than lather.
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