Michigan HC Dusty May pays massive respect to Purdue's Matt Painter

Friday night will feature a massive Big Ten matchup between two of the best college basketball programs not just in the conference, but in the country.

Michigan is 14-4 and ranked No. 21 in the nation under first-year head coach Dusty May, who replaced Juwan Howard after several successful seasons at Florida Atlantic.

Meanwhile, Matt Painter's Purdue Boilermakers are ranked No. 11 in college basketball, they've been winning a ton of ball games and they're still looking to prove themselves after making it all the way to the national championship game last season before losing to UConn.

Michigan vs. Purdue will be a big game, and it's bound to get heated, but May, when discussing the game, threw some big complements Painter's way as he previewed the matchup with the media.

“I mean I think he’s as good of a coach, I don’t ever say anyone’s the best coach, because there’s so many great coaches, 360-plus Division I teams now, but I think coach Painter’s one of the best coaches in all facets,” May told the media, according to On3's Thomas Goldkamp. “When you picture what great coaches are, he’s a great teacher. He knows what he’s looking for in recruiting. His humility. The staff he’s assembled around him. He just, he’s excellent in all areas.”

Painter has been at Purdue since 2005, and he's taken the Boilermakers to March Madness 16 times. He's won the Big Ten regular season five times and the Big Ten tournament twice. Last season was the first time he took Purdue as far as the Final Four, and, of course, the championship game.

He's one heck of a coach, especially because he's been able to consistently find success at Purdue.

“For him to have the longevity and build the type of program where they’re this good every year is extremely difficult,” May said “They’ve climbed a mountain and now they’re managing to stay at the top of the mountain pretty consistently. So I can’t say enough good things. It’s an honor to compete against him. And we look forward to going in there and seeing what we’re made of.”