Dusty May may have left Michigan behind, but he’s still keeping score with Ohio State.
At NBA media day on Monday, the former Wolverines head coach - now set for his first season with the Dallas Mavericks - was asked whether he would miss the Ohio State rivalry. His answer came with a grin and the kind of line Michigan fans will love.
"Well, we left undefeated, so…"
May’s quip landed as he continues to answer questions about his time in Ann Arbor, even as he gets ready to make his professional debut. The NBA season is nearly here, and media days are in full swing as he steps into a very different job with the Mavericks.
May also acknowledged two regrets from his Michigan tenure. One was finishing 0.500 against Michigan State, which he described as arguably the Wolverines’ other biggest rival, especially in basketball. The other was losing his lone matchup with Duke last season, a game many viewed as a possible National Championship preview.
Now his focus shifts to Dallas, where the challenge is much bigger than a rivalry jab. The Mavericks were once positioned to chase championships behind Luka Doncic, but injuries and Doncic’s trade to the L.A.
Lakers sent the team sliding. May inherits that mess with a roster that includes 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, along with Kyrie Irving, P.J.
Washington and Dereck Lively II.
He also gets a familiar face from his Michigan run. With their first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Mavs selected Morez Johnson Jr., a key piece from last season’s national title team.
There will be an adjustment period as May moves from college basketball to the NBA, but his track record at Michigan suggests he may not need long to find his footing.
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Michigans Biggest Problem After Iowa Just Got More Attention
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There was also some movement on the injury front, with Whittingham updating the status of Blake Frazier and John Henry Daley and saying Daleys recovery has shown encouraging signs. On the coaching side, running backs coach Tony Alford said his group has continued to improve through the challenges, a sign that the personnel and depth questions around the position are still very much part of the bigger picture as Michigan looks to steady itself. [Read more 🡒]