Michigan's head coach, Dusty May, recently shared his insights on the NCAA Tournament during an appearance on the Wake Up Barstool show. As Michigan enters March Madness as a No. 1 seed, May's comments shed light on the challenges ahead, particularly highlighting the formidable Wisconsin team. He didn't hold back in praising the Badgers, calling their backcourt potentially "the best in all of college basketball."
May's respect for Wisconsin is well-earned. Throughout the season, only two Big Ten teams managed to defeat Michigan: Wisconsin and Purdue. The Badgers were the only team to topple them during the regular season, thanks largely to their outstanding backcourt performance.
Reflecting on their first encounter, Wisconsin edged out Michigan 91-88, with Nick Boyd and John Blackwell leading the charge. Boyd delivered an impressive 22 points, six assists, and three rebounds, while Blackwell added 26 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Their ability to dominate against a top-tier team, especially on the road, was a testament to their skill and tenacity.
In their second clash during the Big Ten tournament, Michigan narrowly escaped with a 68-65 victory, thanks to Yaxel Lendeborg's clutch three-pointer in the final seconds. Despite May's efforts to contain Boyd and Blackwell, they still put up solid numbers-Boyd with 14 points, five assists, and five rebounds, and Blackwell with 13 points, four assists, and three rebounds.
Even after the dust settled, May couldn't help but think about the potential of Boyd and Blackwell to lead Wisconsin on a deep tournament run. Their performances have left a lasting impression, and May is undoubtedly relieved not to face them in his region of the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers are a team to watch, and their backcourt is ready to make some noise.