One of the first things that Dusty May said in his introductory press conference was that he wanted Michigan to play a fun style of basketball. The first 40 minutes of the May era lived up to his plan.
The Wolverines started a bit slow but hit the gas and never looked back en route to a 101-53 win over Cleveland State. For the third time in three games, Michigan produced a balanced and dominant effort that couldn’t be much more impressive.
All nine rotation players scored, six reached double figures, six recorded multiple assists, and six had at least one steal. The product was as impressive as it was fun, with yet another opponent unable to slow the Wolverines down or even make them break a sweat.
The story wasn’t tough shot-making or individual brilliance, but one team playing a game out precisely as intended and another failing to provide resistance. The Wolverines don’t play any more Horizon League teams, and significantly tougher tests await, but they looked like a group that knew what they were—an impressive accomplishment for a brand new roster playing their first game for a new head coach.