How Dusty May’s ‘weird mind’ is powering Michigan’s year-two blueprint

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Last season, Michigan coach Dusty May wasn’t shy about his ambitions. May committed to competing for championships in year one — and he delivered. Winning the Big Ten Tournament championship actualized that promise, and May sees it no differently in year two.

Many of the same philosophies are going into the second year of the May era, including the offseason mentality of attacking the transfer portal. Getting immediate impact starters from the portal was pivotal last year, and May did the same thing this year.

Entering this season, the Michigan men’s basketball team landed the top portal commit with graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg in addition to junior guard Elliot Cadeau, junior center Aday Mara and sophomore big man Morez Johnson Jr.

Their arrivals weren’t a coincidence. May views roster building as a simple formula — matching needs with opportunity.

“We watch a lot of basketball, we have big staffs now, we know who’s good and who’s not, and when a really good player goes in the portal, we immediately make contact and see if what they’re looking for matches what we have to offer,” May said Thursday at Big Ten Media Days. “We’re very transparent with what our vision is and how it’s going to work. Obviously, those things can change, but I do think our honesty and the way we’ve treated our players in the past, and how much time we invest in them, has paid dividends.”

That transparency has paid off in the portal. But just as vital is retaining a core of veterans to anchor the locker room. Gayle, graduate guard Nimari Burnett and graduate forward Will Tschetter could easily provide that, it was simply a matter of keeping them around.

“We come to Michigan to further our collegiate career, but also be in the best situation possible and doing so to win,” Burnett said Thursday at Big Ten Media Days. “I feel like we’ve all done that, from the guys that transfer here or just coming out of high school, it’s a part of who we are, and it’s going to be a part of who we are. When our time is up, we’ll share it with our brothers, alumni, people that we see at the airports, because ‘Go Blue’ is universal. So I’m excited to be a part of that brand.”