CHICAGO — If anybody in the college basketball transfer portal is curious about what it’s like to play under Michigan coach Dusty May, graduate guard Nimari Burnett is happy to give an endorsement for his coach.
“I mean, every basketball player wants to play free, man,” Burnett said. “Obviously, you want a little bit of structure, but we have structure in that freedom. So I would encourage any recruit, any transfer, to come play for Dusty.”
Minutes, points and usage have all been down for Burnett this season. Senior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. is having a similar experience. Yet, in the closing of each of their careers — that could end Sunday — both unequivocally advocated for May and his ability to develop players.
“Coming from Ohio State, then coming to Michigan, I’m much more appreciative of wearing the Block ‘M’ being able to go out there and fight for Michigan,” Gayle said. “So even under coach May, he gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to play in this role and be someone very supportive of the program.”
Neither of the two was very familiar with May two years ago, and each got to know May in vastly different circumstances. But both bought in quickly.
Gayle started to learn about the former FAU coach when May and Ohio State were doing their research on one another, before the Buckeyes ultimately chose to remove the Interim tag from Jake Diebler. After May took the Michigan job and Gayle entered the transfer portal, May laid out his plan to build the program and how Gayle and his progression fit into that.
“Obviously, it was hard coming from Ohio State, but I just embraced everything, every moment,” Gayle said. “I don’t have any regrets, and just excited to be a part of the staff, be a part of the program, and then stamp this team legacy for a lifetime.”
Burnett’s hurdle to joining what May envisioned — and has now built — in Ann Arbor didn’t involve crossing a rivalry like Gayle. But May had to convince Burnett to stay with the Wolverines after he’d suffered through an 8-24 season. May had to exude confidence in the direction of the program and a new role for Burnett within it.
“First of all, I did my research,” Burnett said. “I talked to players that I played with or played against, who were coached by him, and they had nothing to say but good things. And so getting that feel for him in person, that’s exactly what I felt. And he told me (about) players that he was like, if you decide to leave and go somewhere else or whatever, what’s next for you? I’m just going to recruit another guy like yourself. And just like, I might as well just stay.”
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