Notebook: Dusty May sounds off on dangerous plays, ‘mercenary’ comments

Share

Tweet

Print

Email

Dusty May has clearly revitalized the Michigan men’s basketball program in less than two years. Winning at the Breslin Center — something the second-ranked Wolverines haven’t achieved since 2018 — instantly becomes one of the biggest feathers in his cap.

In his Monday press conference, May spoke on some of the events of that game, on the upcoming gauntlet, and having enough “dawg” to win this year.

MAY CALLS FEARS TRIP “NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT”

May, who had a sparse connection to Michigan prior to last year, is obviously new to the rivalry. But with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo shaking his hand very quickly at the conclusion of Friday’s game, bad blood appears to be brewing in a revitalized rivalry. 

Both coaches added some fuel to the fire as well. Postgame, Izzo complained about the officiating and credited Michigan — “I guess.” Monday, May spoke about a play in which Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. attempted to trip graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg while closing out on a corner three.

“Appeared?” May said. “It wasn’t an illusion, right?

“I think some, I think there are several plays that are very dangerous, and I am incredibly proud of our guys for the responses they had to some of those situations, incredibly proud for their self control, their restraint and their impulse control. I’ll leave it at that… but they’re not isolated incidents.”

Here’s the relatively spicy portion of the presser where Dusty May discusses the Jeremy Fears trip and Michigan’s response to some of the incidents. pic.twitter.com/4PkdyLuIoJ

— Dylan Burkhardt (@umhoops) February 2, 2026

High stakes mixed with general rivalry and animosity, and the product was about as chippy as one could expect. Plays like the one clearly went above the acceptable level of physicality and gamesmanship, in May’s opinion.

“The film’s there, 40 minutes of it. It’s not hard to find.”