Dusty May press conference after win at Michigan State

I think we proved that we can still win in different ways. We haven't been in two games like during this week where there's so little movement. You're challenged for every inch of the court. You're challenged for every step.

And so last year's team, we didn't respond very well once the Big Ten got into this part of the season. We addressed that through, uh, recruiting. And, um, our guys were able to do that tonight. They were able to get just enough space and separation and create the angles, and guys stepped up and made plays.

Well, two elite point guards. That's one thing about the Big Ten. There's about 10 high, high-level point guards, and I may be forgetting a few. I'm not sure Fears isn't as good as any of them.

I'm taking Elliot Cadeau against anyone. I thought his little short 6-foot hook floater was the play that forced them to give him a little more attention and then he got Morez Johnson those easy baskets. And as you guys know, most of you guys are Michigan people, you watch their games, there are, it's not easy to get a dunk against them.

And I thought Elliot Cadeau and Morez Johnson were able to generate some great looks with their physicality, but most importantly, just going up through contact in the paint. But it was a credit to Elliot Cadeau, we just put the ball in his hands and tried to camouflage what we were doing just a little bit without overcomplicating it. And he got us some, some great looks.

No, I would rather us kept that 18-point lead and maybe built on it and played great. But we also have to be able to win these types of games in the Big Ten tournament, That'll be important to us, the Big Ten regular season, the NCAA tournament. And so now every one of these games, especially against a culture like this, I mean, those guys, you know, equated to the Indiana football team, like those guys are old.

I mean, you look at their front line, they're seasoned, they're, you know, they've been around the block and fought in some battles. So for us to compete at their level and then figure out a way to not collapse when it looked bleak, I think for everyone wearing Mason Blue and to find a way, it's going to help us going forward because we'll refer back to these moments and this is going to give our guys even more confidence.