What Michigan basketball coach Dusty May said after beating Texas A&M in NCAA Tournament

When Dusty May was hired away from Florida Atlantic about a year ago, there was no telling what Michigan basketball would look like at this point. The Wolverines were 8-24 in Juwan Howard's last year overseeing the program, but May took the maize and blue to a Big Ten Tournament championship and a yet unknown level of NCAA Tournament success.

The Wolverines shocked the world by coming back after being down 10 with 13 minutes left against a Texas A&M team that had thoroughly outplayed them up until that point, and ended up beating the Aggies, 91-79. Now, May's maize and blue will face off against 1-seed Auburn in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Atlanta.

Of course, May had a lot to say after the game. Here is everything he had to say.

Opening statement

I want to begin by congratulating Texas A&M on an amazing season. They went through a gauntlet just like we did. The SEC and Big Ten this year were -- every single night were games like this.

So I want to congratulate them on their season. And then I want to talk about the most difficult thing now in this new era is the transfer portal. We as coaches, as evaluators, it's hard to know what's inside guys. We can watch them on film, we can look at their percentages, we can break down their analytics, but you never know what's inside of them.

And we didn't know what this season would look like, but we knew we had some special guys with big hearts and big brains. So it's a choppy part of the year, but this group stayed together and did it together the entire way. What a cohesive group, what a resilient group. Like I said yesterday, I'm just proud to be on their team.

On outrebounding Texas A&M

First of all, when we narrow our focus and we have a real team, I guess, initiative on something we want to get done together, it shows what we're capable of. Sometimes -- I said this on the radio a minute ago, sometimes when you start a program new, you want to implement everything. You want your culture, you want your processes, you want your environment.

You're constantly trying to get things the way you want them. And if it's not going well, sometimes you're kind of inching it there.

Sometimes maybe we've done too much. I don't know, I just know when this group is locked in on something together, then they're going to figure out a way to do it.

Locking in defensively after going down 70-66

We were able to rebound the ball. We know they rely on the offensive rebounding, and so I just thought we were getting good hits, our guards were digging basketballs out.

And then I thought we got aggressive against their three-quarter court press. We have good play makers, and that's -- one of the time-outs I simply reminded them that we don't know what defense they're going to be in, but when I look at this group of five, I see four play makers and who I think is the best big in the country.

So there's no reason for us to stop, let them get organized. Let's break the press and get into concepts. And I think that helped us. I thought that loosened the game up. And then I don't think there's any team in the country when they're scoring their defensive energy and intensity isn't elevated. I think that was part of it.

On LJ Cason's game

Yeah, I thought L.J. ignited this run. We were flat. I didn't realize until I listened to Coach Williams' press conference that we played five in nine days. We played five games, this fifth game in nine days. So I start thinking, man, do we have enough in the tank?

So we wanted to get to our bench. We trust those guys. We know how good they are. When they don't play, we're going with somebody that's probably a little bit older and done it before.

But his energy, ability to get in the paint, decision-making was great. And that started the run. And then when the starters came back in, and then obviously Roddy is a starter that just happens to not have his name called, those guys got downhill and made plays, they were poised.

In the first half, five or eight looks -- we loved them at halftime. We went in and said, man, why isn't that dropping? We generated a point-blank shot, it didn't go in, and then we some great looks from three that didn't go in.

We felt good about the way we were playing despite being down four. And then the last three and a half minutes of the half we were disappointed. We thought we played really well and gave up a lead.

His preseason confidence in Vlad Goldin

If you watched our games versus -- I say Power Five. I don't know what all the stuff is called now, but we'll just call it the Power Five, the high-major basketball conferences. He performed at a high, high level, and he was out there with our Power Four, who was 6'3", our 3 man was 6'3". So he was out there without much size. He's battling in the paint with just a bunch of small pit bulls. But he always did well.

I mean, it's still more about his work ethic and his character, and we went through a really, really, I guess, wild year coming off the Final Four where I think he might have been the only guy in the program, including myself, that didn't seem to change at all. Just stayed to the core with who he is, his love for his teammates and the loyalty to everyone around him.

That's where I wanted to start this program. If he wasn't going to be in the NBA, I thought this place would be really good for him with the resources and banging against Big Ten bodies every time would be good for his long-term career.

And that's important to us, too. We want to win games, but we hand in hand want to help our guys prepare for their futures, as well.

On being the underdog after UCSD

Yeah, I felt UCSD was very underseeded. I thought A&M and us were two heavy weights that it was going to be a prize fight. Actually, to all the Wisconsin fans behind our bench before the game, I bartered with them and said: I promise you that if cheer for us and give us a little jolt, we'll rally the troops across the way and be Badger fans in Game 2.

And we want the Big Ten to do well. I think we're 10-0 right now, and all the coaches and players in our league knew that this was a capability because we did it every night. We battled tooth and nail -- there's no nights off.

The teams that are in the tournament are just the ones that close games a little bit better than the ones that aren't playing still.

On facing Texas A&M's defense

Well, I thought we did a nice job of attacking before they had their defense set. We were getting to the spots we wanted to get to where we had open avenues and windows. And I thought Vlad wasn't on the perimeter as much. And when he's down around the basket, whether it's diving off the pick-and-roll or ducking in or we're running sets for him, he generates a lot of attention. And overreactions is what we call them.

So he made some big, big baskets, but he also caused some enormous overreactions, which helped his teammates get downhill and find some space. Because when you're as big and strong as Texas A&M, it's not easy to find space on that court.

On getting some rest with the Sweet 16 happening on Friday

Yeah, that's going to be the challenge that -- this is the tough part. This is I think the sixth consecutive time Michigan has been in the Sweet 16. So this is just kind of -- when you get here, this is what you do.

So we have to be careful when we get back and figure out who we play, we've got to cleanse this and we've got to be mature about it and turn all of our focus and energy toward the preparation of Auburn or Creighton, two incredible basketball teams and programs.

That's the challenge this time of year, to block out the extra noise, to stay in that foxhole with your teammates and staff and sports staff and everyone else. And you work since June really as a group to put yourself in position to do something enormous, and so there's -- we don't have any regrets because we are content being at this point.

We'll enjoy it. We'll get back to the practice court. We'll address some things that need to be fixed, and without a doubt, our guys, they're so oriented, they'll be ready to work.

On second-half free throws

Well, I thought we came up with some loose basketballs, some 50/50 balls we were quicker to. To beat Texas A&M, you have to find -- but also with L.J. getting in the paint and Roddy getting downhill and Rubin getting downhill, and Tre when he came back in, that breaks the defense down. And we do have two seven-footers. So we were able to keep some basketballs live.

I thought Rubin Jones, once again, a couple huge possessions. He tips it out, we get -- start scratch. And so obviously you look at the box score, and 2-for-6 and seven points and four assists doesn't jump out. That's a good stat line.

But I thought he made a lot of invisible plays that helped us win. And then the guys, Tre, he didn't look like himself, and he came in and closed. He looked like game-time Tre again.

And just a complete team effort. Very happy for Ian and Harrison and Charlie to step on the floor in an NCAA Tournament game. Those guys, they've been awesome in scout team and getting our players ready, along with Phat Phat and Oscar Goodman.

So happy for those guys to step on the court, shows those jerseys off in front of their friends and family and whatnot. Just proud of the group's resiliency more than anything else.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Dusty May postgame press conference transcript after Texas A&M

Topics

Everything Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said after Michigan basketball beat the Aggies

Everything the Aggies coach said after Michigan basketball beat Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
NCAA Tournament bracket: Michigan moves to Sweet 16 after beating Texas A&M

Texas A&M men's basketball lost to Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in a nationally televised game on Saturday in Ball Arena.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
What Michigan coach Dusty May said about Wisconsin basketball before Big Ten title game

The Wisconsin Badgers are set to face the Michigan Wolverines in the 2025 Big Ten Tournament championship game on Sunday afternoon.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Everything Michigan said after its NCAA Tournament win over TAMU

USA Today DUSTY MAY: I want to begin by congratulating Texas A&M on an amazing season. They went through a gauntlet just like we did. The SEC and Big Ten this year were -- every single night were ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Michigan basketball finds more March Madness magic to beat Texas A&M, make Sweet 16

Michigan basketball's March Madness run continued on Saturday with a win over Texas A&M to continue to the Sweet 16.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Everything HC Buzz Williams and three Aggies said after second round loss to Michigan

Here is everything HC Buzz Williams and three Aggie senior said after Saturday's second round NCAA Tournament loss to Michigan.
Yahoo Sports - 18h
Media, Wolverine legends react to Michigan basketball beating Texas A&M in NCAA Tournament

Our favorite reactions from the media and Michigan legends.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Michigan basketball survives UC San Diego in March Madness, advances to NCAA second round

Tre Donaldson scored 12 points as Michigan basketball beat UCSD in 1st round of March Madness bracket. Wolverines-Texas A&M next in NCAA tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Everything Louisville coach Jeff Walz said after beating Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament

Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Walz met with the media following his team's victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 2d

What Michigan basketball coach Dusty May said after beating Texas A&M in NCAA Tournament

Opening statement

On outrebounding Texas A&M

Locking in defensively after going down 70-66

On LJ Cason's game

His preseason confidence in Vlad Goldin

On being the underdog after UCSD

On facing Texas A&M's defense

On getting some rest with the Sweet 16 happening on Friday

On second-half free throws

Topics

Related

Everything Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said after Michigan basketball beat the Aggies

NCAA Tournament bracket: Michigan moves to Sweet 16 after beating Texas A&M

What Michigan coach Dusty May said about Wisconsin basketball before Big Ten title game

Everything Michigan said after its NCAA Tournament win over TAMU

Michigan basketball finds more March Madness magic to beat Texas A&M, make Sweet 16

Everything HC Buzz Williams and three Aggies said after second round loss to Michigan

Media, Wolverine legends react to Michigan basketball beating Texas A&M in NCAA Tournament

Michigan basketball survives UC San Diego in March Madness, advances to NCAA second round

Everything Louisville coach Jeff Walz said after beating Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament

More from Yahoo Sports

MLB Opening Day 2025: Watch baseball's return on Hulu + Live TV

MLB Opening Day 2025: Watch baseball's return on Hulu + Live TV

What Kim Mulkey said following LSU's blowout win over San Diego State in NCAA First Round

What Kim Mulkey said following LSU's blowout win over San Diego State in NCAA First Round

Monday Leaderboard: Missed three-foot putt costs Sergio Garcia a spot in Open Championship

More in Sports

MLB Opening Day 2025: Watch baseball's return on Hulu + Live TV

MLB Opening Day 2025: Watch baseball's return on Hulu + Live TV

What Kim Mulkey said following LSU's blowout win over San Diego State in NCAA First Round

What Kim Mulkey said following LSU's blowout win over San Diego State in NCAA First Round

Monday Leaderboard: Missed three-foot putt costs Sergio Garcia a spot in Open Championship