HC Dusty May on how Michigan basketball can improve ahead of Purdue matchup

No. 21 Michigan men’s basketball is headed towards a matchup with No. 11 Purdue on Jan. 24. After falling to Minnesota in overtime last week, the Wolverines got back in the win column with a win over Northwestern Sunday, also in overtime. The maize and blue are entering an important stretch of games as the season winds down, and head coach Dusty May offered some insight into what he thinks his team could be doing better.

Michigan basketball looking to grow quickly

Six out of Michigan’s 13 remaining games are against teams currently ranked in the top 25. With March just around the corner, every team in the country will be looking to start playing their best ball.

Size is part of the strength of this Wolverines team, but it hasn’t always shown this season. They are ranked 29th in the country in rebounding margin (+7), and May thinks it could be better.

“Our rebounding has to improve,” May said at a press conference Monday. “We’ve got to find ways to be more disruptive on the defensive end. We just have to force a few more turnovers and try to find some easy baskets. Offensively, we have to screen better, (and) we have to cut better.

“Most of us haven’t been in the Big Ten for a long time, so there’s certain things that you forget. And I catch myself saying, ‘next fall, next summer we’ll work on this more.’ But we have to play with much more physicality in our league. We have to adjust to the game better. We can’t get knocked off our screens, we can’t pull away from screens, we’ve got to be the aggressor when it comes to playing with physicality, and we have the size and bodies to do it.”

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Visiting Purdue

When Michigan visits Purdue this Friday, it will arguably be its biggest game of the season so far. The Boilermakers sit a half-game above the Wolverines in the Big Ten, and both trail Michigan State. May is familiar with road games in Mackey Arena from his time on the Indiana staff.

“We better have our hand signals ready, we better be poised, we better meet every pass, we better have our fakes and footwork on point,” May said. “It’s as tough of an environment there is in the country to play in. Anyone that’s played there and competed there knows that. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but we’re anxious to see where we are.”

More than one player caught the attention of May ahead of the matchup.

“Their role definition (stands out). (Purdue guard) Braden Smith is a surgeon (with) his ability to make his teammates better, to make the right play,” May said. “… You rarely see him make even a solid decision. He makes good decisions repeatedly.”

Purdue is led by junior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, as he averages 17.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. May said Kaufman-Renn is one of the best in the nation.

“He waits his turn behind Zach Edey, who’s an NBA starter, and now he looks like one of the best bigs in the country, or one of the most efficient bigs in the country,” May said. “And then (Fletcher) Loyer, I mean I’m blown away at his development. He’s gotten so much better as a player; He’s more complete.

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“… It starts with those three, and there’s probably a couple guys on that bench that are playing a complimentary role that we’ll be talking about in a year or two in a similar fashion. That’s their culture; They have a real program.”

The teams tip off on Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. on FOX.

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