Ohio State focus on Jake Dielber helps Michigan basketball

It’s not often that Michigan basketball and Ohio State have head-coach openings, in a major sport, in the same offseason. But that’s where we find ourselves in men’s basketball.

Michigan basketball fired Juwan Howard on Friday. Ohio State fired its head coach in February and Jake Diebler led the Buckeyes on a tear down the stretch, including a blowout win over Michigan in Columbus.

The program did a complete 180. There was speculation about candidates for the Ohio State job but it was reported on Saturday that the Buckeyes want Diebler. He will surely accept the job and that’s a good thing for the Michigan basketball head coaching search.

Breaking: Ohio State is targeting Jake Diebler as the new #Buckeyes head coach, The Dispatch can reporthttps://t.co/Bxuv2Sv13c

— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) March 17, 2024

This is good news because there’s a good chance Ohio State and Michigan would be competing for the same head coaches. Dusty May is a name that’s come up for both programs. Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider posted that there is interest in May. Ohio State and Louisville were viewed as potential contenders too.

Good news for Michigan basketball search

May has some connections to the state of Michigan and coaching the Wolverines would be an upgrade from Florida Atlantic. The Owls went to the Final four last season and are 24-10 in 2023-24. They lost to Temple on Saturday but could still get an at-large berth for the NCAA tournament.

For Michigan’s sake, it might be better if they don’t. May has proven he can win in March — something Michigan basketball should value in a head coach. He’s also done it at a mid-major program. However, the Owls were ranked outside of the Kenpom 150 at the end of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. They were a top-20 program last season and are 41st right now.

May’s team has had just one top-50 defense. That’s also probably a function of being at Florida Atlantic. There are some risks with May. I wouldn’t say he’s the most proven head coach. He’s gotten a team to the Final Four and it’s the kind of risk Michigan should take.

Even if it’s not May, the fact that Diebler will be hired as the head coach of Ohio State takes one competitor from the Wolverine.

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