Dusty May didn’t waste any time with scouting for the national championship game — before he even knew if Michigan would advance.
The Wolverines’ head coach was courtside watching UConn’s game against Illinois in the Final Four on Saturday, hours ahead of their game against Arizona at Lucas Oil Stadium, according to the Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman.
Michigan will have a chance to use May’s observations after it blew out Arizona, 91-73, in its showdown between No. 1 seeds, as the victory secured a matchup with UConn on Monday.
In a way, it’ll be a fitting championship game for May.
Before he ended up at Michigan, he was the architect behind the Florida Atlantic team that advanced to the Final Four in 2023 before falling to San Diego State — with the Aztecs then losing to the Huskies two days later, kickstarting UConn’s back-to-back championships under Dan Hurley.
May missed out on his chance to face the Huskies then.
Three years later, after one other March Madness appearance and then his first season after bolting to Michigan, May will get that opportunity.
It won’t be easy, as Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg injured his knee and ankle Saturday.
He was able to return to the game, but his status — and what level he’ll be able to perform at — remains a bit unknown, though Lendeborg insisted postgame that he wouldn’t miss the championship game.
The Huskies and Hurley will have a chance to claim their third title in four seasons with a victory against Michigan, as UConn held off a late rally by Illinois to advance.
With May occupying his courtside seat, Tarris Reed Jr. led the Huskies with 17 points and 11 rebounds and Braylon Mullins — the Elite Eight hero — added 15.
“Based on how our system is designed, we do feel like it’s a challenge to prepare for us,” May told reporters Sunday during his press conference, “but I also feel like UConn on a short prep is challenging, as well. Maybe one of the reasons we’re both still standing and have been able to advance in these tournament settings.”
May tried to extend his preparation window as much as possible with his early scouting from Lucas Oil Stadium.
And now, he’ll get a chance for that to pay dividends.
