When Michigan hired Dusty May two years ago, there were a few questions on whether or not he would be able to do it at a higher level of a power conference. Coming from FAU, May proved he could do a lot with less money and lower-ranked players. Now at Michigan, he has really shown his level of coaching with all the resources he could want.
While in his first season, Michigan made it to the Sweet Sixteen after missing the NCAA Tournament two seasons in a row. The Wolverines also won the Big Ten Tournament in 2025, and now, in 2026, they are regular-season Big Ten Champions.
All of this in just two seasons under May, which puts him in the history books as the first head coach to win a Big Ten title in the regular season or the tournament in each of his first two seasons after taking on a team that missed the NCAA Tournament the season before.
It sounds confusing, but it shows that May has really taken the program at Michigan to a new level.
Dusty May is the first head coach to ever win a Big Ten men’s basketball regular season or tournament title in each of his first two seasons in the league after inheriting a team that missed the NCAA tournament.
— Brandon Koretz (@BrandonKoretz) February 25, 2026
Dusty May has Michigan fans thinking of a National Championship
After a magical first season, May has now proved that he can be consistent with his level of competition in year two. With a Big Ten regular season title under his belt, the next step is to repeat as tournament champions. After that, all eyes are on the National Championship game.
This Michigan team is built to make a big run in March, and all of that is thanks to excellent recruiting by May in the offseason. Bringing in transfer Yaxel Lendeborg has made the biggest difference to the Wolverines, as his level of play has been the difference for Michigan this season.
Michigan has what it takes to go all the way to the National Championship; they just have to keep their heads down and get the job done every step of the way.