As No. 7 Michigan prepares to open the Players Era men’s tournament against San Diego State on Monday night in Las Vegas, Wolverines coach Dusty May has some goals in mind.
“I hope for some Vitamin D, I hope we stay healthy and I hope these three games in three days show us what we need to continue to do or do better to win the Big Ten tournament,” May said.
Not that May doesn’t want to go all-out to win this game. But with a top-10 team just four games into what he hopes will be a 40-game season, May is more than willing to play the long game if that’s what it takes to see Michigan reach its maximum potential.
The Wolverines (4-0) thumped Middle Tennessee 86-61 at home Wednesday night, outscoring the Blue Raiders 50-31 in the second half. UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg pumped in 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, both season highs, while Elliot Cadeau and Aday Mara each added 10 points.
Lendeborg has shown why he was considered one of the prizes from this transfer portal class, averaging 15 points, 7.8 rebounds and three assists. The 7-foot-3 Mara, who transferred from UCLA, is supplying 11.5 points and 10.3 boards.
Illinois transfer Morez Johnson Jr. is adding more strength inside with 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rebounds. Trey McKenney (10.8) and Roddy Gayle Jr. (10.5) are also averaging in double figures.
“We’re a work in process,” May said. “I’m very happy with our guys’ actual processes and routines on a daily basis. I think we’re getting better despite the stats not showing it right now. I think we’re definitely planting some seeds to play good ball soon.”
As a team, Michigan is averaging 89.8 ppg and canning 50.4% of its field goals. But it ranks bottom-50 in Division I with 15.0 turnovers per game.
San Diego State (2-1) has a reputation for taking good offensive teams and reducing them to mush, its recent 108-107 double-overtime loss to Troy notwithstanding. The Aztecs are traditionally long, active and offer good rim protection.
Coach Brian Dutcher actually sounded a bit thankful to be lining up against a foe like the Wolverines with all their height, instead of another game with an opponent like Troy and its 5-out offense with no one playing inside the 3-point line.
“They’ve got giants and they’re going to be around the rim and it’s going to be a fistfight in there,” Dutcher said of Michigan. “They’re going to try to beat the living tar out of us in the paint. And they’re good at it.”
San Diego State’s antidote could be 7-foot sophomore Magoon Gwath, who returned Tuesday night from an injury that sidelined him the first two games and put up 20 points. Gwath added seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals in 28 minutes.
“It felt good. Definitely boosted the confidence after not playing for so long,” Gwath said.
This will be just the second meeting between the two programs. Michigan won the first one 72-58 four seasons ago.
