Michigan Basketball Coach Prepares for Tough Matchup Against Wake Forest

DETROIT – Michigan’s basketball head coach Dusty May expressed optimism about his team’s improvement ahead of their upcoming game against Wake Forest on November 11, 2025. May noted that the team performed well in their last home game, particularly in shooting, but recognized the need for further development after reviewing film.

“We did some good things, but there’s still a lot to clean up,” said May. He described Wake Forest as a formidable opponent, particularly due to their physical play, which mirrors that of the Cincinnati Bearcats. “They’re going to push us off our spots, so taking care of the basketball is essential,” he emphasized.

May praised the versatility of Wake Forest’s smaller big men, which he identified as a challenge for Michigan. Freshman player McKenny was highlighted for his humility and adaptability, with May stating, “It’s rare for a five-star freshman to come in with more questions than answers. His character will help him find his way.”

The coach updated reporters on guard Cason’s progress after he missed time due to injury. “He looked nearly back to form in practice,” May said, noting that Cason could initiate offensive plays. He added that Michigan is now playing a more positionless style, allowing for flexibility in player roles.

May also addressed the development of transfer big man Mara, who is still adapting to his new team. “He needs to improve his ability to contest threes and defend smaller players,” he said. The coach expressed confidence that the team can better support Mara in these areas, especially with Wake Forest likely to deploy double-teams against him.

Reflecting on injuries, May said that high-priced transfer Grady should be close to 100% in the upcoming games, while freshman Lendeborg is recovering from a minor hand injury sustained in practice but performed well in his limited minutes against Oakland.

“Playing at 50-70% isn’t effective,” May noted, discussing Grady’s delayed return. He believes Grady will be a key contributor once fully healthy.

May emphasized that the team still has many areas to improve in both offense and defense. His focus on quality shot selection comes after their recent game against Oakland, where they made an impressive 19 three-pointers. “We can’t rely on that all the time,” he cautioned.

He highlighted the speed and scoring ability of Wake Forest’s guards, such as Juke Harris and Tre’Von Spillers, stating that they pose new challenges Michigan has not yet encountered this season. Reflecting on last year’s matchup against Wake Forest, May noted the lessons learned from that difficult game.

“It matters because it puts you in a terrible mood once you rewatch it,” he said. “We discovered a few things that we need to focus on.”

As the team preps for Wake Forest, May remains hopeful about their progress and believes they are heading in the right direction.