Following the 2023-24 season, Indiana men’s basketball and Michigan were in similar positions. Both historically successful programs had missed out on the NCAA Tournament.
The two Big Ten staples were in the national conversation as possible suitors for the upcoming coach carousel — and for the Hoosiers, a seemingly perfect match was looming.
Dusty May, former student manager under Bob Knight from 1996-2000 and IU graduate, was a heavily anticipated candidate for a head coaching vacancy. After leading Florida Atlantic University to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances — including a trip to the Final Four in 2023 — May looked like an obvious choice to revert the Hoosiers' struggles.
Indiana didn’t pull the trigger. Michigan did.
While the Hoosiers opted to retain head coach Mike Woodson for a fourth season, the Wolverines ousted former coach Juwan Howard and promptly hired May as his successor just eight days later.
Initially, Indiana’s decision showed promise. In a media-organized preseason Big Ten men's basketball poll, the Hoosiers ranked No. 2 — seven spots higher than Michigan.
However, as Indiana (14-9, 5-7 Big Ten) hosts Michigan (17-5, 9-2 Big Ten) 1 p.m. Saturday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, a vastly different reality has set in.
A transfer-filled Wolverine roster sits tied for second in the conference standings. The Hoosiers are currently 11th, have lost six of their last seven matchups and are in desperate need of a win to salvage their postseason aspirations.
Friday afternoon, Indiana Athletics confirmed the Indiana Daily Student’s initial report that Woodson will step down at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
As for May, he doesn’t seem to be phased by the return to his alma mater.
“I’m going there to try to win a freaking basketball game,” May said in a press conference Monday. “That’s it.”
Meet the Wolverines
A pair of 7-footers, graduate student center Vladislav Goldin and junior forward Danny Wolf, lead a dynamic Michigan offense. Goldin — who followed May from FAU — leads the Wolverines with 15.6 points per game. Wolf, the Yale University transfer, averages 12.3 points and 10 rebounds per contest for the Maize and Blue.
While Goldin works primarily in the paint, Wolf and junior guard Tre Donaldson provide Michigan with consistent perimeter shooting and a high-powered pick-and-roll attack. Graduate student guard Nimari Burnett and junior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. fill out an efficient starting lineup.
As a team, the Wolverines shoot 49.5% from the field, the ninth-highest percentage in Division I. Burnett shoots 43.4% from beyond the arc, the fourth best mark in the Big Ten among players with a minimum of 90 attempts.
In May’s first season at the helm, Michigan has played an onslaught of tightly contested games. Ten of its 22 matchups have been decided by five or fewer points. All but one of the Wolverines losses this season fell into that category, spare their 91-64 loss at Purdue on Jan. 24.
In its loss to the Boilermakers, Michigan coughed up a season-high 22 turnovers. Taking care of the ball has been one of the Wolverines’ few weaknesses this season, as they lead the Big Ten with 14.8 turnovers per contest — Indiana ranks second with 12.5 turnovers per game.
Since losing to Purdue, the Maize and Blue have bounced back with three straight wins.
Indiana running out of time
The Hoosiers have eight games left to salvage an underperforming season. Fortunately for their NCAA Tournament hopes, six of those eight are currently opportunities for Quad 1 wins. There’s only one problem for Indiana — it hasn’t been winning.
After a pair of 25-point losses to Iowa and Illinois, the Hoosiers bounced back with an overtime win at Ohio State. That was Jan. 17. — Indiana hasn’t won since.
Poor 3-point defense, turnovers and miscues in critical moments have been mainstays in the Hoosiers recent woes. Most recently, Indiana fell behind 26-4 to No. 21 Wisconsin in a mistake-filled first half it never recovered from.
“We’re running out of games,” Woodson said after the Wisconsin defeat. “I have to figure these next eight games out because it’s going to be very pivotal for our basketball team in terms of making tournament play.”
It starts with Michigan.
One key for the Hoosiers will be stopping Goldin, who shoots a team-high 64.8% from the field. That task will likely fall on the shoulders of Indiana’s marquee rim protector, sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo. The Koulikoro, Mali, native posted a season low 4 points and six rebounds in the loss to the Badgers.
Beyond Ballo, Indiana’s chances will be heavily dependent on its ability to play a complete 40 minutes.
“It's not rocket science,” Woodson said. “Right now, our backs are against the wall, we’re not playing great basketball, we’re playing in spurts.”
The Hoosiers’ ability to play with consistent high intensity from start-to-finish will be paramount when yet another crucial opportunity arises against Michigan.
Broadcast information
Saturday’s matchup will be televised on CBS.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) and columnist Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
