The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1527978
34 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2024 2024-25 BASKETBALL PREVIEW BY CHRIS BALAS T he Juwan Howard era didn't end like anyone hoped — with his dismissal following an 8-24 season. Though the for- mer Fab Fiver got off to a good start, lead- ing the Wolverines to a Big Ten regular- season title and Elite Eight appearance in his second season, he couldn't sustain the momentum, forcing the Wolverines to go in a different direction after a five- year tenure. Enter former Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May, who has gotten off to a great start on the recruiting trail. Though many magazines have lower expectations for the Wolverines — Lindy's and Athlon an- nuals both have them No. 11 in the Big Ten heading into the season — there's plenty of talent on this team due to May and staff's recruiting from both the prep ranks and the transfer portal this offseason. May said when he accepted the job that he expected to field a competitive team in his first season. He didn't back off that assertion at this year's Big Ten Media Day in Chicago in early October. "When you look at our roster, we were able to get guys out of the portal that come from winning programs. They've been well-coached," May said. "Our freshmen have been a real pleasant surprise, as well. "We have a group that's fun to work with. We're big. We're skilled. We're a lit- tle bit different than all of our FAU teams. It's a great group." One that was constructed with both that size and skill in mind, May added. "We're going to play [Yale transfer] Danny Wolf at the '4'— he is 7-foot [tall]. We'll have [Alabama transfer] Sam Wal- ters playing on the perimeter, who is a May said when he accepted the job that he expected to field a competitive team in his first season at Michigan. He and his staff deliberately con- structed a roster with transfer players from winning programs as well as an exciting crop of true freshmen. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS A NEW BEGINNING Dusty May's First Michigan Team Has Great Potential