In a raucous atmosphere at Michigan State’s Breslin Center on Friday night, Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May embraced the hostility head-on.
As May emerged from the tunnel before the game, the Spartans’ crowd unleashed heavy boos and jeers, a reception more intense than the usual rivalry fervor. Video footage captured May peeking out, soaking in the animosity with a smile, even fist-bumping as he made his way courtside amid the barrage.
May, who is no stranger to hostile fans, later explained his approach.
“I just let them get all their frustration and their animosity out early, and then that way they can enjoy the game,” he said, via Local 4 Detroit. “We did everything right. We just focused on what we needed to do to win the game.”
Despite the hostile environment, the Wolverines maintained composure, rallying for an 83-71 victory — their first at Breslin since 2018. May praised his team’s resilience, noting in postgame comments that the electric, physical battle built confidence.
Players like Yaxel Lendeborg (key free throws in the clutch) and Elliot Cadeau (steady leadership) shone amid the pressure.
The win, spoiling coach Tom Izzo’s birthday, marked a signature moment for May in his second year, proving Michigan could thrive in gritty road tests.
