Dusty May looks ahead to Michigan Wolverines trip to Big Ten Tournament following recent losing skid

Описание: Dusty May looks ahead to Michigan Wolverines trip to Big Ten Tournament following recent losing skid

If you’re tuned into college basketball then you’re likely familiar with the narrative that elite guard play is essential to finding success in March. Unfortunately for the Michigan Wolverines, the backcourt has been anything but elite recently. With the Big Ten Tournament scheduled to get underway this week and the NCAA Tournament right around the corner, it’s no secret that Michigan needs much more production from guards Tre Donaldson, Nimari Burnett and Roddy Gayle Jr. “We’re just letting those guys know that we believe in them and we need them,” Michigan head coach Dusty May said. “Our success is dependent on them. I don’t want to put pressure on them that if we lose, it’s because of our guards. We need to play much better as a unit. If we keep advancing, it’s going to be because we had good guard play and good play up front.” The Wolverines frontcourt Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf have carried an overwhelming majority of the offensive load in the last six games, and that’s allowed opposing defenses to overload the interior with the guards struggling so much lately.
In a blowout loss at Michigan State in the regular season finale, Goldin and Wolf accounted for 47 of the 62 points on 14/27 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, the rest of the team finished with just 15 points on 5/25 shooting from the field. Donaldson compiled 10+ points in 14 of 16 games from December 7 to February 11 before falling into a major slump. During his last seven appearances, Donaldson has averaged just 6.8 points per game as Michigan has gone 3-4 in that span. “We need Tre to play like Tre if we’re going to be at our best. When you look at our most productive games, it has been when Tre was running our team at a high level,” May said. “Obviously these aren’t his better games. He’s been in the film room and weight room. He’s trying to work his way out of it. I thought he had some good looks and we want him to take those.” Gayle Jr. has been in a shooting drought for nearly six weeks, going 0/15 from 3-point range since the start of February. The Wolverines guard can’t seem to snap out of his recent slump as he’s recorded a total of 12 points in the last four games. "Roddy Gayle hasn’t been the same player that he was earlier in the year. I still believe in Roddy and I think there will be some really bright moments for him,” May told the media on Monday. “You’re going to go through tough stretches and it’s part of being a basketball player. Just make a hustle play. There are so many ways to impact the game other than making shots.” May also reflected on his run to the Final Four at Florida Atlantic when veteran guard Michael Forrest was in the midst of a frustrating season before breaking out of his slump with a pivotal performance in a Sweet Sixteen win over Tennessee. “He had a tough senior year but something happened before the Tennessee game. We don’t beat Tennessee and go to the Elite Eight if he doesn’t go off in the second half,” May revealed. “I believe that Roddy or one of those other guys will have a Michael Forrest moment if they continue to stay the course and find whatever it is that makes them special and unique.” In order for the Wolverines to go on a run in March Madness, the guards must contribute on a more consistent basis. Simply put, Michigan won’t go very far in the postseason unless the backcourt starts to produce at a much higher rate.

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