One year after finishing with a conference record of 3-17, new Michigan head coach Dusty May has completely turned the basketball program around in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines beat the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday afternoon by a 59-53 final score to claim the Big Ten Tournament title.
Bringing the back to Ann Arbor!#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/2vv6tpNxV0
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) March 16, 2025
The success for Michigan particularly stings for Ohio State fans given reports from a year ago that the decision to replace Chris Holtmann came down to hiring May away from Florida Atlantic or promoting interim head coach Jake Diebler. After taking over the reins of the Buckeyes for the final weeks of the 2023-24 season, Diebler made enough of an impression to earn the nod over May last March. The Wolverines scooped May up later that same month after dismissing former head coach Juwan Howard.
One year later, Ohio State was a first-round exit from the same tournament Michigan just won, and the Buckeyes appear poised to miss an opportunity to compete in March Madness as well. Meanwhile, May just became the first head coach to win the Big Ten Tournament in his first year on the job.
The Wolverines now seem poised to earn at least a five-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Conversely, the Buckeyes missing the big dance would make it three absences in a row for OSU.
