Michigan HC Dusty May Offers Perspective on Transfer-Heavy Roster

May discusses building a championship contender through the transfer portal ahead of the national title game.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:39am

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Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May spoke to the media about his approach to constructing a roster heavy with transfer players, drawing a comparison to the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder's use of free agency and trades. May is preparing his team for the national championship game after leading the Wolverines to their second Final Four appearance in his eight-year head coaching career.

Why it matters

The increasing reliance on the transfer portal by college basketball programs has sparked debate around the ethics and competitive balance of the practice. May's comments provide insight into how top coaches navigate this new landscape to build championship-caliber teams.

The details

In his pregame press conference, May defended his use of the transfer portal, noting that he doesn't "judge" teams like the Thunder for building their roster through free agency and trades, just as he shouldn't be criticized for adding transfer players to the Wolverines. Michigan's roster features several key contributors who joined the team via the portal over the past two offseasons.

  • Dusty May is nearing the end of his eighth season as a head coach, his second with the Wolverines.
  • Michigan boasts a 36-3 overall record on the season, having gone 19-1 in Big Ten play to win the regular season title.
  • The Wolverines will face the Huskies in the national championship game on April 6 at 8:50 p.m. ET in Indianapolis.

The players

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, who is making his second Final Four appearance and first national championship game in his eight-year head coaching career.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star player for the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Isaiah Hartenstein

A free agent signing who played a key role in the Thunder's championship run last season.

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What they’re saying

“I think we are all better in certain situations than others… When the OKC Thunder won the Finals last year, I wasn't judging them because SGA was drafted by the Clippers or because they signed Isaiah Hartenstein as a free agent. I thought, wow, those guys played beautiful basketball—that's a real model for young players to watch.”

— Dusty May, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines

What’s next

The Wolverines will take on the Huskies in the national championship game on Monday, April 6th at 8:50 p.m. ET in Indianapolis.

The takeaway

May's comments highlight the evolving landscape of college basketball, where top programs are increasingly relying on the transfer portal to build competitive rosters. His comparison to the NBA's model suggests a shift in attitudes towards this practice, as coaches seek to maximize their chances of winning a national title.