Michigan Basketball Coach Embraces Viral Moment With Michigan State Fans

Dusty May discusses his courtside confrontation with the Izzone before the Wolverines' win over the Spartans.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Michigan basketball head coach Dusty May sat down with Colin Cowherd on FS1 to discuss a viral moment that occurred before the Wolverines' recent win over Michigan State. May was seen taking in the atmosphere at the Breslin Center as MSU students yelled expletives at him, and the coach said he actually enjoyed the interaction, noting that he's become more laid-back in his coaching career after being a "small, fiery Irish guy" earlier in life.

Why it matters

The heated rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State basketball programs has been well-documented, and this viral moment highlights the intensity of the matchup. May's comments also provide insight into how he has evolved as a coach, moving away from his more confrontational past to a more composed approach.

The details

Before the game, May was seen courtside at the Breslin Center as MSU students yelled obscenities at him. In his interview with Cowherd, May said he was unbothered by the students' behavior, noting that he's become more laid-back in his coaching career after being a "small, fiery Irish guy" earlier in life. May said he actually enjoyed the interaction, stating that "if a bunch of 18 to 22-year-olds who were probably overserved beginning at 8 a.m. want to yell and scream obscenities at me, let them go ahead."

  • The incident occurred before the Michigan-Michigan State basketball game on March 2, 2026.

The players

Dusty May

The head coach of the University of Michigan basketball team.

Colin Cowherd

The host of a sports talk show on FS1 where May was interviewed about the viral moment.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah Colin, I'm completely out of how I am by nature when I'm coaching now. I'm a small, fiery Irish guy that probably got in more fights growing up than I had easy days. And once I got into coaching and had a family, I basically just left all of that behind and became a borderline passivist.”

— Dusty May, Michigan Basketball Head Coach (The Herd with Colin Cowherd)

“So, if a bunch of 18 to 22-year-olds who were probably overserved beginning at 8 a.m. want to yell and scream obscenities at me, let them go ahead. It's all part of the game, I enjoy watching European basketball and the stuff that goes on with that. So I think it's part of it. There's nothing any of those people could say that's gonna get a rise out of me. So, yes, in a way I did enjoy it, just for the fact that those kids are never gonna be able to get under my skin.”

— Dusty May, Michigan Basketball Head Coach (The Herd with Colin Cowherd)

What’s next

Michigan, who has already clinched the regular season Big Ten title, will travel to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes on Thursday before welcoming Tom Izzo and the Spartans to Crisler Center for a second showdown on Sunday.

The takeaway

Dusty May's evolution from a "small, fiery Irish guy" to a more composed and laid-back coach has allowed him to embrace the intensity of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry, even enjoying the confrontational moments with opposing fans. This maturity and ability to remain unfazed has likely contributed to his success in leading the Wolverines to the Big Ten title.