Michigan's Dusty May Embraces Hostile Pregame Atmosphere on Road vs. Michigan State

May sat down right in front of the Spartans student section as they chanted obscenities at him during pregame warmups.

Michigan head coach Dusty May embraced the road atmosphere during pregame on Friday night at Michigan State. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Fresh off a 75–72 home victory in Ann Arbor over No. 5 Nebraska earlier this week, the third-ranked Michigan Wolverines traveled to East Lansing to take on archrival No. 7 Michigan State.

Wolverines head coach Dusty May entered the Breslin Center looking extremely relaxed during pregame warmups, despite hearing plenty of jeers and trash talk from the Spartans students already in attendance.

Not exactly a warm welcome for Dusty May…

“F*** you, Dusty” chants started shortly after I stopped recording. pic.twitter.com/x8NWkIUtEi

— Jacob Cotsonika (@jacobcotsonika) January 30, 2026

May is no stranger to embracing a road environment, and made the most of his opportunity to egg on the Michigan State student section. As Michigan State students chanted “F--- you Dusty!” May sat down on the bench right in front of them and didn’t say a word, making it clear that he wasn’t going to let their trash talk get to him.

Dusty May… I wasn’t familiar with your aura. GO BLUE pic.twitter.com/rom0H29yAy

— Tep 〽️ (@Tepkowski) January 31, 2026

May’s actions during before tip sent a clear message to his team to not be intimidated by the road crowd in one of the biggest games of the year to-date.

It’s this kind of attitude, and May’s strong coaching acumen, that have the Wolverines as one of the sport’s top contenders to make the Final Four.

---