Dusty May Lays Out Challenges Arizona Presents for Michigan in Final Four

After four wins in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines are Final Four bound — with their toughest test yet. Michigan will take on Arizona on Saturday with a chance of getting into the National Championship Game. But if the Maize and Blue is going to do that, they are going to have to earn it.

Arizona was KenPom's No. 1 team until Michigan's thrashing of Tennessee. Once the Wolverines ran the Volunteers out of Chicago, Michigan re-earned the top-ranking. But head coach Dusty May isn't looking at that, in fact, when he appeared on Defend the Block — he compared the upcoming game to a heavyweight contest.

Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) high-fives Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat — Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

"Well, they're fun to watch," May said of Arizona. "They're a lot like us where they have some older guys that have made a lot of sacrifices to win and to be in the position they're in. They're incredibly physical. They run the floor. They pound the paint off the bounce, off the post, especially on the offensive glass.

"So we got a little segue with Tennessee as far as their physicality, but like you said, it's going to be two heavyweights going at it round four. This isn't a featherweight fight. This is two heavyweights going at it. It's going to be fun to compete against those guys because we have a lot of respect for the history of the program, their current players and their coaching."

A special group

The game on Saturday could be an up-and-down game in terms of tempo. While the Wolverines enjoy taking transition threes, which helps speed up the game, Arizona does it in other ways. The 'Cats, who will take threes as well, enjoy putting their head down and attacking.

On top of their tempo, Arizona has the size to bang around. The Wildcats rank second in the nation in rebounds per game, averaging over 42 per game. Aday Mara will be challenged against 7'2" center Motiejus Krivas, and Dusty May said thinking about the challenges Arizona presents gives him anxiety.

Purdue Boilermakers forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) and Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas — Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

"Well, they put pressure on the rim and they attack," said May. "And so whenever they can create a good shot, then they take it. They won't take the quick threes that we take, which obviously improves our tempo. But they're a team that lives and thrives inside a three-point line. And so hopefully we'll be able to use our three-point shooting as an advantage this game, but it's also one of the reasons why they're so good on the offensive glass.

"A lot of their misses are soft around the rim and they're so big and physical, they're rooting you under the rim and blocking you in. So they're going to present a number of challenges. It gives me anxiety thinking about all their weapons and the size that they have. They're a special group."