BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Michigan鈥檚 Dusty May has enjoyed the close bond he鈥檚 developed with Saint Louis’ Josh Schertz. The coaches have exchanged everything from philosophies to practice notes to playbooks.
Their collaborative relationship was running smoothly until this week.
Little did the two envision that one day 鈥� long after they first met and had a 10-hour, in-depth discussion of basketball 鈥� their teams would face off in the second round of the . It鈥檒l happen in Buffalo on Saturday, when the Midwest Region鈥檚 top-seeded Wolverines (32-3) take on the ninth-seeded Billikens (29-5) with a Sweet Sixteen berth on the line.
鈥淚 loved it when he was at Division II. We were at different levels,鈥� said May, who’s in . Their friendship began when May was coaching Florida Atlantic and Schertz was at Lincoln Memorial.
Schertz said the two spoke briefly in Buffalo on Thursday, but only to playfully exchange jabs during halftime of . Michigan advanced .
鈥淗e鈥檚 been an incredible resource for me over however many years,鈥� Schertz said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e always picking each other鈥檚 brain. Obviously not while we鈥檙e been here.鈥�
Their teams are similar in their capabilities to adapt and attack opponents inside or outside.
Michigan has size up front with 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara and forwards Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr., and playmakers at guard in Elliot Cadeau and Nimari Burnett. Five players scored in double figures against Howard.
Saint Louis is led by and one of the nation鈥檚 top 3-point shooters in Trey Green. The Billikens are also balanced, with six players scoring 11 or more points against Georgia.
鈥淲hen you look at a lot of our metrics and analytics, we mirror each other in the final result,鈥� May said. 鈥淭hey shoot the 3 a little bit better, we offensive rebound a little bit better. … Hopefully our size and length can disrupt their rhythm and timing just enough.鈥�
Against Howard, Michigan didn’t waver in its approach after leading just 50-46 at halftime.
鈥淚 think it was a good wake-up call for us because that wasn鈥檛 the position we wanted to be in,鈥� Cadeau said. 鈥淛ust realizing that every team in this tournament is extremely talented, and we just can鈥檛 take any moment for granted.鈥�
The Billikens, meanwhile, proved adaptable. With Georgia taking away outside shots, Saint Louis attacked the basket and scored 66 points in the paint.
Schertz acknowledged Saint Louis faces the more daunting challenge. The Wolverines are one win from matching a school record, went 9-2 this season against ranked opponents and became the Big Ten鈥檚 first team in 50 years to go unbeaten on the road in conference play.
鈥淭hey are, in my opinion, the best team in the country,鈥� Schertz said.
鈥淲e know what we鈥檙e up against. We know how good they are,鈥� he added after the Georgia game. 鈥淲e鈥檒l have to find a level even higher than tonight to give ourselves a chance. But that鈥檚 what we plan on doing.鈥�
May has plenty of respect for Saint Louis, which set a school record for wins by beating Georgia. The Billikens entered the week with the country鈥檚 10th-best offense and ranked first in opponents’ field goal percentage at 37.9%
鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to lose, I want to lose to a guy that does it at the level the way they do it,鈥� May said. 鈥淎nd hopefully we don鈥檛. But if we do, then you want to do it to somebody who you鈥檙e going to be better for it.鈥�
And then, perhaps, exchange notes later.
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