Dusty May to Indiana? Hoosiers fans not yet sold on Michigan coach

On February 9, 2025By Littum

Bloomington, Ind. – The Vibbs were pretty low first name in the historic assembly hall.

When Hoosiers, losers of four in a row and six out of seven, took the course for Saturday’s competition against No. 22 Michigan Basketball (17-5, 9-2 Big Ten) with less than 30 minutes to go before Tipoff, Welcome was at best at best muted.

This is because Indiana fans, such as Guy Soule from Aurora, Indiana, are down. Less than 24 hours before, one of the program’s legendary players, Mike Woodson, had returned to restore his Alma Mater to his previous glory, it officially that his fourth year back on Indiana would be his last, and that he ‘D steps down at the end of the season.

“For me, I think he lost his players, they don’t play hard for him,” Soule told Free Press. “When you lose your players and the fans sang for your head basically, it’s time to go after it.”

Soule, 65, has been such a big Hoosier fan as they come since 1975 -even his e -mail has the word “hoosier” in it. Both of his daughters conducted their bachelor studies in Bloomington, and he has had seasonal tickets since 2008.

When he would choose to lead his beloved program, he gave the same answer as the five fans that Free Press asked in the lobby at Fairfield Inn & Suites: Former Boston Celtics coach and current president of basketball operations (and Zionsville, Indiana, native ) Brad Stevens. Still, he admitted that it could be a pipe dream.

Then, but still at that level – Chris Beard.

The former Texas tech coach who studied under Indiana legend Bob Knight has now projected Ole Miss as a 5-seed in the NCAA tournament and people in Bloomington put their sights.

“Chris is a hard nose coach, got a little luggage, but he has gone on from it,” Soule said. “He is a Bobby Knight Disciples, coached with him at Texas Tech, I think he is a good fit and I would say that if they asked him today, you would take the job, he would say yes in a moment. “

Of course, Soule is not the only one who wants these two. Senior Daniel Trauberman, 22, sat in the court behind the basket in Pinstripe pants and on a scale of 1-10 he classified himself a “10” as an IU basketball fan.

For Falls Church, Virginia, native, it all began when he signed up four years ago, but reached a fever height when Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino defeated North Carolina on December 1, 2022 to improve to 7 -0 Hans Hans Sophomore years. Since then, except for a NCAA tournament first four-round win that season, it has all been downhill.

Trauberman – Unlike Soule, who said IU should have seen the writing on the wall last season and get rid of Woodson at the time – didn’t think they should treat one of their legends in this way.

“Woody, I want to cheer on him,” Trauberman said. “He is an Indiana legend. While his coaching has not been spectacular here, I will not boo him. You do not boo your trainer.”

But what about Dusty May? The coach of the opposite sidelines was a student manager under Knight (1996-2000) as well as a graduate assistant in Bloomington and has led a remarkable turn in Ann Arbor in just one year.

“I think he’s doing a good job in Michigan,” Soule said. “I had put the dust up there close to the top (settings).”

Trauberman said May was on many IU fans’ “radars” at this time last year when Hoosiers flew and May was a warm name after leading FAU to a last four the previous season. While that may be true, it doesn’t mean he gets a warm greeting.

“I think many people will look at him this upcoming cycle, but personally I have got my sights set elsewhere,” Trauberman said. “Dusty is energetic, he has Indiana tape, that’s what people like. I like it too; but he is not my # 1.”

“He’s the opponent’s coach, so I don’t cheer on him,” Trauberman said. “Now, if he decides to check out Zillow for Bloomington houses and come here, of course I will.”

In the end, when May was announced after UM’s starting lineup, fans cheered. When Woodson took the court, he was greeted with about the same level, but a smash of boos mixed in.

Indiana fans look at May, but don’t seem to be crazy. Time shows what IU Brass thinks of him.

Tony Garcia is Michigan Wolverines beat the author of Detroit Free Press. E -mail him at [email protected] and follow him on x at @RealTonyGarcia.