May has previously only observed the rivalry from afar. He worked for the basketball team at fellow Big Ten school Indiana as a student and during his coaching career. The “intensity and passion” of Michigan-Michigan State was evident to him even through a TV screen.

This is as big a game as they come for the No. 12-ranked Michigan Wolverines. They're on a six-game winning streak and coming off a big win on the road in Columbus against Ohio State. Up next is a huge in-state matchup with No.

Michigan basketball head coach Dusty May has orchestrated an incredible turnaround in his first year with the Wolverines. Michigan finished with just eight wins last year, and they moved on from Juwan Howard following last year.