WATCH: Dusty May, Michigan players react to win over Middle Tennessee State

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines basketball head coach Dusty May, graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg and sophomore guard L.J. Cason met with the media following an 86-61 win over Middle Tennessee State Wednesday night at Crisler Center. Watch May’s full press conference in the player at the top of the screen and the players in the embeds below.

Graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg

Sophomore guard L.J. Cason

Key quotes from Michigan head coach Dusty May

• May’s thoughts on Michigan’s win over Middle Tennessee State: “We’re pleased that we were able to separate a little bit in the second half and play much better basketball. I thought we did a nice job taking what the game was giving us, which was we were getting the ball around the rim. They were putting two on the ball screens; I think the scout is out. We had great reps going against it. Overall, we moved the ball a little bit better today. We had better impulse control, where we had some home runs that we could’ve taken a shot at, and we pulled them back and ran offense much more tonight than we have been lately.

“We’re a work in process. Very happy with our guys’ actual processes and routines on a daily basis. I think we’re getting better despite the stats not showing it right now. We’re definitely planting some seeds to play good ball soon — hopefully sooner than later. But we’re happy with the direction we’re going. We’re not ecstatic of where we are with our performance right now, but just have to keep pushing forward.”

• On Lendeborg’s impact on Michigan’s win: “I thought on the offensive end, he was awesome. Our guys did a better job of getting him in his spots. I thought St. John’s — we did a really good job of finding him in the flow. We weren’t stopping to get organized and look for him to run something for him. And tonight, just about every dead ball, we ran something for him, at least the intent was for him to create the advantage. It seems, off the top of my head, every time we ran something for him, something good happened. Part of it is we haven’t done a lot of it, so other teams haven’t scouted Yax in the mid-post, but that should be a good weapon going forward, especially with his unselfishness. We went 5-for-25 from three.

“I thought we generated paint touch threes, for the most part, with good shooters. In the first half, they were all straight, hitting the back of the rim. So, I think those shots are going to drop for us, but we’re just trying to be a team that, on the nights that they don’t, we can still find a way. And, so far, how many games have we played, four? So, we’ve found a way to win four games, and three of them we haven’t shot well.”