WATCH: Dusty May assesses Michigan first exhibition, provides injury updates, looks ahead to St. John's

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines basketball head coach Dusty May met with the media Monday morning to discuss his team’s first exhibition game against Cincinnati, a 100-98 loss, and preview Saturday’s clash with St. John’s. Watch video of his press conference in the player at the top of the screen.

Key quotes from Michigan coach Dusty May

On Yaxel Lendeborg cramping up and the status of big men Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara: “He had cramps. So it was kind of like, let’s leave him in with cramps to try to win the game or let’s take him out and play the long game, so we took him out. He competed at a high level. That’s the crazy thing about Yax is cumulatively as a staff, we didn’t feel like he played very well, and he had 31 and 12.

“That shows his ability and how capable he is. But, man, he’s a unique talent. The other two, I think we’re getting close. I don’t want to speak for the medical staff, but it feels like it’s getting much, much closer.”

On if Michigan tracks paint touches and how good Elliot Cadeau is at getting where he wants to on the floor: “We’re not as much paint touches. I think it’s just kind of a personal philosophy that the paint at one point is three feet from the basket and, at another point, is 15 feet. So, we want to create advantages, and obviously if you can get paint touches, you got past your defender, you created an advantageous situation.

“Literally every time we hit the paint, and that’s what we did late in the second half, we were able to get stops, rebounds and push, and just started driving and kicking. We were able to figure out some different solutions for ball-screen coverage. Hopefully going into the year, through scouting and whatnot, we’ll have a better idea of how we’ll be defended.

“But also, I was just watching film with Elliot a minute ago and trying to figure out where he’s most comfortable in this coverage and that coverage. That was the unique thing about Cincinnati, as well. They played four bigs, and each big played him in a different coverage. They played him in a different coverage based on who our center was. So, they’re a very defensive oriented program, and for him to see those looks and us to be processing, OK, next game, Elliot may see this read, this read, this read, this read, it’s all positive going forward.”