Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes predicts big things for Michigan: ‘A win would’ve aged well’

Wake Forest, led by coach Steve Forbes, gave Michigan everything it could handle Tuesday night at Little Caesar’s Arena, leading by 7 with under 5 minutes to go before the Wolverines ramped up the intensity. Head coach Dusty May is still learning how his pieces fit and admitted as much in the postgame, but Forbes believes it’s only a matter of time before he figures it out. 

The Wolverines figured out Forbes’ team just in time Tuesday in the 85-84 overtime win, giving U-M a split in a two-game series dating back to last year. Wake Forest won that one by two.

“I’m sure he probably thought he was going to sweep my ass, but I’ve known Dusty a long time,” Forbes quipped in the postgame. “I think he’s a hell of a coach and I think he’s done a really good job of constructing a roster, right? You can construct talent, but he’s got pieces that are pretty damn impressive.

“That’s why it would’ve been a great win for us. It would’ve aged well like it did last year … I thought it was a really hard-fought game. Credit to Michigan … they got up on us early, and we couldn’t keep them out of transition. They were really good in transition.”

But Wake Forest finally slowed them down by crashing the offensive glass and making Michigan work for rebounds. They tightened the defense in the half court, and the Wolverines seemed sluggish and out of sorts. 

U-M center Aday Mara, though, was a difference maker. He put up 18 points and 13 rebounds, blocked 5 shots and altered several others, including Wake’s final runner in the paint.

“Mara I thought was a big factor in changing [the game],” Forbes said. “I don’t know how many shots he blocked, but he changed a lot of them, too. He’s a good player. He’s got a really good touch. I’ve seen [point guard] Elliot [Cadeau] play too much. I’m tired of him, but he’s really good with handling the ball with pace. He gets the ball to the right people.”

Veteran guard Roddy Gayle Jr., though, hit the biggest shot of the game, a triple to tie it at 77 and bring U-M all the way back. He scored 13.

“I think Roddy Gayle’s a really nice college basketball player,” Forbes said. “He’s hard to guard. He can drive it. He made a big three … just a really good player.”

All in all, the Wolverines had just enough to get by. And as Forbes noted, now was probably the best time to get them … early in the year, when May is still trying to figure things out.