North Carolina fans had to watch Saturday's Michigan-Arizona Final Four game with a complicated rooting interest, and the Wolverines' dominant win essentially slammed the door on one of their top coaching targets.
Dusty May, 49, was never a sure thing for the Tar Heels. Michigan had already been planning to give him more money for himself, his staff, and his roster regardless of how the game played out. But a 91-73 blowout win and a national championship appearance tonight made the pitch even harder to make.
The performance that sealed it was as impressive as the result. With Yaxel Lendeborg limited to five first-half minutes, former North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau stepped up with 13 points and 10 assists. Aday Mara controlled the paint on both ends. Morez Johnson Jr. crashed the boards. Then Lendeborg returned in the second half, and Michigan put the game away.
It was a showcase for what May has built primarily through the transfer portal, which creates another headache for the Tar Heels. The portal opens Tuesday, and programs without a coach will be limited in the free-for-all until a hire is made.
Billy Donovan remains a name to watch, though his Bulls season runs through at least April 12. If Donovan passes, names on the UNC hot board include Vandy's Mark Byington and Texas Tech's Grant McCasland, even if neither would spark a celebration in Chapel Hill.
And then yesterday, May informed Michigan officials he's not pursuing other college jobs, putting an end to whatever slim hope the Tar Heels had. North Carolina's clock is ticking, and now they'll have to look elsewhere.
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