New Coaches Shake Up Big Ten Basketball
The coaching carousel never stops, and the Big Ten men’s basketball scene saw significant changes last season. Three major programs brought in new leadership, leaving fans to wonder: how did these hires pan out? Let’s break down the debut seasons of these coaches.
Dusty May Takes the Helm at Michigan
After a disappointing end to **Juwan Howard’s** tenure, which included a program-record 24 losses in his final season, Michigan turned to **Dusty May**.
**May** arrived from Florida Atlantic, where he guided the Owls to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including an improbable Final Four run in 2023.
In his first year with Michigan, **Dusty May** led the Wolverines to a 27-10 record (14-6 in the Big Ten, tied for second place) and a Sweet Sixteen appearance. These results point to the “fix” that Michigan needed.
Eric Musselman Hired by USC
After **Andy Enfield** departed for SMU after 11 seasons, USC brought in **Eric Musselman** from Arkansas. At Arkansas, **Musselman** had previously led the Razorbacks to three NCAA Tournament appearances before a downturn in the 2023-24 season.
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In his final season, **Enfield** finished with a 15-18 record (8-12 in the Pac-12). “The jury is still out on **Musselman**,”
but in his first season, the Trojans went 17-18 (7-13 in the Big Ten, 12th place), failing to make the postseason, unless you include the less prestigious College Basketball Crown postseason play.
The Athletic’s USC site notes that **Musselman** brought significant strategic and cultural changes, including a focus on analytics and player development (The Athletic, June 2024).
Danny Sprinkle Takes Over at Washington
After seven seasons, Washington decided not to renew **Mike Hopkins’s** contract. **Hopkins’s** tenure was marked by inconsistency, with his final three seasons showing records of 17-15, 16-16, and 17-15.
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Washington hired **Danny Sprinkle** from Utah State, where he led the Aggies to the NCAA second round in 2023-24. Prior to that, he took Montana State to the first round in the two previous seasons.
The transition hasn’t been easy. Last season, Washington went 13-18 (4-16 in the Big Ten, 18th place). **Sprinkle** and Washington face the challenge of escaping the Big Ten cellar, requiring significant improvement.