Loyalty is so out of style these days. Dusty May, after leading FAU to a Final Four appearance and Michigan to a National Championship win in almost immediate succession, has concluded his generational run on the collegiate level by... leaving it altogether. Did I get that right?
At the height of his reign with the Wolverines, May, per Pete Thamel, has jumped ship to take the Dallas Mavericks head coaching job in the NBA. Not only does the move leave Michigan in a particularly vulnerable state, but it may very well open a recruiting window for Kentucky.
Not only will Michigan's roster be allowed to explore other options for a short time if they so choose, but star international target Nikola Kusturica had, in recent days, picked up a ton of momentum with Michigan.
Given the Wolverines' sudden lack of a head coach, that doesn't seem all that likely now. Kentucky was never out of the race for Kusturica, but now more than ever, the Wildcats are in position to make a serious push.
Michigan has also been heavily involved in the recruitment of international star wing Nikola Kusturica.
— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) June 22, 2026
Another twist in his recruitment and something to monitor very closely. Has two years before becoming NBA Draft eligible.
Kentucky Can Make a Push for Nikola Kusturica
When Kusturica's college recruitment first began to pick up steam, Mark Pope and Kentucky were seen as the initial favorite to such an extent that Travis Branham logged an official prediction for that outcome.
Then, not even two days later, Branham pulled his crystal ball down and, like the rest of us, decided to wait this one out with shrugged shoulders. Oh how we love waiting, Big Blue Nation.
And as Michigan slowly emerged as a major contender for Kusturica, alongside UCLA, the Cats' chances of finalizing their roster with this potential immediate impact scorer seemed to fade. Now, though, the picture is coming back into view.
In addition to Kusturica, with Michigan guys able to enter the transfer portal with a late exception, I'd love to see Coach Pope get involved with, say, Wolverines forward Trey McKenney. If it's a true firesale, why not make a bid or two?
Multiple Avenues for Mark Pope
Either way, Mark Pope has multiple avenues to take advantage of what is truly seismic news for the college basketball landscape. A budding powerhouse just bowed out for the NBA, leaving a handful of strong recruiting leads and a proven roster scrambling in his wake.
Whether it's Kusturica or one of the many Michigan players who could likely be lured out of Ann Arbor, Kentucky should be at the head of the pack of programs looking to jump on this situation.
The Wildcats' final roster spot should be filled sooner rather than later, and it'd be no surprise at all if their ultimate piece rose from the ashes of this instantly historic fallout.
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