Every week, former Michigan great, NFL 1st round pick, 10-year pro, and current Wayne State head football coach Tyrone Wheatley, former Michigan point guard Daniel Horton, and I come together on Steady Droppin' Dimes, a sports show featuring real talk and real views from three real dudes. College football, college basketball, NFL, and NBA topics drive much of the debate, but discussion of other sports will enter the fray on some days as well. Non-sports topics aren't off limits, and neither are celebrity guests.
On the latest episode of Steady Droppin Dimes, we bid farewell to Tyrone Wheatley, who, after resigning from Wayne State, accepted the running backs coaching position at Illinois. Attention then turns to Michigan basketball, which squares off with no. 3 Duke after notching an impressive 91-80 victory. 7 Purdue. The crew highlights the most intriguing matchups and keys to a Wolverine victory. They also debate whether Michigan can guard against the NBA's rumored interest in Dusty May.
The contents and full episode notes appear below.
**Contents and Episode Notes**
**00:00 – Show Return + Tyrone Wheatley Announces Illinois Move**
* Sam Webb returns from vacation and opens Steady Dropping Dimes, joking about coming back to big news.
* Tyrone Wheatley joins to discuss expanding his horizons with a new coaching role at Illinois.
* The crew reflects on Wheatley's impact on the show and teases sharing details about his next chapter.
**04:37 – Wheatley's Illinois Hiring Story + Culture Fit**
* Wheatley explains how Illinois reached out after his time at Wayne State ended.
* He shares receiving a text from staff, interviewing, and connecting with the program's culture.
* Wheatley praises the environment, staff chemistry, and Brett Bielema's leadership.
**07:50 – Coaching Carousel + Being on Bielema's Short List**
* Wheatley talks about coaching turnover in modern college football.
* He describes feeling honored to be on Bielema's short list of assistants.
* The crew compares coaching movement to players entering the transfer portal.
**10:28 – Recruiting Territories + Familiar Michigan Names**
* Sam references Wheatley recruiting Nico Collins and Karan Higdon to Michigan.
* Wheatley discusses recruiting nationwide and flexibility in assignment areas.
* Conversation emphasizes adaptability in modern recruiting roles.
**14:41 – Player Accountability + Coaches Speaking Publicly**
* Sam raises controversy around coaches criticizing players publicly.
* Daniel Horton discusses how reputation and winning influence what coaches can say.
* The group debates changing coach-player dynamics in the pro-style NIL era.
**18:40 – Culture, Fit, and Recruiting Philosophy**
* Wheatley explains the importance of character and locker room chemistry over raw talent.
* He compares roster building to the NFL, emphasizing cultural fit.
* Conversation touches on challenges evaluating recruits honestly in the transfer era.
**25:03 – Transfer Portal Success + Dusty May's Coaching Rise**
* Daniel Horton praises Dusty May's ability to build chemistry with constantly changing rosters.
* The crew discusses why May is gaining NBA interest due to roster management skills.
* Debate begins about how long Michigan can keep him if pro teams call.
**27:00 – NBA vs Michigan Future Debate for Dusty May**
* Sam argues Michigan must pay aggressively to keep Dusty May long-term.
* Daniel counters that NBA opportunities are difficult for coaches to pass up.
* Discussion centers on salary comparisons, job security, and championship potential.
**35:55 – Michigan's Need to Invest in Elite Coaching Stability**
* Sam emphasizes Michigan should proactively secure Dusty May with pay at or near the top of the profession if Michigan wins the national championship.
* Daniel acknowledges Michigan must compete financially but notes NBA appeal remains strong.
* Conversation reflects broader concerns about retaining successful college coaches.
**47:25 – Michigan Basketball Momentum + Purdue Win Reaction**
* Sam recaps Michigan's dominant win at Purdue and the team's resilience in a hostile environment.
* Daniel praises Michigan's defense, versatility, and ability to win in multiple styles.
* The crew discusses how the team handles adversity and emotional moments.
**52:30 – Trash Talk Debate + Competitive Edge in Sports**
* Discussion turns to a viral clip involving Yaxel Lendeborg and Purdue.
* Wheatley defends competitive talk as part of sports culture.
* The group contrasts old-school locker room intensity with modern social media scrutiny.
**54:59 – Duke Preview + Key Matchups**
* Daniel predicts Michigan can beat Duke comfortably due to size and defensive advantages.
* Focus centers on Boozer's matchup against Michigan's versatile frontcourt.
* They analyze Duke's reliance on structured offense versus Michigan's defensive length.
**57:55 – Foul Trouble Concerns + Adai Mara's Role**
* Wheatley highlights Mara's tendency toward foul trouble as a key factor.
* Sam notes Michigan's defense becomes historic when Mara stays on the floor.
* Daniel explains how lineup flexibility helps even when Mara sits.
**1:00:57 – Offensive Strategy vs Duke + Attacking Boozer**
* Sam argues Michigan must make Boozer defend aggressively to exploit weaknesses.
* Daniel stresses avoiding overhelping and forcing Duke into isolation scoring.
* Conversation breaks down scoring balance and defensive rotations.
**1:09:04 – Score Predictions + Michigan's Experience Edge**
* Daniel predicts a 90–81 Michigan win, citing age, toughness, and defensive discipline.
* Sam agrees Michigan's veteran presence could overwhelm Duke's younger roster.
* Discussion highlights maturity and sustained focus as major advantages.
**1:13:16 – Detroit Pistons Talk + Cade Cunningham Ascension**
* Daniel praises Cade Cunningham's emergence as a potential future face of the NBA.
* Sam discusses Cade's improved scoring and leadership against the Knicks.
* They debate whether Detroit needs another elite scorer to compete for championships.
**1:22:34 – Wheatley Farewell Message + Closing Reflections**
* Wheatley thanks fans and encourages checking in on others and valuing relationships.
* Sam promotes upcoming Michigan coverage and future episodes.
* The crew signs off, wrapping a wide-ranging discussion on coaching changes, Michigan hoops, and the NBA.
**1:24:36 – End of Show**
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