Everything Aday Mara said during his offseason media availability
On his skillset
You know, I can shoot and also I can pick and roll with Elliot, with all these guys. I think we have like a, like a real chemistry, you know, already. So, I think we can do very fun things.
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On the rebounding of the team
Rebounding? Rebounding, yeah. Yeah, I mean, the question before was the lineup. So, I think like if we, if we are like, if Dusty gets like a big lineup, it will be like, it’s gonna be really good for rebounding, you know. But I feel like these guys, they can rebound really well. They’ve been practicing, getting a lot of offensive rebounds. So, I think like rebounding is gonna be one of the keys for them.
On whether he’s nervous about Dusty May’s pace of play
No, no, not at all. I used to play like that in junior, so I just got to get back to that. A lot of running, a lot of like different, different roles. So, I just got to get used to it. Get back to that is what I’m doing.
On playing with Yaxel Lendeborg
Yeah, really cool. He likes to pass. He’s smart. Like we are in his team, I think. Another key, I feel like we are not selfish. We like to pass the ball. So, it was like really fun. We played together just in like I think one practice. But that practice was actually fun.
On his overall impressions of the team
Oh, it was like just really nice. When I practiced the first day, I was impressed with the, not that we weren’t like selfish. We like to pass the ball. We’re smart. We know where we have to be, where we have to go, you know, every time in the court. So, also, I like the way we play. I think it fits to everyone. I’m very excited for this season.
On what made him choose Michigan
Well, after I transferred, when I got to the transfer portal, I just talked with coach and he told me about the style of game, the way he used the big man. Also, I was looking for opportunity. You know, I didn’t get the opportunity these last two years. So, I think that will be the key of being here.
On where he gets his passing ability from
People say that it’s because my dad, because he likes to pass too. He didn’t talk about his game a lot, but people thought that they were playing with him. They were saying that he was a great passer. So, it might be that. And also, I always like to watch Jokic and Marc Gasol highlights, and they were like good passers too. I like to see where they’re watching, what they’re saying in the scene, in the court. So, if they see one guy open in the corner, they will look to the other side and then pass it. You know, all these things. And I just try to do it in the practice, so I can do it in the games after that.
On what the coaching staff said about the behind the back pass
Well, the last practice, he told me that it was a risky pass. But, I don’t know. I’m just trying to, like every time I see a teammate open, I just try to pass the ball. Of course, we’re trying to make 100% passes, but I feel like sometimes it’s a little bit of showtime, but it’s not bad at all.
On the way Michigan utilized Wolf and Goldin last year catching his eye
Yeah, when they played against us, they had a really good team, really good game. And I was on the bench for most of the game, so I was able to watch the game. And I really liked the way they moved the ball, the way they passed, the way it was. It was the same with this team. So, yeah, I was paying attention. I really liked the way they were playing.
On playing fast paced as a big man
I mean, yeah, I just got to get back to it because of how I was playing in Europe, a lot of transition and a lot of pick and roll position. But I just got to get back to it. I’m not worried at all. So it’s just now in the preseason, you’ve got to run a little bit. Sure, get back in shape. Yes.
On the Michigan State rivalry and whether any of the returning players have talked about it
Well, we didn’t talk about it. I’m not going to lie. So we didn’t talk about it. They also said to me before I came here that the Ohio State was ready there, so that I have to go to the football game. But yeah, we got to talk about that.
On whether he likes American Football
I do, I do. Honestly, I think that it’s like super long games. But I like all the highlights, all the quarterback passes, all these things.
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