The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 61 Banging into the likes of Michigan State, Illinois and other Big Ten bruisers underscores a part of the American game that has proven an eye-opener. "He's learning a lot with the physicality in the league," May said. "We don't expect him to be the screener that Vlad was, be- cause they are different body types with different skill sets. We're just trying to incorporate what are his strengths and skill set and secret sauces into our equation. "He's done a good job in a number of areas. I could go on and on about Aday. He's incredibly valuable. We'll do a sub- stitution sometimes for whatever reason, and sometimes guys are disappointed. He's as excited as a 16-year-old playing for Real Madrid in the finals — that's just the type of guy he is. As a coach, I appre- ciate just how good of a guy he is and how great of a teammate." Mara's easygoing manner, friendliness and ready humor proved a hit with his teammates, without question. During this particular interview, freshman guard Trey McKenney found himself within earshot for a few minutes. The rookie out of Flint couldn't resist taking some very good- natured jabs at the big man, intentionally misquoting him to say Mara claimed to be 7-foot-3 when he was 6 years old. When Mara noted it proved easy fitting in initially, McKenney quipped: "That's a lie!" Mara flashed a huge grin and re- sponded: "I'm saying in L.A., not here. Here is different. This guy — I don't want to be a friend of him." Mara and McKenney immediately burst out laughing, signaling the easy repar- tee among teammates enjoying a special season. They both hope — and expect — it will only get better from here. Off the court, Mara quickly learned the difference be- tween living near the ocean in a huge met- ropolitan area and landing in the Mid- west, despite Ann Arbor's cosmopolitan makeup. "I realized that it's super different, the way people are in L.A. or California and here," he said. "They speak differently, and the way they live is different. There was the beach, there was Hollywood, all these things. You come here and there's lakes and mountains, fishing. I go out with [grad forward] Will [Tschetter, the Wol- verines' self-appointed fishing guide]. It was different, but I like it. It's not always the same. You learn new things." He's learning to think seriously about how wild March Madness might be this year. He eventually would like to play pro- fessional basketball, but stresses those considerations couldn't be further from his mind at this point. "I don't think about it at all," Mara said. "I'm just enjoying this moment, this team. My goal is to get to the NBA. It is the best league in the world. But I also like the Euro League, playing for teams in Spain. The basketball culture of playing in Serbia or Greece or these countries — I would love to play there." For now, he loves performing on the best frontcourt in college basketball. As expected, he's backing Lendeborg all the way. "Yeah," Mara said. "We are the best frontcourt in the country. We also have to get back to how we were playing in Vegas, but I'm 100 percent with him." Above all, he's 100 p e rce n t w i t h T h e Team, The Team, The Team. The charge to- ward a Final Four and possible national championship means more than anything over the next several weeks. "We're trying to win it all," he said. "And just by winning, you're going to get good things individually. Thinking about me, just having a good year, being able to help my team, being important on the court. We want to keep improving and having a good year as a team. Those are my two goals." ❏ 7-Footer Success Sustained Junior forward Aday Mara loved Dusty May ball last year, even playing against it with another team. He wound up at Michigan this year, giving May a third player in two years to succeed at a high — make that 7 feet or more — level. The 7-foot-3 Mara stands as one of five Wolverines averaging in double figures scoring this year, at 11.3 per game through 23 contests. He's third in rebounding, with his 6.9 average ranking just below junior Morez Johnson Jr. (7.3) and grad forward Yaxel Lendeborg (7.5). Mara has also proved a constant defensive threat, racking up 63 blocks. The Wolverines already feature another 7-footer on the roster in freshman Malick Kordel. It would appear May isn't averse to picking up more skyscrapers in the future, if they like Mara's fit with Michigan as well as he liked what the coach did with 7-footers Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin last year. While Wolf is now listed as 6-foot-11 with the Brooklyn Nets, going to them with the 27th pick in last year's NBA Draft, he was consistently listed at 7-0 with the Wolverines. He's enjoying significant success in his rookie season, averaging 7.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in just under 20 minutes of action per game. After transferring from Yale for his final collegiate season, Wolf started all 37 Michigan games a year ago. The second-team All-Big Ten performer averaged 13.2 points per game and a Big Ten-best 9.7 rebounds per contest. He added 3.6 assists per game, tying two oth- ers for the most double-doubles in the Big Ten last season with 15. Wolf wound up helping his new team to the Big Ten Tournament championship and a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament appearance. He and Goldin, a fellow transfer, also assisted in taking Michigan from eight wins in the year prior to May's arrival to 27 last season. Goldin, at 7-0, signed with the Miami Heat after going undrafted last year. He's played in a pair of NBA contests, averaging 2.0 points, 0.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists. As noted, he became a key cog in Michigan's success after coming to Ann Arbor with May from Florida Atlantic. Goldin also started all 37 Michigan games last year, winding up first- team All-Big Ten by the media and second team by the coaches. Goldin averaged a team-best 16.6 points per game along with 7.0 rebounds per contest. He shot 60.7 from the field and 73.1 percent from the free throw line, teaming with Wolf to give the Wolverines a very effective big man combo. It remains to be seen who becomes the next big man on campus for May. But given the striking success of the past two seasons, it's a good bet there will be interest. — John Borton ❱ Head coach Dusty May "He's done a good job in a number of areas. I could go on and on about Aday. He's incredibly valuable."