And we are back live at Utec IT here on the Big 1050 WTK and line at the big 1050.com. We of course are here at Utech, which is your headquarters for all your IT needs. And we are here the Thursday that opens up every NCAA tournament. We've been here for years. And I don't, honestly, I've kind of lost track how many years we've been here, but we've been coming to this party for a very long time. It's a great client party that they throw each and every year.

They have the big screen going on. honestly, I've kind of lost track how many years we've been here, but we've been coming to this party for a very long time.

It's a great climb party that they throw each and every year. They have the big screen going on. They've got other monitors with games going on, and we'll be watching basketball here all day. We are here, of course, kind of as the lead-in to the big party, and of course, the lead-in to the big party of the big dance. And our Wolverines will be a part of that party later on today as Michigan plays in Buffalo at 710 against Howard. Yesterday was the media day for the teams playing on Thursday of the NCAA tournament. And in Buffalo, we heard from some players and Dusty Mays. So we're going to start with the players. We heard from Marez Johnson Jr. Yaxa Lendibor, and Adi Mara. So let's get to those guys from yesterday,

now here on the Michigan Insider on the Big 1050 WTKA. I haven't probably taken too much of it in yet,

but let me ask you guys this question. Going into a game like this, right, and not kind of the

coach's answer of what you're prepped to say. But when you're huge favorites, how difficult is it, you know, to stay mentally prepared?

Everybody's a threat at this point, right?

Everybody's in the tournament and everybody's hungry, especially teams, you know,

that might not have the experience and have had the season that you guys have.

So mentally, personally, how do you guys stay, you know, zoned in 100% like we need to go attack and treat this just like it's any other game or any tournament game? Or, you know, how do you mentally handle that? I know, like, if we lose this game, it could be the end. And I'm not ready for the season to be over with yet. So I'm just making sure I do my best, come here and do what I do every game.

And I would go with what you said. Everybody is a threat. For them to get here, they had to win the championship. So, you know, I've been in that predicament before, you know, when I was a mid-major. So, you know, we're going to go in there with nothing to lose, so we're just going to play our hearts out and no matter what happens, you know, we're happy that we made it. So being on this side now is just, same thing Red said, I don't want to lose. And this is going to be my last college game ever. So I want to continue my streak. As I said, like, if you're playing this tournament, it's because you earn it. Every team is good here. So we are not thinking about we are, I don't know,

the favor is to win the game. We are just thinking about this. If you lose the game, you go home.

So as he said, we just got to, we want to keep going and keep playing. We're going to treat

everyone at the same, you know, like yeah no i got it thanks a lot guys

that makes a lot of sense if you need any uh wing recommendations we'll talk after okay yeah yeah yeah

yeah right john war john war old the associate your press um for he actual i've got two questions

one you came up limping on Sunday. Everything good?

Yeah, I'm fine. I started moving, running around yesterday. I had a little bit of issues cutting a little bit, but today I think I'm going to feel a lot better. And when I get into the game mindset, I think I'll be all right.

And just secondly, what did you guys learn from yourselves, Yaxel, from losing on Sunday?

And how does that carry, and what do you carry over from that game into the tournament?

I would say we have to dictate tempo.

All season long, we've been struggling with coming out in the second half strong.

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