Everything Michigan Basketball's Oscar Goodman said on the Defend the Block podcast

On how his spring and summer has been going so far

Yeah, it’s been great. Just thank you for having me. Yeah, the spring’s been awesome. A lot of development been going on, teams looking really well, and yeah, clicking at the right time.

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On his FIBA Under-19 World Cup experience

Yeah, it’s awesome. Being able to represent your country is probably one of the biggest honors. Playing FIBA basketball, they always have great events and it’s great competition. Just great to be around some New Zealanders again.

On how international competition compares to collegiate competition

I think that FIBA events and then college basketball, they’re very similar, just in the way that the systems and how you play. But yeah, I think I’ve benefited a lot from all my age group basketball and then having a few games with the All-Blacks. I think that’s going to help me a lot coming into this upcoming season.

On representing your country having unique pressure

Yeah, it can. It can, for sure.

On how that pressure shows up for him

I definitely think leading up to the game, but as soon as you start playing, you kind of just lose all focus of what’s going on outside and just zone into the game.

On his ankle injury suffered during the World Cup

Yeah, it was rough. I think it was the first three minutes of the bronze medal game and I went up for a layup and came down and landed on someone’s foot and I was with our physio just trying to get it right so I could come back in, but it just wouldn’t come right, but we’re getting through it.

On how his early arrival has helped him transition to Michigan and the college game

I think it’s helped me a lot just knowing my way around campus, where all my classes are, the facility, how to get around. I think just having that stress taken away from me coming all the way from New Zealand is going to help me a lot and just help this season go a bit smoother.

On how the early arrival has helped him academically

Yeah, I think it’s helped a lot. It’s just put me that step forward than just the likes of Trey and that because I’ve had those four other classes that I took. But yeah, she’s been really helpful and yeah, everything’s going great so far with the class I’m taking.

On how challening a class load is at Michigan

It’s definitely up there, just the amount of time that it consumes at points just with the like tests and then assignments and that.

On where he’s grown the most as a person

I think just being away from home, like it’s probably one of the harder parts of it and just getting used to that. Just knowing that I’m in a really good spot, really happy here and just yeah.

On where he’s grown the most as a player

I definitely think my shooting. Just become a lot more of a consistent shooter and it’s showing in training now and yeah.

On how early in his career did he start focusing on his outside game

I was really blessed at like when I first started playing basketball. I had a few coaches who taught me all the guard stuff because they knew I wasn’t going to be a big my entire life because I’m six foot seven so I’m a bit undersized. So they gave me a really good foundation to be able to be versatile and then I think just helped me with my shot as well. Just always teaching me the simple mechanics and that.

On his favorite memory of last season

I probably have to say that Round of 32 win against Texas A&M. It’s kind of, I didn’t realize how big March Madness was being on the other side of the world and then coming here. It’s a really big deal and it’s pretty, it’s just addicting. Like I just want to get back there.

On whether he consumed NBA content growing up

Not really. It was more the Australian NBL and the New Zealand Breakers and then we had a semi-pro league, the NZ NBL. So I was training with them on their roster for a couple years and yeah. But then as I got older and got more experience in basketball then I started following NBA.

On comparing last year’s team to the current team

Yeah, I think this year’s team everyone is super competitive and the intensity is just super high and I’m not saying that last year’s team wasn’t competitive and that it’s just, I think there’s that extra level to it and I’m really excited about this year and this team that we’ve got.

On whether he can tell that the competition is high leading up to season preparations

Yeah, definitely. It’s just all the little things. Everyone’s fighting for loose balls. We’re all having rebounding battles under the rim. It’s super intense and physical.

On his strengths and weaknesses of his game

I’d say my rebounding has been a big part and then being able to switch, talk, communicate and hitting those outside shots that I’ve been working on for the past four or five months. And yeah, just getting downhill and then creating for my other teammates.

On areas he’s focusing on leading up to the season

Definitely guarding, just because we switch a lot. Just being able to stay in front of quick guards like Elliott and then crafty ones like Trey. It’s just, yeah, it’s a big thing for me, just being able to make sure I can guard so I can get those opportunities.

On whether he notices positionless basketball with the team

Yeah, for sure. It’s pretty exciting as well, just because everyone can slot into different roles. We can play really big basketball and then we can play really small lineups.

On how he sees what his role could be this season

I think just rebounding, just coming in and impacting on the boards and then making shots when I get the opportunity. And like I said before, just being able to guard and not give up other opportunities for the other team.

On Will Tschetter’s role being a good example for him

Yeah, for sure. Definitely someone who I’m trying to follow and then obviously expand my game as well, just to be able to do a bit more of everything.

On why he thinks he’s a winning player

I think just my motor and just how I play, just the energy I play with and then just doing all the little things as well. Just taking pride in the things that won’t show up on the stat sheet like loose balls.

On the biggest impressions living in Michigan and what he misses about New Zealand

I’d say the biggest thing I miss is probably just the beach. Just being a 500-meter walk from the beach was a bit of a change. But I’ve been to a few lakes with Will and those have been really cool. It’s been a bit of a change culturally. It’s a lot, honestly. You just have to experience it to understand it.

On whether his brothers are playing basketball

I’ve got the youngest brother under me. He’s really into rugby and he’s actually doing really well for himself. This season just finished. Then the middle child, JC, he’s real into his basketball. I think he’s got a tournament coming up for school nationals. Then the two younger ones are seven and five. We’re just throwing them in everything.

On whether he played rugby growing up

Not growing up, but I picked it up a bit late.

On whether he is too tall to play rugby

No. The high school I went to, all the coaches were trying to edge me into rugby. It was a little bit annoying.