Bears’ Touch On Playing Style and Team Chemistry at ACC Media Day

Coach Mark Madsen, Dai Dai Ames, DJ Campbell and Rytis Petraitis took the stage October 8 in Charlotte, North Carolina for the ACC Tip-Off Media Day.

Coach Madsen highlighted the new look to the roster and the excitement for the season. He specifically shouted out East Bay native Chris Bell for his “broad skill set on the court” including his ability to “attack
the rim and make teammates better.”

Local and national reporters peppered Madsen with questions about the Bears’ outlook coming into the second season in the ACC. Madsen noted that the ACC is “the preeminent basketball conference
in the country,” mentioning the pedigree of powerhouses like Duke and UNC - both of whom the Bears will host in January.

Dai Dai Ames‍ was next to the podium and fielded questions about the differences between his previous squads and the Bears. When asked specifically about the differing play style, Ames said “playing free”
was one of the key distinctions. He elaborated that Coach Madsen has allowed him to play his unrestricted game, a sentiment Madsen reiterated later in the day during a Field of 68 panel.

Ames’ ability to get to the rim and create plays for shooters will be central to any Bears’ offensive success this season.

Next, DJ Campbell took questions from reporters. Campbell, a self-described “east coast guy,” noted that the time change was a bit taxing coming from the West Coast and expanded to say that the travel times
will be somewhat of a challenge this season as it was last year.

Campbell reiterated Ames’ commentary on playstyle mentioning that Madsen has allowed, “players to play free.” He also touched on his affinity for the free throw line, saying that it’s “the easiest shot in basketball, other than the lay up.”

Campbell was efficient from the line in the 2024-2025 season, averaging just under 72 percent on 57 attempts. His ability to get easy points at the line will be critical to keep offensive momentum in hard-fought contests.

Finally, Rytis Petraitis took the podium for the final round of questions. Petraitis was asked a bit about his family history with basketball and mentioned his parents’ support during his hoops journey as a kid. He
honed in on ball movement and playing fast as a key to success this season.

Petraitis averaged 1.7 assists in the 2024-2025 season and his ability to find the open man will certainly bolster the ball movement this year.

Madsen made a final appearance during the aforementioned Field of 68 and discussed his shoulder surgery over the summer before offering some key changes to the defensive schemes. He was candid about the failures and frustrations with the defense last season and said he intends to “utilize depth” on the roster to increase the effectiveness of the Bears’ defense.

All in all, it was an exciting and eventful media day for the Bears. The combination of new talent and veteran leadership bodes well for the 2025-2026 season.

The Bears get started on Nov. 3 with a Haas Pavilion matchup against the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners.