Aday Mara, a player who captured the attention of UCLA fans last season, might reappear in unexpected ways this Saturday.
This is both exciting and frustrating.
If the current trends hold, Mara could complicate things for his previous team.
The towering 7-foot-3 center from Michigan has stepped up as a full-time starter and could pose a real challenge for the Bruins after he left the program last spring.
It’s not just his new facial hair that stands out; Mara has transformed into the shot-blocking, rebounding force many expected him to be.
Now, he competes in maize and blue instead of UCLA’s traditional colors.
Mara forms part of a towering lineup, teaming up with forwards Morez Johnson Jr. and Jaksel Lendeborg, which has helped the Wolverines contend for a national championship for the first time since 1989.
What goes through the mind of UCLA coach Mick Cronin as he prepares to face a player he least wanted to part ways with?
“It’s just another game,” Cronin remarked. “That’s the nature of the portal.”
Mara’s rise has highlighted some struggles for Bruins fans this season. They’ve had difficulty filling the gap he left. Now, three months in, UCLA still seeks reliable rim protection and rebounding from new big men like Xavier Booker and Stephen Jamerson II, in addition to the scoring intensity Mara brought to the table.
“We need to get something from the No. 5 position, be it defense, rebounding, or Booker providing that floor-stretching shot,” Cronin pointed out. “You can’t go in empty-handed, especially at this level.”
Mara has been crucial for the Wolverines (23-1, 13-1 Big Ten) ahead of their match against the Bruins (17-7, 9-4) at Chrysler Center. He’s averaging 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks, almost double his stats from his sophomore year at UCLA, and some envision him as a potential first-round NBA draft pick.
His increased playing time, rising from 13.1 minutes to 22.8 minutes per game, undoubtedly plays a role in his performance. His usage last season had raised some eyebrows.
Although he was underutilized in the opening months of last season, Mara shone in a breakthrough game against Wisconsin, racking up 22 points, five rebounds, and two blocks. Following that, an injury to forward Tyler Bilodeau opened the door for him to log a season-high 30 minutes. Just days later, he started in a game against USC, securing a double-double.
However, Cronin noted that Mara’s playing time varied significantly for the rest of the season due to conditioning issues and illnesses. The coach also prioritized playing the 6-9 Bilodeau as a smaller center, which limited Mara’s chances on the court.
His final game against Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament encapsulated his season perfectly. He began strong, arguably outshining everyone, but ended up sitting for much of the second half during the Bruins’ loss.
Mara expressed fondness for his two seasons in Westwood but felt a shift was necessary for his future in basketball.
“I had high hopes coming here, but after two years, I still hadn’t met them,” he reflected last spring. “So I decided to go to Michigan State and pursue those expectations.”
His exit altered the trajectory of UCLA’s season before it began. The plan had originally been to pair him with transfer point guard Donovan Dent, creating a strong backline and pick-and-roll chances.
While Cronin offered little comment on Mara recently, he appeared to subtly critique the center’s departure when discussing roster discussions with Dent.
“I think Donny is focused on our best players. Those would be Tyler Bilodeau, Eric Daley, and Skye Clark,” Cronin shared. “…Luckily for us, those kids value their UCLA education and believe their careers were enhanced by working with our coaching staff and each other.”
Initially, the Bruins had contemplated adding Hannes Steinbach as Mara’s replacement, but Cronin indicated that the German talent was beyond their budget. They turned to recruiting Booker, who had played power forward at Michigan State, and Jamerson, who was stepping up to the Power Four level.
Maybe the Bruins’ best chance this Saturday is that Booker can leverage his 3-point shooting to draw Mara out of the paint, creating opportunities inside.
Cronin seemed open to inventive tactics against a significant Big Ten lineup like Michigan’s. He even joked about sending assistant Nemanja “Yogi” Jovanovic to the NBA All-Star Game to scout for a promising big man.
“Find me someone from Lithuania or somewhere who likes wrestling bears,” Cronin quipped.
Interestingly enough, that next great big man may already be playing for the University of Michigan.
