INDIANAPOLIS — In a Final Four matchup highlighted by interior play and two elite-level front courts, Michigan junior center Aday Mara stole the show. Despite No. 1 Arizona also boasting one of the best front courts and interior presences in college basketball, the Wildcats had no answer for Mara — especially offensively as he put up a career-high 26 points en route to the Wolverines’ 91-73 blowout win.
“Aday was sensational,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “He was at the rim, catching lobs. He was a force down low. He was a pressure release up top. He’s such a smart basketball player. And obviously his rim protection, he did a great job forcing a lot of those misses around the basket because of his aggression.”
Michigan fans’ worst nightmare came true about 15 minutes into the game. Graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg headed to the locker room with an apparent injury, and both Mara and sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr. picked up their second fouls. What was a 22-10 lead for the Wolverines was brought within five when Mara picked up his second foul.
But that was the last time the game was ever close. Mara, like earlier in the season, was forced into foul trouble in the first half. Mara, unlike much of the season, remained disciplined and didn’t get another until the last three minutes of the game. He bolstered the team offensively with 26 points and held down the fort defensively with nine rebounds and two blocks.
“I used to just tell him, ‘Calm down. Play your game. Just have fun,’” graduate guard Nimari Burnett said. “I mean, that’s why he celebrates his dunks, celebrates his blocked shots. That just gives the rest of the team energy.”
Rather than letting the calls or anything else get to him, Mara fed off the energy of his offensive and defensive success and took over the game.
“He’s been super, super mature throughout the course of the season,” Burnett said. “I just see that maturity growing and growing. He’s an NBA capital player, one of the highest-level players I’ve ever been around.”
Offensively, Mara shouldered the scoring responsibilities, with Lendeborg suffering an early injury and playing sparingly in the second half. Mara was the main interior threat as he finished in one-on-one scenarios and also off pick and rolls for alley-oops.
“When you have a dude just throw the ball at the rim, he’s probably sitting within a foot and a half vicinity and can put it down is awesome,” graduate forward Will Tschetter said. “… That dude’s basketball IQ is through the charts when he can handle his temper a little bit, calm it down a little.”
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