Mick Cronin will never live down failure to develop Aday Mara at UCLA

The Michigan Wolverines are national champions of college basketball. Dusty May picked up some great pieces in the transfer portal, but it has to be said that other coaches couldn't do much with those pieces. May provided the right ingredients for success. Just ask Aday Mara, who was misused by Mick Cronin at UCLA but then made the perfect decision to go to Ann Arbor and Dusty's den.

Less than the maximum

Mick Cronin would often have Aday Mara stapled to the bench at UCLA. Part of the frustration of the 2024-2025 season for Bruin fans was that Cronin didn't give Mara every possible chance to succeed. He did not always give Mara extended minutes, part of his overall confusion in the handling of the Spaniard.

UCLA mediocrity

UCLA didn't value Aday Mara the way it could or should have. The Bruins got a No. 7 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament and then, without Mara, did no better in 2026. UCLA has become irrelevant in college basketball after its 2021 Final Four joyride as a No. 11 seed. Mick Cronin is not making the grade in Westwood.

Arizona agony

It has to be agonizing not just for Arizona fans, but for UCLA fans, to see Aday Mara dominate the Wildcats at the Final Four. Arizona and UCLA are no longer conference partners, but they are still basketball rivals who play each other each season. UCLA lost to Arizona last fall. Imagine what might have been if the Bruins used Mara properly and didn't give him reason to transfer to Michigan.

Why Michigan won it all

Michigan spent some money in the transfer portal, but not as much as Kentucky ($22 million) or North Carolina ($14 million). Michigan was competitive in spending but simply made better roster decisions. Dusty May coached his players better than anyone else. This was not a "bought" championship.

Aday Mara at the Final Four

Elliot Cadeau won Most Outstanding Player, but many people (this writer included) felt Mara should have been MOP at the 2026 Final Four. He didn't score a lot against UConn, but his size and length bothered UConn's Tarris Reed, who was unable to dominate the game, something which needed to happen for the Huskies to win. Mara was the defensive anchor for Michigan all season long.

Co-MVP

Yaxel Lendeborg deserved the praise he received this season, but Michigan does not get to the Final Four without Aday Mara. The two were co-MVPs of the team, with a deep supporting cast making the Wolverines complete, deep, and versatile.

Mick Cronin pressure

UCLA fans would like to see Mick Cronin go, but he's likely staying for 2027. If he gets another 7 seed and a first-weekend exit in March Madness, the drumbeat for his dismissal will grow louder.

March, April, May

Dusty May is poised to be great in March, April, and the other months of the college basketball season. He knows what he's doing. Mick Cronin? Sometimes, but not with the frequency UCLA needs or deserves.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Michigan wins title with Aday Mara after Mick Cronin UCLA disaster