UCLA Coach Criticized for Underutilizing Michigan Star

Mick Cronin's tough coaching style may have contributed to player's transfer and team's struggles

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:54pm

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A fragmented, abstract painting depicting a basketball game or competition, with sharp geometric shapes in navy, orange, and silver overlapping to create a sense of motion and energy.A cubist interpretation of the tension between a coach's management style and a player's potential impact on a team's success.Los Angeles Today

After Michigan's national championship victory, UCLA fans are left wondering what could have been if coach Mick Cronin had better utilized former Bruin center Aday Mara, who played a key role in the Wolverines' title run. Mara, a 7-foot-3 Spanish center, only averaged 13 minutes per game under Cronin last season before transferring, but he played 30 minutes and was a standout in the championship game.

Why it matters

Cronin has faced criticism this season for his tough coaching style, which may have contributed to Mara's departure and UCLA's relative struggles. As the Bruins celebrate their first-ever women's basketball national title, the men's team's early tournament exit has left fans questioning Cronin's leadership.

The details

Mara, who played the previous two seasons at UCLA, was a dominant force for Michigan in their championship run, playing the second-most minutes on the team. Columnist Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times wrote that Mara's presence 'alone changing so many things about the team in so many different ways' and that if he had stayed with the Bruins, they could have advanced further in the tournament.

  • Mara played 13 minutes per game for UCLA last season.
  • Mara played 30 minutes, second-most on the team, in Michigan's national championship victory.

The players

Mick Cronin

The head coach of the UCLA men's basketball team, who has faced criticism this season for his tough coaching style and the team's relative struggles.

Aday Mara

A 7-foot-3 Spanish center who played the previous two seasons at UCLA before transferring to Michigan, where he played a key role in the Wolverines' national championship victory.

Bill Plaschke

A columnist for the Los Angeles Times who wrote a critical column about Cronin's underutilization of Mara and the impact it had on UCLA's season.

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What they’re saying

“In Michigan's overpowering run in this tournament, Mara was everywhere. Playing the previous two seasons at UCLA, Mara was nowhere.”

— Bill Plaschke, Columnist

“Mara was more than a transfer, he was transformative, and everyone who had watched him roaming the Pauley floor during his sporadic appearances knew it. If Mara had stayed with the Bruins this season, they could have been at least a Sweet 16 team, maybe advancing to the Elite Eight, and who knows how much further, his presence alone changing so many things about the team in so many different ways.”

— Bill Plaschke, Columnist

The takeaway

This case highlights the impact a coach's management of players can have on a team's success, as well as the importance of fostering an environment that allows talented players to thrive. Cronin's tough coaching style may have contributed to Mara's departure and UCLA's early tournament exit, underscoring the need for a more balanced approach to player development.