Saturday’s matchup between UCLA and No. 2 Michigan in Ann Arbor isn’t just another high-stakes Big Ten clash-it’s also a reunion of sorts. But don’t expect any warm hugs at center court.
This will be the first time the Bruins and Wolverines have faced off since 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara transferred from UCLA to Michigan after last season. And while the narrative might write itself-former player facing his old team-UCLA head coach Mick Cronin isn’t interested in playing along.
“Another game, buddy,” Cronin said when asked about facing Mara. “That’s life in the portal.”
In other words, don’t expect any emotional storylines from the Bruins’ sideline. When pressed further, Cronin doubled down: “I’m scouting Michigan.
I’m not scouting Aday.”
That’s classic Cronin-direct, focused, and unapologetically locked in on the next win. And with good reason.
Saturday’s game kicks off a challenging two-game road swing through the state of Michigan for UCLA, with a stop at Michigan State on Tuesday. Both games carry serious weight in the Big Ten standings, where every win-or loss-can swing tournament seeding in a big way.
The Wolverines, meanwhile, are rolling. At 23-1 overall and 13-1 in the Big Ten, they’re off to the best start in program history and sitting atop the NET rankings.
They’ve won nine straight, including a gritty 87-75 comeback win at Northwestern, where they erased a 16-point second-half deficit. That kind of resilience isn’t just impressive-it’s championship-caliber.
A huge part of Michigan’s success this season has come from its revamped frontcourt, led by none other than Mara himself. He’s averaging 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and a Big Ten-best 2.8 blocks per game-numbers that show just how much he’s grown since his days in Westwood.
But he’s not alone. Fellow transfers Yaxel Lendeborg (14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds) and Morez Johnson Jr.
(13.5 points, 7.3 rebounds) have formed a frontcourt trio that’s as productive as any in the country.
Head coach Dusty May knows the road ahead won’t be easy, even with the Wolverines’ current cushion in the standings.
“We still have a lot of difficult games down the stretch,” May said. “We’re trying to stay in the moment, not predict what’s going to happen next and figure out solutions.”
There’s a maturity to this Michigan group that wasn’t always there last year. May pointed out how, during a similar stretch last season, players got caught watching the scoreboard, trying to calculate their path to a title. That distraction cost them, and Michigan State ended up hoisting the regular-season trophy.
This year? Different vibe.
When the team watched other Big Ten games earlier this week, it was the managers-not the players-who erupted when results broke in Michigan’s favor. The players?
Calm. Focused.
Business-like.
“They’re just, ‘We’ve got to take care of us,’” May said. “Control what we can control.”
UCLA, sitting at 17-7 overall and 9-4 in conference play, isn’t out of the Big Ten race just yet. But they’re walking a tightrope.
A couple of wins could push them into position for one of the four coveted triple-byes in the Big Ten Tournament. A couple of losses, and they’re staring down the brutal task of winning five games in five days just to punch their NCAA Tournament ticket.
The Bruins do have some momentum. They’ve won five of their last six and haven’t played since last Saturday’s 77-73 win over Washington, giving them a full week to rest and prep. They also got a potential boost on the injury front: Cronin said standout guard Skyy Clark-UCLA’s best perimeter defender-might return after missing over a month with a hamstring issue.
And they’ll need him. Michigan’s offense is humming, and the Wolverines have shown they can beat you in the paint, on the glass, and in transition. For UCLA, the challenge is clear: slow the tempo, defend the rim, and find a way to disrupt a team that’s been nearly unstoppable.
Saturday’s game may not come with the emotional fireworks of a typical reunion, but make no mistake-there’s plenty on the line. For Michigan, it’s about staying on track toward a Big Ten title and a top NCAA seed. For UCLA, it’s about survival, seeding, and proving they can hang with the conference’s elite.
Tipoff can’t come soon enough.