INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 04: (Editor’s note: The image was taken using a remote camera.) Ade Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks the ball against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Ade Mara played the best game of his life as Michigan defeated Arizona 91–73 in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium.
And then the 7 feet 3 inches tall Spaniard did not hold back from firing a shot across the bow of his former school.
Mara, 20, transferred to Michigan before this season after spending two years at UCLA.
“I was just saying about the process of being here this year, I’m very grateful and very happy that I’m able to play with this group,” Mara said after dominating Arizona with a career-best 26 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists despite averaging 11.8 points and 6.8 boards. “I am capable of fighting for the national title.
“But it was probably a two-year process of not having the opportunity to show what I was capable of, and now just being in this situation. But it was a long year, a tough year. But it was also fun. We’re just having fun.
“We know it’s just another one, so we’ll try to get to it.”
Michigan will bid for its second NCAA championship and first since 1989 when it takes on UConn on Monday night. The Huskies are seeking their third national title in four years and seventh overall.
UConn assistants Luke Murray and Mike Nardi followed Michigan from courtside in the second game, and may have been thinking they could make a full tackle on Mara.
“He’s a good player, you know, really unique,” said 6-8 Arizona freshman Koa Peat, who was selected in the NBA’s first round. “He played really well tonight. So good luck to him.”
Michigan coach Dusty May said, “Ade was sensational.” “He was at the rim, catching lobs. He was a force down low. He was releasing pressure up top. I mean, he’s such a smart basketball player.
“And obviously his rim protection – he did a great job on Pete. He did a great job preventing a lot of misses around the basket because of his aggressiveness.”
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 04: Ade Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with teammates after scoring through contact during the second half against the Arizona Wildcats in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
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Mara was a highly sought-after international recruit Committed to UCLA in 2023 After averaging only 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds last season for Basket Zaragoza. Before coming to UCLA he had to go through a complicated parting with his pro team.
At UCLA, he averaged 3.5 points and 1.9 rebounds during the 2023–24 season and then 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds the following year. He started only one game that year as an injury replacement for Tyler Bilodeau.
According to the Los Angeles Times“Coach Mick Cronin explained during the season that Mara’s usage was limited due to matchups, conditioning, and some illnesses. Mara admitted that there were times when he was asked to come out of games because he used up all the energy in short spurts.”
After two seasons, he opted out and resided in the Big Ten at Michigan.
Mara told the LA Times, “I knew I wasn’t going to play much, so I was going like 100% — that’s why I was getting tired because I knew it was going to be six minutes (of playing time) and if I played well it was going to be 15, so I was going like 100% and sometimes, yes, I said, ‘I’m tired, I need some rest,’ you know? But I think. That it’s a normal thing if you work hard and play hard.”
He added: “When I came here I had expectations that I didn’t meet. At the same time, I think I felt like I was playing well, practicing well, working hard, you know, putting in the extra work and it wasn’t until Wisconsin (when he scored 22 points) that I got the opportunity to show that I was capable of playing, you know? And once (Cronin) gave me the opportunity, I saw – not a lot, but I saw that.” What could I do, so those are the two reasons.”
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 04: Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty Mays and Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd shake hands after the game in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
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Mara is currently projected to be a second-round draft pick, but Saturday certainly helped his stock.
May said, “Ade has put in a lot of work…it takes time to develop into this role.” “He’s physically more mature than ever.
“Did we imagine it? We went back and we watched his film and playing with the Spanish national team, playing for Zaragoza and he showed glimpses of it.
“I mean, in mock drafts he was projected as a lottery pick, a top 10 pick, as a lot of people do. And then those things changed. But he’s playing ball at a high level and he’s added a lot to our program.”
He certainly did that.
And now they’ve got Michigan to within one win of their first championship in more than 36 years.
