Overview
- Michigan beat UConn 69-63 to win the NCAA championship, with Aday Mara’s size and defense shaping the paint.
- Mara logged 8 points, 4 rebounds, a block, and a steal in 30 minutes in the title game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
- His tournament surge featured 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting against No. 1 Arizona in the Final Four.
- He was named the 2026 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 12.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks for Michigan.
- The move from UCLA set up a breakout at Michigan that prompted John Beilein to predict NBA teams will wish they had drafted him sooner.