bruin85
Joined: 10/05/12 Posts: 2,282
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Posted Sun, Mar 23 8:33 am
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In response to If you're Aday Mara, do you return to UCLA next year? (88Straight)
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Mara has shown enough talent IMO in his limited playing time that some other school may outbid us. It is going to depend on how much he likes it at UCLA, at least I hope that is still part of the players equation. But I would certainly have a conversation with Coach about expected usage rate because he needs to be on the court more than 20 minutes, every game.
I hope he stays and we recruit another big, thicker frame to bang with the B10 bigs.
Related topic, I would hate to play for a coach that will yank you when you make one mistake. Back when I played (HS ball) I loved defense, excelled at it, so I appreciate defensive ability, but guys are going to make errors and need space to learn. And for god sakes, recruit some offensive talent too. |
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lakershen
Joined: 1/08/25 Posts: 209
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Posted Sun, Mar 23 8:42 am
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In response to If you're Aday Mara, do you return to UCLA next year? (88Straight)
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It's very sad to see Mara leaving. He will have a very bright future.
In the post game interview, Cronin made the situation worse, it killed the 1% chance for Mara to come back.
Right after a disappointing season ending loss, Cronin spoke what he really thought about the highly regarded 2024 European recruiting class, including Mara. Maybe that's why he felt Mara was never ready for his style of basketball. This is what he said.
After having almost no NIL and having to go to Europe to try to find cheap players, in a debacle, and fighting through it last year and finishing fifth. |
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Mero mero
Joined: 2/06/24 Posts: 206
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Posted Sun, Mar 23 9:06 am
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In response to If you're Aday Mara, do you return to UCLA next year? (88Straight)
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Leave and potentially double your $ playing in front of packed house and rabid supportive fans or stay where we average about 7k late arriving early departing sit your hands front runners?Coaches are putting out feelers to Aday’s agent and family and don’t think they do not mention how he’s been used his last 2 seasons. I support Cronin albeit but his shtick can get old and that’s being used against him Not Playing Mara when his whole family came over from Spain didn’t endear Coach either . At 19 yrs. old, if we lose Mara now it will be a huge loss. We’ll have become a farm team for legit Programs. I hope Coach works harder than ever to persuade Aday to stay |
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harry bruin
Joined: 11/01/05 Posts: 938
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Posted Sun, Mar 23 9:34 am
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In response to If you're Aday Mara, do you return to UCLA next year? (88Straight)
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Yes, it depends on the program that's recruiting him, and what the new NIL will be, what kind of opportunity a different coach offers him.
Yes, there are Cronin fans who claim that Cronin has done exactly the right thing with Mara. I strongly disagree. Here is a 7'3" player who has skills, basketball IQ (blocks, passing), footwork, even the foundation of strength (so many of the super-tall are thin and fragile). He's been used sparingly, and Cronin's angry inner shadow-self just throws Mara under the bus... and periodically rolls over him again.
No promise from Mick about playing time would be credible.
Go to Gonzaga. Have Few and his team work with you. Suerte. See you in the NBA in two years.
(on another matter, no guarantee that his student visa will be renewed... the times we live in) |
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