Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara was determined to help him and his team bounce back from their first loss of the season. He was simply dominant, scoring a season-high 20 points in an 82-72 win over the Washington Huskies on Wednesday in Seattle.
In addition to his ultra-efficient 10-for-11 shooting from the
field, Mara was elite on the defensive end as well, racking up three blocks and continuously deterring Washington players from creating quality looks in the paint.
Mara’s impact was much-needed. Michigan couldn’t pull away from Washington until he threw down a pair of dunks and blocked a shot that led to a fast-break layup, extending the lead to double digits.
His offensive output has been key for Michigan this season, as Mara is averaging a career-best 10.8 points per game on a team-high 68.2 percent shooting from the field. But it’s his interior defense that sets him apart — topping the Big Ten with a 13.7 block rate on KenPom.
Opposing offenses struggle to find success in the paint when Mara is holding down the middle of the defense, and that was on full display at Washington. The Huskies shot an abysmal 38 percent from the field and scored only 28 points in the paint.
The Wolverines are widely regarded as the nation’s top defense — leading the NCAA in defensive efficiency (89.4 points allowed per 100 possessions) and opponent effective field goal percentage (42.0) — and Mara is a massive reason why.
Michigan’s defense also leads the country in opponent average distance per two-point shot (7.8 feet), which is a true testament of Mara’s imposing rim protection. His presence forces opposing offenses to shoot farther from the basket.
Even though his perimeter defense was slightly exposed against Penn State and Wisconsin last week, Mara’s impact on both ends of the floor can’t be understated. When he plays up to his potential, Michigan is nearly unstoppable.
Mara’s performance at Washington was a demonstration of his unique skillset as a brilliant two-way player. If Mara can continue to play at such a high level, the Wolverines will be tough ti beat in any given night.
