In Reply to: I agree with most of your points …. posted by mikeo on January 14, 2025 at 20:02:05
On points 1 and 2, I believe Mara should play as much as his stamina allows. It's evident that while he performs well initially off the bench, but tends to tire quickly, which is understandable given his 7'3" frame. Despite this, he provides a defensive presence that no one else can replicate. Few players challenge him once they get past the initial defender. In the last game, he made a fantastic block when a Rutgers player tried to test him. He went straight up and got all ball. Unfortunately, it was called a foul, a terrible call.
I also think it was a mistake not to give Mara more minutes against lesser competition earlier in the season, though I understand he may have been recovering from an injury. Looking ahead, I hope he remains at UCLA for his senior year. I'd hate to see him transfer or end up on some professional bench without the time to fully develop. With his agility, basketball IQ, and exceptional hands for someone his size, he has phenomenal potential. If he can get stronger and tougher, he has the makings of an extraordinary college player.
Regarding Kyle, I attended the first exhibition game, and it was immediately clear that he was a long way from what I expected. He appeared smaller and less physically imposing than anticipated, with limited lateral movement. Even against a Division II team like CSLA, his presence on the court was minimal. While his wingspan and jumping ability are assets, I’m not sure he fits well within Coach Cronin’s system at this point. As a junior, there’s still room for growth, but he’ll need a full year in Cronin's system to contribute meaningfully. Some of the same challenges apply to Mara, as you've noted in the difficult tasks being asked of him. Despite that, Mara has performed admirably under the circumstances.
Turning to DA, I had high expectations for him this season, particularly after his strong finish last year. Unfortunately, that hasn’t materialized. His shot opportunities don’t seem clean and even when they are, he's just missing. He hasn’t been assertive with his excellent pull-up game. I believe this stems from a lack of confidence.
As for TB, he’s a strong offensive player, and I don’t question his toughness. However, he’s clearly overmatched at the 5. The physical toll of being consistently outmatched in the frontcourt has impacted his offensive game as well. It seems Coach Cronin is set on TB and ED anchoring the frontcourt and believes they simply need to toughen up. While we may see more strategic adjustments, such as double teams, I doubt Mara or Kyle will see significantly increased minutes moving forward.