Aday Mara needs to play more than 20 minutes a game

What if Aday Mara played 20 minutes or more in each of UCLA's remaining games? The answer is that there will likely be more wins for the Bruins.

Mara received a solid A for his performance against Northwestern in UCLA's 73-69 win Monday night. In only 16 minutes of play, he produced and helped the Bruins pull away and hold on to a lead to defeat the Wildcats.

Here are some of the reasons he needs to play at minimum 20 minutes per game for UCLA moving forward.

His impact on defense for the Bruins is needed heading into the Big Ten tournament. Not only is he 7 feet 3 inches tall, but his wingspan and height pose a significant challenge for opposing big men, altering and disrupting their shot attempts and establishing him as a formidable defensive presence. There may be reasons why head coach Mick Cronin doesn't play him more, such as because he doesn't have the literal movement to defend high pick-and-roll screens like Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau. Some have suggested he is not as well-conditioned as other players. Still, his impact on the defensive end cannot be ignored.

On the offensive end, he is highly efficient, often when given meaningful playing time and as witnessed in the Northwestern game, he draws double teams, which allows for the Bruin guards to get wide-open outside shots. One of his standout abilities is his knack for securing rebounds and finishing strong near the rim. He also can post up and score, as well as making a hook shot over shorter defenders. Then, as even mentioned by his head coach, he is the team's best passer so why is he not playing more?

His increasing minutes on the court are undoubtedly tied to UCLA's success this season. As he accrues more playing time, it seems the Bruins achieve more wins than losses. Aday Mara's presence on the court significantly enhances UCLA's offense in more ways than one and, as a defensive anchor, dramatically influences the opposing team's ability to drive the lane and post up effectively.

His development and potential can be seen in games where he receives extended minutes on the court. He has made significant strides since his freshman year, and as a sophomore this season, he is demonstrating impressive growth on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. His abilities continue to improve as he receives meaningful playing time.

Still not convinced and you want more evidence to justify him playing more? Here are the facts.

In five straight games, Mara played 21 or more minutes, and the Bruins defeated Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Oregon during that stretch of games, and the Bruins won all five of them. He scored 22 points against Wisconsin, leading the Bruins to a two-point victory. He scored 12 points each against Washington and USC, which he helped lead to single-digit wins for UCLA. In the game against the Trojans, he pulled down 11 rebounds with five blocks and two assists. He also had five blocks and seven rebounds against the Huskies. In losses to Purdue, Illinois, Rutgers, and Maryland, he played eight or fewer minutes in those games, and each one of those games resulted in a loss for UCLA.

Does Mara have some flaws? Yes. Does Cronin have some valid reasons why he restricts his minutes? Yes. However, he needs to play more in order to give UCLA a legitimate chance of winning the Big Ten tournament and make a Sweet Sixteen run in the NCAA tournament.