The Crisler Center will feature three starters at 6-foot-9 or taller.

And a former Bruin anchors the center of it.

After stringing together wins in five of its last six contests, UCLA men’s basketball (17-7, 9-4 Big Ten) will head east to face former Bruin center Aday Mara and No. 2 Michigan (23-1, 13-1) on Saturday in Ann Arbor.

The Wolverines trounced the Bruins 95-74 last season at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 7, courtesy of 36 points from former Michigan center Vladislav Goldin. And Saturday’s affair could mirror the 2025 battle between the two teams as the Wolverines boast an unrivaled frontcourt and an interior presence that could dominate a smaller Bruin squad on both ends of the court.

Michigan’s projected starting lineup features three frontcourt players listed at 6-foot-9 or above, including Mara.

The 7-foot-3 junior transferred away from Westwood this past season and quickly became a facilitator in Michigan’s half-court sets, averaging 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Mara’s passing from the high post – something his former Bruin teammates and coach commended – has allowed Michigan to initiate an offensive efficiency that ranks eighth in the country.

“He’s huge, so he’s skilled down there,” said senior forward Tyler Bilodeau. “If he catches it deep, he’s going to score. … He’s a great passer too. We’ve got to be physical with him and show our hands.”

Joining Mara in the frontcourt is forward tandem Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg. The trio’s length, frame and athleticism allow the Wolverines to dominate the interior, and consequently, the glass, leading to quick outlets, fast transition games and easy finishes at the rim.

But it’s Michigan’s defense that makes it one of the top teams in the nation.

Apart from its No. 2 national ranking, Michigan enters the matchup among conference leaders in multiple defensive categories. Opponents are shooting 36% from the field and 29% from 3-point range, while the Wolverines sit near the top of the Big Ten in turnover margin and defensive rebounding percentage – leading to a No. 1 KenPom defensive efficiency ranking.

Their rotation and star-studded depth regularly extends to nine or more players, allowing them to pressure the ball without conserving fouls.

“Their bench allows them to play very aggressive for 40 minutes,” said coach Mick Cronin. “They don’t have to worry about fouling.”

And ball security remains central for UCLA.

The Wolverines turned opponents over more than a dozen times per contest, scoring a significant portion of their points in transition, while the Bruins have trimmed their turnovers to single digits in three of their last four games, posting their highest assist totals of the season along that stretch.

“Cannot turn the ball over,” Cronin said. “Because they’ll convert it, too, because they’re so talented. That’s how you win on the road.”

UCLA’s offense has leaned on senior guard Donovan Dent’s distribution and Bilodeau’s finishing inside. Dent ranks third in the conference in assists per game, while Bilodeau is converting better than 55% of his attempts inside the arc. Their pick-and-roll connection has produced some of the Bruins’ most efficient late-clock possessions.

And Michigan’s perimeter defenders complement its size.

Multiple Wolverines average over a steal per game, and their depth allows them to substitute freely without sacrificing defensive intensity – a trait that has kept opponent scoring averages among the lowest in the league.

Junior guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr. – the Bruins’ leading rebounder – said countering Michigan’s physicality begins with energy rather than schemes.

“Play harder,” Dailey said. “That’s really it. Like any team you play, just play harder than the team you’re playing.”