Michigan 73, Villanova 46
Michigan basketball wanted some revenge too.
A national championship game rematch against Villanova was the highlight of the Gavitt Games series between the Big Ten and the Big East, and Michigan dominated from start to finish on the road against the defending champs and Big East favorites. On the Wildcats’ first two possessions, Colin Gillespie and Eric Paschall went at Zavier Simpson and Ignas Brazdeikis, respectively, and came up empty; those plays set the tone, and Michigan’s decisive victories in those head-to-head battles were essential components of the blowout win.
The Wolverines’ performance in the first half was basically perfect: they opened the game with a 10-2 run and gradually extended the lead to a 44-17 margin by halftime, outscoring Villanova by almost a full point per possession. Michigan made 70% of its two-point attempts and only turned it over once. Charles Matthews led the charge offensively with an efficient 16 points in that opening half, throwing down a few dunks (including a put-back off a missed layup by Isaiah Livers), drilling a couple mid-range fadeaways, and stealing a careless backcourt pass for a layup. He finished with a team-high 19 points, as well as three blocks.
It was a strong collective effort defensively for Michigan, but nobody made a bigger impact on that end than Brazdeikis. The freshman was tasked with guarding fifth-year senior Eric Paschall, and while the much bulkier big man repeatedly tested him in isolation situations in the post and from the mid-range, Brazdeikis held up almost every time, forcing Paschall into contested misses near the basket. Paschall finished 3-14 from the field with three turnovers. Brazdeikis put up 18 points on just 13 shot equivalents (mostly from tough drives and ambidextrous finishes around the basket), but his work on the other end was even more impressive.
He wasn’t the only Wolverine who was locked in defensively. It was a fantastic team effort, as Villanova’s 0.72 points per possession was their worst offensive performance since January 2013. Simpson took Gillespie off the dribble for a few layups of his own, but absolutely bullied him on defense, notching five steals and forcing a couple more turnovers. Villanova’s starting guards turned the ball over 9 times; the entire team gave it away on almost a third of their possessions. Michigan quickly decided that it would be better to have Livers at the five instead of Austin Davis when Jon Teske was off the floor, and the sophomore turned in a great two-way performance as a small-ball five.
Usually early-season routs like this take place in sleepy buy games against overmatched mid-majors at home, but Michigan just recorded what was arguably the most impressive result yet this season in all of college basketball by destroying the program that had won two of the last three national titles on their home floor. It’s now customary with Luke Yaklich on the Michigan bench: the Wolverines won this game with their defense. The game was effectively over at some point partway through the first half, and even though the Wolverine offense lagged in the second, Villanova had just no chance of overcoming such a huge deficit.
In the end, Michigan shot poorly from behind the arc (5-17, with the starters combining for just one made three) and the free throw line (12-19), but it just didn’t matter. Matthews and Brazdeikis were an effective one-two scoring punch, the latter locked down the veteran who’s probably Villanova’s best player, and the entire team harassed the Wildcat offense into a miserable night - turnovers galore and virtually no easy looks, especially inside. Villanova loves to spread the floor and exploit mismatches, but they couldn’t break down individual defenders, especially Brazdeikis.
Expectations will necessarily be ratcheted up after such a huge win. Michigan sleepwalked through their first two games and then demolished a top ten team on the road. In a few weeks, they'll get another chance at revenge in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge against North Carolina. After how well they played tonight, you’d have to like their chances.
[Box score after the JUMP]
November 14th, 2018 at 11:08 PM ^
I wonder if Yalich and Brown ever hang out together to discuss Defense??
November 15th, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
I think we need some sort of new nickname for Ann Arbor related to these two men locking down everything in sight
November 14th, 2018 at 11:57 PM ^
It's at Crisler this year though, isn't it?
November 15th, 2018 at 12:01 AM ^
He has always been there.
November 14th, 2018 at 11:21 PM ^
If this team starts to make 3s a respectable rate, the B1G, and the NCAA for that matter, should watch out
November 15th, 2018 at 6:43 AM ^
Everyone keeps waiting for that but I don't think it's in the team's DNA. This is a defense-first team, and very very good at it.
It's been weird to watch Beilein teams shoot badly and make others shoot even worse but that's been the identity for some time now, so we'd all better get used to it.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:34 AM ^
I definitely think this team is very good as is, however, if this team improves their 3 point shooting, as I'm guessing they will, they will be a top 10 team
November 14th, 2018 at 11:29 PM ^
Can’t wait to see what happens once we start hitting our shots. This is incredible. Go Blue!!!
November 14th, 2018 at 11:35 PM ^
Beilein is one of the most honest coaches in all of basketball. At half time when asked about the 44 points we put up he stated that the offense will get there and they have seen it getting better in practice. I think by February this will be a fully functional death machine.
In regards to Poole, I think he is just looking to pass more almost consciously. I think he will MAAR like as the season goes on but dribble, drive and dish will make him more lethal over time.
November 14th, 2018 at 11:40 PM ^
Surgical. Clinical.
Yaklich and Brown are insane.
November 14th, 2018 at 11:58 PM ^
can we call the phenomenon where the oppositions number of turn overs = their fg% a NOVA?
November 15th, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
Psssssh...it's still a rutger
November 15th, 2018 at 12:03 AM ^
YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Can't remember a game that was that satisfying to watch. I loved it. All last year I said that if this team just played with some fire, they'd be tough to beat. Excellent game by Simpson, he paced it, and Mathews and Brazdeikis couldn't be stopped.
I hope this team got a taste for blood and liked it. I wanted to call 2018, the Year of Scorched Earth and I love that these team's have taken on a competitive mindset.
Now let's take care of business at Indiana and then at OSU. Then punish UNC. REVENGE TOUR 2018. GO BLUE. DESTROY!!!!!
November 15th, 2018 at 12:03 AM ^
Wow. I certainly wasn't expecting that.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:35 AM ^
It would seem that Beilein has gotten back to his sweet spot in recruiting. The scary part is this may be the worst team he has until he retires. Guys like Livers, Teske, and Simpson will probably be around 4 years and all be very good college basketball players.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:36 AM ^
Prior to the game Wright was not that optimistic about his team. ESPN points out he has never needed to rebuild and after losing his four top players to the NBA, that might be Nova’s fate this year. He says he was not surprised at this loss in his post game comments. If we can play this kind of D against UNC and prevail then we are in for a ride.
November 15th, 2018 at 1:06 AM ^
to do big things, this team needs a helluva lot more out of poole. he was non-existent again. has been in all of the games thus far.
livers is proving to be the best shooter on the team. hopefully, he makes the big soph leap. this would allow the team to go small when need with him at the 5. livers, matthews and brazdeikis makes for a very athletic front court. those 3 all looked great in this game.
November 15th, 2018 at 7:26 AM ^
Schizophrenic when Teske is replaced by Livers and vice-versa. Later in the season, the opposition will be better prepared for the oscillation between them but Villanova had no answer last night.
Seemed like Wright wrote the game off not long after halftime and used the second half to practice against a really good defense.
November 15th, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
I love Livers, and his enthusiasm and swagger, and most of all he is a bruiser, big body type, physically like the Fab Five were.. but I don't think hes the best shooter... if anyone, its Matthews right now.
November 15th, 2018 at 9:46 AM ^
dude ... chill out. We have a team that will have various "stars" all year. We didn't need JP to score last night. WTF - do you expect everyone on the floor to have their best game. We kicked Villinova's ass all over their gym ... and you bitch ? Your POV is worthless !
Go Blue!
November 15th, 2018 at 10:52 AM ^
Yes, but they didn't need big contributions from him last night (I was a little concerned because Nova was going after him on D - he seems to lack the lower body strength of guys like Mathews, Livers, Brazdeikis).
But Poole made the play of the game last night when he stole the ball along the sideline, threw it back in but didn't pick it up because it would be a self-pass and he'd get called for a travel. Instead, he boxed the Nova dude on the sideline for what seemed like an eternity before Simpson came and retrieved it and fed it to Livers for 2. Phenomenal play by Poole.
November 15th, 2018 at 6:17 AM ^
in beilein we trust, as always, man.
i freaking love his reaction - “it’s a november win.” never too high, never too low. no super soakers for this one.
there’s literally not a single guy i’d rather have.
November 15th, 2018 at 6:46 AM ^
Really like Livers at the 5 - the energy on offense and defense really goes up with Brazdeikas, Livers and Matthews out there at the same time.
November 15th, 2018 at 6:59 AM ^
Saw Austin Davis go down awkwardly under the basket in the first half. Livers subbed for Teske after that. Wonder if he rolled an ankle?
November 15th, 2018 at 7:47 AM ^
But I thought Izzo said it's impossible to play defense because the rules committee is trying to change the college game into the Warriors-NBA.
I guess Beliein didn't get the memo.
November 15th, 2018 at 9:47 AM ^
Beilein always seems to miss the crooked coaches memos. Remember when he wanted to get rid of everyone paying recruits (read: every Power 5 coach). He's never been an assistant and has never played by anyone else's rules. That's why we love him
November 15th, 2018 at 8:43 AM ^
I only caught the second half of the game, but by that point Nova looked just lost out there. If Michigan can round into even average Beilein form offensively, there's no better team in the country save maybe Duke.
November 15th, 2018 at 9:01 AM ^
YES YES YES
I was just floored by that performance. Brazdeikis will be an All-American before he leaves...
but more importantly... Brian or mods, can you find my post last year, about this incoming class? .. I cannot find it, but its there somewhere...
I said akin to how I believe we have already lived this life, and time goes in reverse of what we think, and I have this odd feeling that this group of incoming kids led by Brazdeikis, will win Beilein a national title. And last night could not have strengthened that deja vu moment, even more....
The depth, while young, is astounding.... Livers, Brooks, Johns, Castelton, DeJulius, etc. Folks, REJOICE, because this is the start of the return to Michigan basketball to the elite tier, when we were in the elite tier (like Kentucky is in now) with UCLA... Michigan basketball, the way I remembered it waybackwhen, IS BACK.
GO BLUE
November 15th, 2018 at 9:26 AM ^
UM looked like the more athletic team by a decent margin.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:04 AM ^
Anytime you can keep the turnovers that low and play knockout defense like they did last night is going to give you a chance to win every single game.
Most impressed with Matthews playing 36 minutes and having 0 turnovers...that's huge and a big upgrade from last year.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:13 AM ^
I haven’t read all the comments, so this thought may be a repeat. My take on the game is:
- Michigan defense play incredibly well
- Nova offense isn’t quite that bad
- Michigan hit a number of shots I’d classify as 50/50, where they definitely don’t fall every night (some of the crazy layups were borderline lucky)
- Even ignoring the “lucky” shots, Michigan’s D beat Nova’s O. The “lucky” shots made it a blowout.
I honestly didn’t think Michigan had a chance to cover the spread, let alone win. And that’s why I don’t bet on sports.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:59 AM ^
that win-probability graph is a thing of beauty.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:04 PM ^
It's weird how long it favored Nova, despite them falling down by a bunch right away. I guess it really values home court.
November 15th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^
If this team can find some three-point shooting and an eighth player for the rotation, look out. Even if they can't get those two things, another deep tournament run is definitely possible for this group. It will be fun to see how Beilein guides the offense to its potential and how the team evolves.
November 15th, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^
So great to see Matthews show up. He made the right move coming back!
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