Let's Talk About Tomorrow's Game v. Villanova

I know nothing about 'Nova.  But what I do know is that they hit 3's consistently, and have since Jay Wright has been around.  I fear - I mean, I have legit fear - when thinking about Michigan's ability to consistently hit a 3 when it's really needed.  I have zero confidence in UM's ability to score consistently from outside.  And if you can't consistently make Villanova defend your outside shooting, you are not going to beat them - they don't have 'off-days'.

House money gives M a chance, but this one is totally dependent on outside shooting.

I think Philly Martelli knows 'Nova inside/out and will be the secret sauce here.

We should be able to score decently well, but it's really going to depend on if Villanova can run their sets and hit their 3s. If they can, then we lose. If they're off, then we have a solid chance. I think we match up better with Nova than we did with Tennessee

In a humdrum Ann Arbor neighborhood recently rezoned for senior citizen housing, Eli Brooks sat alone in his apartment watching Villanova game footage.  The room was dimly lit and slightly redolent of smoothies and farts.  The television was muted and the only sound you could hear was the creak of his rickety rocking chair. 

The Villanova squad was coordinated with machine like precision and they moved like they were attached by invisible strings.  Every cut was decisive and precise, every shot was in rhythm.  He'd been poring over the footage for hours and hadn't found any weakness - this was as precise an offense as he'd seen in his near decade career as a player.

Eli turned off the television and stared in despondent silence. His droopy brown eyes were reflected on the blank cathode ray screen, their strain visible even through the distorted lenses of his bifocals. He needed a break and absently started sorting through his mail, organizing them in neat little piles.  The usual suspects - AARP mailers, MCL cafeteria coupons - he sorted into recycling.  He was about to put another flyer in the pile when something caught his eye.

It was from Maize and Blue Deli, and advertised in a loud blocky font - CRAZY DEAL ON SUBS THIS WEEKEND.  He allowed himself a knowing smile, and started diagramming X's and O's on the other side, his graying eyebrows furrowed in steady concentration.  When he was done, he reached over and started dialing a number on a rotary phone.

"Coach.  It's me.  I think I've got an idea what we can do Thursday."

75-68 Villanova

1. 83-74 Nova. I hate Nova but they seem to have our number and Wright is a phenomenal coach who can gameplan with the best of them.

2. No, but I will ensure I get home from work in time to watch it from my couch

I predict someone will have red pop in their cup. And not the Faygo kind, if you know what I mean.  Hey-oo! 

Remember when we beat them by 27 pts at THEIR arena in 2018?  Man, I wish we had only beaten them by--say--12 pts and got to save 15 pts for this upcoming game.  That's how basketball works, right?

We need to come to two feet hard jump stops because they take a lot of charges ! They also pump fake non stop . Moussa and Houstan have to get ya 28-30 pts combined ! No way we win if not . We have to get 10-15 pts in transition and be even from three and Atleast even from ft line . They are the best ft shooting team in county and we must avoid racking the fouls up 

If we have to rely on them missing free throws it is probably game over as others have said. I think we have to force them to take tough threes and or run them off the three point line as much as possible. It sounds like for some reason they haven’t been great with zone this year so this may be the game to switch into that for some crucial possessions where we need stops. It’s certainly possible we pull this out as both teams will have trouble stopping the other the only thing is that Nova has a better offense and a much better defense.

I predict Caleb Houstan hits one 3 pointer the entire game, but it is at the buzzer and Michigan wins 64-63.

He then runs around the court with Hunter Dickenson chasing him.  He decides after the tournament he will declare for the draft and is drafted by the Warriors in the first round.

Before any brackets came out, my Final Four would have been Villanova, Kansas, Gonzaga, and Arizona.  It's just unfortunate that we face face Jay Wright this early, and were placed in a loaded region. 

How did Marquette beat them twice, and what can learn from that?

The game will come down to whether the HD mismatch can offset 'Nova's perimeter scoring advantage.  I just don't see us having enough consistent outside shooting to stay in contact, and Villanova cruises to a 77-67 victory.

I will be more than happy to be wrong.

Sit back, enjoy a well played game. Not get upset regardless of the outcome because, hey, we're already ahead of expectations.

I hope we win

My very lazy take is that they seem like a small, slower, TN, but coached far better.

I like our chances, and agree with the house money POVs, so won't be disappointed if they bow out (unless it's a ref show).

I didn't watch last Thursday and may not get to watch tomorrow, so I'm hopeful I get to watch them on Saturday.

WE WIN!!!  

This 'Nova team isn't as dominant as that 2018 team we lost to. No one could stay within 12 points of that team. They could play that game 50 times and we would lose 47 of them. This 'Nova team looks beatable. If we're firing on all cylinders, I think we'll win. But that's a big if.

Nova by 11 sadly

I expect to win it all.
One game at a time.
Tomorrow, that game is Villanova.

Somebody (2nd or 3rd best shooter)  goes wild for Villanova.