I wouldn't call Michigan finesse. They won the game tonight with hard defense and offensive rebounding. Michigan can play and win with different styles, just look at the NCAA tournament this year.
Villanova 79, Michigan 62
I wouldn't call Michigan finesse. They won the game tonight with hard defense and offensive rebounding. Michigan can play and win with different styles, just look at the NCAA tournament this year.
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
+1. Michigan has the 3rd best defense in the nation behind Virginia and Cincy per Kenpom.
kaptain80
- STL
Yes but are Izzo's growth plates still open?
They are so clearly the best team in the country. I'm mad that their couple of late losses, probably because they were just bored, threw me off the scent for bracket purposes.
That team lost to St. Johns at home somehow.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I picked scUM to win it all but after watching Nova so far in the tourney I think they will win ...
Nova 72
scUM 65
Nova reminds me of the 2005 Illini with their cohesiveness on offense and finding the best shot passing as needed to get it.....
Brunson would have restored the Illini back to top 25 status all by himself if he had came to UI.....He is deserving of Player of the year and should have a great pro career based on his immense skills..
Nova 72
scUM 65
Nova reminds me of the 2005 Illini with their cohesiveness on offense and finding the best shot passing as needed to get it.....
Brunson would have restored the Illini back to top 25 status all by himself if he had came to UI.....He is deserving of Player of the year and should have a great pro career based on his immense skills..
You know he’s got some skills whenever a 6-3 guard is getting double teamed in the post. I thoight that was great
Villanova also goes against the popular belief of very deep rotations. You really don't need very deep rotation, you create better continuity with shorter rotations. When the going gets tough, Nova goes 6-7 deep, only 6 deep last night.
Every team in the Final 4 went 7 deep max last night.
Every team in the Final 4 went 7 deep max last night.
Thoughtful insight Obelix
Aside from Kansas, I thought the teams played well and together (continuity).
Michigan will need their A game on Monday and Belein will need a great gameplan...both are very possible.
It will be interesting to see if Michigan adopts the UNC game plan of disregarding the drive and going out and aggressively challenging the 3-point shooters. And if Michigan does, how Villanova might respond.
the national
- the Front Range
I bet that tightens by Monday.
They truly have 6 starters. I haven’t watched a whole lot of nova, but I was shocked divencenzo was not a starter. The few times I’ve seen them I assumed he was because he’s so solid. In the open practice I thought it was also pretty clear he was one of their leaders.
Someone else commented about Brunson in the post. About half their open practice was working postups by everyone, all working the exact same move. He was really smooth there, and it just looks cooler/smoother cause he’s left handed.
I agree, DiVincenzo has started less games but plays slightly more minutes than Booth and Spellman. Brunson is one of the smartest/smoothest players I ever have seen at a college level. Tremendous self-control.
OurMottoisOskeeWowWow
- Illinois
Just an FYI, Michigan who will be in the Championship game, lost to LSU (18-15) in the MAUI invitational. LSU finished 9th in the SEC.
Given that SEC sent 8 teams to NCAA and LSU was an NIT team, that is not bad. Michigan also finished 2-1 at Maui, very respectable. With the 2018 Maui field being that strong, finishing 2-1 would take a miracle.
I got Nova in my bracket but am rooting for Michigan.
I pretty much root for all BIG except UM football. I like John Beilien and his Michigan teams play a really enjoyable style of basketball to watch.
Plus the BIG is due for a basketball championship, especially since this was a "down year" in conference.
I pretty much root for all BIG except UM football. I like John Beilien and his Michigan teams play a really enjoyable style of basketball to watch.
Plus the BIG is due for a basketball championship, especially since this was a "down year" in conference.
wILL-INI
- Charlotte, NC
I usually am in the "never root for other B1G schools" school, but im ready to for the ESPN talking heads to stop talking about how a B1G school hasnt won in such and such years.
The secret of their success is the Peruvian Puff Pepper.
Nova lost to St. Johns at home less than two months ago.
Deleted member 628259
D
Guest
Anyone but Michigan
UM by 2
Michigan is going to be leading at the end of the game. Villanova is going to start fouling to send UM to the line under 1 minute and the poor free throw shooting of Michigan will allow Villanova to get back into the game. A missed free throw with 10 seconds left will be rebounded by Villanova while down 2 and Jalen Brunson is going to hit a buzzer beater 3 to win the game.
Pulling for MI here as always want to see a Big Ten team win tournaments or even things like the Big Ten/ACC challenge. Which even the latter has been rough lately.
I know most sneer at the NIT. But would definitely be cool to see B1G win both!