Forget about beating No. 3 Michigan at this point. Just making it reasonably close would be an accomplishment.
Villanova will try to buck the odds and figure out a way to not only keep up with the Wolverines but pull off an upset on Tuesday when the Wildcats visit Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan has won four straight games by at least 30 points, including three by at least 40 points. Overall, the Wolverines (8-0) have five victories by 30 or more points.
“When we defend and rebound at the top of our game, and when we make shots, it’s going to simply determine the margin and the size of the margin,” Wolverines coach Dusty May said.
“And the nights they don’t go in, when everything’s going wrong and we’re not finishing around the rim and we’re missing our free throws and we’re missing our threes, that if we can hang our hat on all the other things, the intangibles, then we’ll still be able to find a way to win.”
The blowout streak began with a 94-54 thumping of San Diego State on Nov. 24. The Wolverines then laid two ranked teams to waste over the next two days, pummeling then-No. 21 Auburn 102-72 and then-No. 12 Gonzaga 101-61 in the Players Era men’s championship in Las Vegas.
Michigan opened its Big Ten Conference schedule on Saturday with a 101-60 romp over visiting Rutgers.
Morez Johnson Jr. led six Wolverines in double figures with 22 points against the Scarlet Knights. They shot 60% from the field (39 of 65) while holding Rutgers to 35.8% shooting (24 of 67).
“I like the mindset of our group right now, especially for early December, but we have a long way to go,” May said.
Michigan’s defense is holding opponents to 66.6 points per game, 34.6% shooting overall and 30% from distance. The Wolverines are outrebounding opponents by an average of 45.8-33.0.
They are averaging 94.6 points and shooting 52.8% from the field.
“We’ve got to have a whole Swiss Army knife of weapons and we’re still developing that,” May said.
Villanova (7-1) carries a seven-game winning streak into Ann Arbor. The Wildcats blew out Pennsylvania 90-63 to win the Big Five Classic on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Villanova took control with a 17-2 run to end the first half. Coach Kevin Willard pointed to his perimeter defense as the key to pulling away.
“I told them that the next guy who gives up a three is never playing again,” he said.
The Wildcats are also gifted offensively. They have five players averaging double figures, led by guard Bryce Lindsay at 18.1.
Now, they have to face the hottest team in the country.
“Yeah, I’m looking at Michigan. I don’t think anybody wants to look at Michigan right now, to be perfectly honest with you,” Willard said. “We’ll definitely set the schedule up a little bit differently next year, balance it out a little differently to just have a little bit more balance on it, but I think being at home has been good for this team because we’ve been able to get a little bit of rhythm practice-wise.
“Not traveling gives you some extra time,” he continued. “We have a big test Tuesday against a team that’s playing, by far, the best basketball in the country.”
–Field Level Media
