Michigan Basketball: Instant reactions after an 89-61 drubbing of Villanova

Villanova brought the intensity in the first few minutes of Michigan’s 89-61 win, hawking the ball and playing with an extra bounce in the step as if to say, “if you’re the No. 1 team in the nation, you’re going ot have to prove it tonight.” 

Ten minutes (of playing time) later, th Wolverines were on pace for 120 points, the Wildcats’ only offense was triples from Devin Askew, and their will was essentially crushed by a maie wave that dominated in every facet. 

There was one defensive sequence in particular that brought the crowd to life in the first half. The Wolverines were contesting everything, living in passing lanes, making it tough to do anything off the dribble, recovering and — once again — allowing absolutely nothing in the paint. It was 20-0 (!) at one point in that category, in fact, and the only reason it was within 30, 53-23, at the break was Askew’s tough triples (and it was 30-2 in the paint at that point).

Our instant reactions following the latest drubbing: 

• We were asked on a radio show recently who we might compare this Michigan team to. The only thing that came to mind was the early 1990s UNLV teams with Stacey Augmon, Larry Johnson, Anderson Hunt, etc. They won a national title, but a year later got beat by Duke in the Final Four … so yeah, nobody is unbeatable. 

But this run is unlike anything we’ve ever seen from a Michigan team, including the Fab Five. The defense is tenacious. Nobody takes a possession off, and after six minutes or so, Villanova’s offense was dribble and chuck. They needed a couple tough, improbable threes off the dribble to stay even relatively close. 

• Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau has taken his game to another level. They gave him his first shot and left him alone for his last of the half — both triples — and when his first one drops, that’s usually a good sing for both him and the Wolverines.  

He was aggressive and confident from the get-go, and Villanova didn’t learn. They ducked under a screen and gave him another look at 18:00 — he nailed it to make it 58-26 and had 18 points, was 7-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-6 from long range with 

• With 15:07 remaining, the box score looked like this:

It was Cadeau leading the way, and several others sharing the wealth, just how May likes it. The Wolverines had 15 assists on 25 made baskets at that point and would finish with 17 on 33. The Wildcats had no answer. When they sagged off center Aday Mara, he was still able to find open teammates, including Morez Johnson Jr. for an alley-oop. But whereas these guys were still learning each other’s games early, they’re now anticipating as cutters and know what to expect from one another. It’s beautiful basketball.

• The pace slowed considerably in the second half, and the Wildcats had actually outscored the Wolverines by two in the first 6:30 of the stanza. May is always looking for something to dissect, even in blowout wins, so he’ll probably bring that up in tomorrow’s film session (along with the poor start from the free throw line, 5- for the first 12). As one friend quipped via text, “I don’t know … I don’t like how they play with a 35-point lead. That could come back to haunt them.” And Villanova would actually win the second half.

Still, the Wolverines had several open looks from long range in the second half, but after making 6-of-18 in the first half, they started only 1-for-7 from behind the arc in the second. Villanova, though, was only 4-for-14 to start the second half, 1-for-5 from 2-point range at 11:27. They still couldn’t do anything in the paint. 

And even when they made some progress off the dribble, Michigan’s recovery was ridiculous. Villanova simply couldn’t get good shots. The Wildcats averaged .717 points per possession through the first 32 minutes and Michigan 1.2.

• Johnson Jr. was dominant on the glass again, notching 10 rebounds in the first 32 minutes. At that point in the game, Villanova had only managed 5 offensive rebounds, content to get back and slow the Michigan break. The Wolverines also worked the offensive glass, though, and had 15 second-chance points on 11 offensive caroms.

• Redshirt frosh forward Oscar Goodman has been aggressive in each of his late stints, and he’s become a fan favorite. He attacks the rim and isn’t hesitant, showing signs he’ll be a player. He only notched a defensive and offensive rebound in his limited play Tuesday, but as another friend noted, “the bench guys they bring in late are not even scrubs. Unreal roster management.”

“Oscar’s a good basketball player,” May said when we asked him yesterday about his aggressive play> “When we saw him playing for his national team, we thought he was unique … a good driver, and he had great pop and force off two feet. He could stop quick and elevate, and we thought that’s a weapon, and he’s added a really consistent three-point jump shot … his jump shooting’s gotten a lot better.

“His ability to move laterally has improved greatly. I think the next step for him is to really, I guess, embrace Morez’s physicality and tenaciousness. If he can add that at a consistent level, then he’s going to be a real weapon for us.”

If anything were to happen to the other bigs, he added, he has no doubt Goodman could give them solid minutes.

• Finally, at 3:00 and Michigan up 83-49, the Maize Rage started the “Dusty May!” chants. And we’ll say. What he’s accomplished in his short time here has been remarkable.