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Michigan Basketball: 3 keys for the Wolverines against Villanova

By Adam Childs

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 10: Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines drives the ball to the basket as Austin Butler #4 of the Holy Cross Crusaders defends during the first half of the game at Crisler Center on November 10, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 10: Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines drives the ball to the basket as Austin Butler #4 of the Holy Cross Crusaders defends during the first half of the game at Crisler Center on November 10, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Michigan Basketball has looked great on defense in their first two games, but their offense needs some work. Can the Wolverines put it all together in their championship game rematch with Villanova?

Matchup: Michigan Wolverines (2-0) at  Villanova Wildcats (2-0)

Date and time: Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. ET

TV schedule: FS1

Location: The Pavilion in Villanova, PA

It’s not often when you get a National Championship rematch the next season, and especially one just three games in. But that is exactly what we are going to get on Wednesday night when the Wolverines travel to Villanova to take on the Wildcats.

Michigan played the Wildcats tough for about 15 minutes in the title game before Villanova and Donte DiVincenzo took over. Villanova was just too much for the Wolverines en route to their second title three years.

Both teams look a lot different this year as they lost players to both graduation and the NBA draft. What they still do have is their outstanding coaches in John Beilein and Jay Wright.

Both teams are ranked and off to a 2-0 start and are looking to get a resume-building win in the early season.

MIchigan comes into this game giving up just 40.5 points per game, but it was against Norfolk State and Holy Cross. Even with the lesser opponents, Michigan has shown that their defensive intensity that carried them to the title game last year is back. They gave up just 13 points in the first half against Norfolk State and followed that up by again giving up just 13 points in the second half against Holy Cross.

Offensively, though, the Wolverines are just averaging just 59.5 points per game and scored a paltry 18 points in the first half against Holy Cross. If not for freshman Ignas Brazdeikis scoring 15 points in the first five minutes of the second half, Michigan might have been upset by the Crusaders. Michigan knew they lost a lot of scoring from last year, but the first half was very ugly. Beilein has always got his teams playing better as the season goes on, he just needs them to pick it up Wednesday if they hope to beat Villanova.

Let’s look at some keys for Michigan to not beat Villanova and get some revenge from their title game loss.

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