The Game

can keep it close until halftime, they can win.  No one, and I mean no one, is better at the halftime adjustments than John Beilein. And if Michigan leads at halftime?  It will be a good day for Michigan basketball.  

 

 

>10 games since 1985 where the spread has been 6 or more. The undy has won 4.

If at ANY point in this season before say, mid-March, you would have told me that we'd have a ~40% shot at winning the National Title, I would have laughted at you and directed you to drug rehab. 

I'll TAKE IT!!!!
 

they have pulverized most of their compeition and will be a very hard win.  But if we've seen anything this season, it's that this Michigan team can beat anyone when they are on.  Purdue with Haas was a viable championship contender.  Michigan trounced them in the tournament.  Michigan State (yeah yeah, I know the result) was picked by many to be the team to beat and Michigan ran them out of the building twice.  Michigan can beat Villanova.  They just need to show up as BTT Michigan or Texas A&M Michigan. They have to make the shots that are open.  Do that, and it will be a good night.

If Duncan hits 2 threes in the first half I am confident we will be within striking distance or the lead at half. Is Villanova more talented than MSU or Purdue? Yes, but not by much and we showed that we can handle Those teams.

After seeing this title I thought the post would simply say: WIN IT.

I thought this post was going to be about, you know The Game... Michigan Ohio State football. I can't be the only one that thought that.

Moe hits his first 3 and Duncan gets to 6 early. That way we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that we’re going to win.

this is a huge game, but The Game only happens once a year.

Sure Beilein has studied. 

Need to limit their 3.  We just need enough enough 3s to keep them honest.  High % 2s and make FTs.  All starts with a D NOVA has not seen.  Leave it on the floor.  Go Blue!

I don't worry about the defense - it's in SA and will be ready to go tonight.  The only thing that worries me is how they will shoot.  A poor shooting night is doom, despite however good the defense might be.  But if they're hitting...

Whhooooo BOY!!!

i'm starting to think people are giving Villanova a bit too much credit now. They're a good team without question and best team in the country, but this isn't exactly 1991 UNLV either. It's already lost 4 times to teams not as good as Michigan, and we've been a top 5 team by the metrics since January. This isn't a game we need to hope to hang around in and steal. This is a game we can flat out win if we defend the way we've been defending all year and execute on offense. Villanova is rightfully favored, but it's not a situation where we need to play the game of our lives to have a chance, although that would certainly help.

*

Villanova has averaged almost 85 points a game during this tournament, beating their opponents by an average of almost 18 points a game.  This will easily be Michigan's toughest opponent of the season.  They have to shoot well.  HAVE TO.  Duncan, Moe, MAAR have to knock down those open 3's if we're to have a shot at winning tonight.  And the scary thing is that even if we do come out shooting well, if 'Nova has a repeat of that Kansas game, we still may not have enought artillery to take them down.

And yet, I believe.  Despite all the numbers to the contrary, I still believe.

Go Blue.  Shoot the lights out.