In reality, while, yes, some makeable shots were missed, Villanova had plenty to do with it. All told, they finished 10-of-26 at the rim. The sophomore scored 21 (8-of-9 field goals) in a first-round win over Colorado State and 27 (8-of-13) in a second-round win over Tennessee.Īgainst Villanova, Dickinson finished with his fewest made field goals in a month - six on 16 shot attempts - and 15 points. It will be said that he and the Wolverines simply missed a slew of bunnies and layups. The Wolverines planned to ride Dickinson to the Elite Eight. Let’s start there - Michigan’s biggest strength. Those non-negotiables: defense, good decisions, perfect passes, the relentless pursuit of loose balls and long rebounds, big shots in big spots and nullifying an opponent’s biggest strength. It operated with the charmed bliss of its self-made conformity. Villanova? Well, Villanova beat Michigan by doing what Villanova always does nowadays. All three might declare for this spring’s draft. The Wolverines have sex appeal with a 7-foot-2 All-America center in Hunter Dickinson and two projected draft picks in Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houston. “They’re robots.”Īnd be clear, while these cyborg Wildcats were a better team than Michigan on Thursday, they were not, as far as NBA scouts say, as talented as Michigan. “These guys are like machines,” Anderson said, cocking an eyebrow. Whereas the ’09 group partied all over the floor in Boston after beating Duke in that Sweet 16, this group celebrated its 63-55 win over Michigan as if it’d just made quick work of Lehigh in a November non-conference affair. The difference is that ’09 team was the first to do it under Jay Wright and changed the trajectory for the Villanova program, while this one entered into the jet stream born from back then. What it is, is a modern version of those 2009 Wildcats. It’s amazing because this Villanova team is not like the Villanova title teams six or four years ago. You don’t know if we’re up or if we’re down.” A member of the Cats’ 2009 Final Four team, the now-Nova assistant said 24 hours before Thursday’s matchup with Michigan: “It’s amazing watching them at the end of a game.
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