Automatic reading

Thumbnails poster

Show captions

Last slide next

Michigan Wolverines striker Ignas Brazdeikis (13) reacts with striker Isaiah Livers (4) and goaltender Zavier Simpson (3) after scoring against the Villanova Wildcats in the first half at Finneran Hall , Wednesday, November 14, 2018(Photo: Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports)

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Not a lot, or maybe nobody expected it.

Well, maybe Zavier Simpson and Charles Matthews did it.

Michigan basketball went to Philadelphia and eliminated defending national champion Villanova 73-46.

This is not something you see every day.

It's still early in the season, but the 18th-ranked Wolverines proved effective against a top-10 team in a hostile environment.

Here are three points to remember from Michigan's win over No. 8 Villanova.

Michigan's defense is incredible

In the match for the national title of April, the defense of the Michigan elite was torn apart by Villanova.

Of course, the Wildcats have suffered losses in the off season, but the team this season should be very good.

And Michigan treated them.

Villanova returned the ball 21 times. The Wolverines scored 25 points on these turnovers.

Michigan challenged every shot. The Wolverines have rotated their ball screens and do not seem to be suffering from deplorable attacks. They did not return. When Villanova came to the limit, things got even more complicated: Michigan had five blocks in the first period.

The biggest difference: a formation of small balls.

Michigan led, 17-8, at the 10:15 mark when he went to Isaiah Livers 6-foot-7 in the center.

When Jon Teske was replaced by 25 seconds to play in the first half, the Wolverines led by 27.

With Livers, Michigan's already stingy defense became even more difficult to score. And the match was over before both teams returned to their locker room for halftime.

Offense superior to his

A question that arose in this game was how Michigan's offensive would react to Villanova's inevitable run.

Well, this race never happened because Michigan scored 44 points and averaged 1.48 points per possession in the first half.

Matthews hit a pair of hard turning jumpers, had a huge booster dunk and arrived at the rim early and often. He led with 16 points on 7 shots out of 9 in the first period.

Simpson could attack as he pleased against Villanova's guards.

Then, Michigan got four three-pointers, one from Jordan Poole and Eli Brooks, and two from Livers.

After some failures against the Norfolk and Holy Cross states, Michigan's offensive is woken up on the biggest possible stage.

Small pieces count

Villanova made a fast race early in the second half. After a turnover in Michigan, the Wildcats had a chance to score in transition.

But Poole turned to make a pass near the middle of the field. Michigan picked up the ball and Simpson found Livers for a layup.

These types of rooms were common all night. Michigan won almost every ball at 50-50 and grabbed a handful of hard offensive rebounds that led straight to the points.

Later in the second half, after the crowd returned to the match, Simpson stole a ball from Collin Gillespie. It was a matter of pure effort.

In general, it seemed that Michigan wanted more. Much more.

Contact Orion Sang: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang.

More: Jalen Wilson and Cole Bajema signed to basketball in Michigan

More: John Beilein repaired his heart during the off season. I did it too.