Villanova Takes On Michigan In The National Title Game
It was two years ago that Kris Jenkins of Villanova hit the game winner to beat North Carolina in the National Title game at NRG Stadium in Houston Texas.
In 2018 Villanova who is the top seed in the East region and a member of the Big East Conference is back in the national title game where they will face the third seed Michigan Monday night who is in the West Region and a member of the Big Ten Conference.
Villanova comes into the national title game with a record of 35-4 "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/nova-m-baskbl-sched.html after dismantling Kansas.
A sizzling start that saw Villanova outscore Kansas 22-4 in the game's early minutes, helped lift the Wildcats to a double digit lead it never relinquished. The result was a 95-79 victory over the Jayhawks (31-8 overall) that propels VU into Monday night's NCAA Championship game against Michigan, a victor earlier in the evening at the Alamodome over Loyola. "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
The Wildcats (35-4 overall) shattered a Final Four record by dropping in 18 3-pointers, five more than the previous high water contest. Villanova was 18-of-40 from long range on the night (.450). "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
''Well, that was just one of those nights where we made shots,'' Wildcats head coach Jay Wright said. "But I thought our defense was key, especially early." "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
Junior Eric Paschall converted 10-of-11 field goal attempts and finished with a Villanova career high 24 points. His only miss of the night was actually a make that was waved off by the officials who deemed it to have come after the shot clock had expired. In NCAA annals, only UCLA's Bill Walton had a more accurate shooting night in a Final Four, when he converted 21-of-22 in 1973."according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
In addition to Paschall, five other Wildcats finished in double figures, led by junior Jalen Brunson (18 points, six assists) and Omari Spellman (15 points and a game high 13 rebounds). "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
After Udoka Azubuike scored on Kansas' first possession, the Wildcats responded with a flurry of offense. Three pointers from Paschall, Mikal Bridges and Spellman helped boost Villanova to a 9-2 lead. The Jayhawks signaled for a timeout after the last in that sequence, with 17:13 on the first half clock."according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
Crisp passing and accuracy from deep helped Villanova extend its lead to 22-4 before Kansas responded with a 7-0 burst to close the deficit to 22-11 at the midway point of the first half. By that point, 13 of VU's first 16 field goal attempts came from beyond the 3-point arc (they made six)."according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
''As good a team as I've played against that I can remember,'' Kansas head coach Bill Self said. ''We got spread out on defense. The game plan went to crap. You get caught in between on defense, and it's the worst thing you can do.'' "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
Yet the Wildcats had a response of their own, this one centering on the long ball. VU once again heated up from distance and built a 34-20 advantage with 6:52 to play in the first period. Villanova drained 10 3-pointers in the contest's first 13 minutes (in 18 attempts). "according tohttp://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
The Wildcats kept the pressure on for the entire 20 minutes. When halftime arrived, VU held a 47-32 lead and had already tied the NCAA Final Four record for 3-pointers in a game with 13. Brunson, named winner of the Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association Player of the Year awards this week, led VU with 13 points at intermission. "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
Devonte Graham heated up early in the second half with a trio of 3-pointers but 10 points from Paschall - including a pair of 3-pointers - helped Villanova retain its advantage. After a Spellman 3-pointer from the left side after 6:30 of the second half, the Wildcats held a 65-44 lead. "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
They were never threatened again. "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
''If we didn't get stops, it was getting back to being a five- or six-point game,'' Wright said."according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
Kansas was led by All-American Devonte Graham's 23 points. "according to http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033118aaa.html
Meanwhile Michigan comes into the national title game with a record of 33-7 "according to http://mgoblue.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball
A relentless second-half defensive stand and some special play from Moritz Wagner propelled Michigan to the national championship game as the Wolverines downed Loyola Chicago by a score of 69-57 at a sold out Alamodome Saturday night (March 31)."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Michigan, which extended its single-season record for victories (33-7), will play in its seventh national championship game with the Wolverines going against Villanova. "according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Leading by seven points at the break, Loyola (32-6) immediately went to work in the second half, using a traditional three-point play to claim a 32-22 lead to open the stanza."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Michigan quickly started to regain its footing. Duncan Robinson broke a 2-for-15 team shooting skid from long range with a transition triple to creep within 34-27 at the 17:30 mark. After Loyola regained a double-digit lead at 41-31 on a pair of buckets from Clayton Custer, U-M continued its charge as Jaaron Simmons "according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
» Moritz Wagner became just the third player to score at least 20 points (24) and 15 rebounds in a national semifinal game and the first since 1983.
» Michigan forced five consecutive Loyola turnovers during a critical 12-0 run in the second half.
» Michigan advances to its seventh national championship game appearance and first time since 2013.
» Michigan set a single season record with its 33rd victory.
» Michigan is one of the hottest teams in the country, having won 14 straight games -- 11 of which have come away from home
» Michigan is 10-5 when trailing at halftime "according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
connected from the corner in front of the U-M bench to make it a 43-27 game with 11:25 to play. "according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Coming out of the under-12 timeout, Custer sank a pair of free throws but Robinson brought the U-M faithful to their feet when he stuck a second-chance triple from the wing to prompt a Loyola timeout at the 10:06 mark with the score at 45-42. "according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
A driving layup from Jordan Poole kept the deficit at three, 47-44, when play stooped for a Loyola injury. Michigan's defense dominated from that point forward with Poole's bucket part of a 12-0 run during which the defense forced five straight Loyola turnovers."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
The first turnover ignited a raucous Michigan crowd as Wagner delivered a clutch triple from the corner to knot the game at 47 with 6:44 to go."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Poole then gave U-M the lead, 49-47 -- its first lead since early in the game -- with a pair of free throws and John Beilein's defense then forced its third straight turnover followed by a driving reverse baseline layup from Charles Matthews to make it a 51-47 lead with 5:48 to play.according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
After forcing its fifth straight takeaway, Wagner struck again with a traditional three-point play with less than five minutes to go."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Ben Richardson tried to bring Loyola back when his jumper cut the deficit to 56-51 at the 2:50 mark, but Wagner answered again with a triple from the top of the arc, followed by a driving layup from Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman. After a Loyola bucket, Michigan put the game out of reach when a long outlet pass found Matthews wide open for a dunk. By the time the cheers had waned, Michigan had rattled the Ramblers with a 21-6 decisive spurt."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Michigan forced 17 turnovers against a team that averaged 12 per game during the season. Similarly, a 40-percent shooting team from long range managed just a 1-of-10 mark from deep against the Wolverines."according tohttp://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Wagner was special throughout the game, even when the majority of his team was not. The big man finished the night with 24 points (10-16 FG) and 15 rebounds, becoming just the third player to go for at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in a national semifinal game, and the first since 1983."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Matthews also contributed a special effort; the Chicago native logged 17 points (7-12 FG) and five rebounds."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
A pair of early triples from Wagner and Matthews staked Michigan to a 6-4 lead at the under-16 timeout. Wagner's triple came as part of a 10-0 run highlighted by put-back buckets from Wagner and Jon Teske to force a Loyola timeout with 12:38 to play in a 12-4 game."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Michigan owned the boards early, doubling-up the Ramblers by, 12-6, and gained seven second-chance points just eight minutes into the game. The Wolverines could not sustain the advantage, as Loyola made five of its next seven shots and went on a 13-3 run to claim a 19-15 lead following a Marques Towns layup with 5:23 to go. Only a pair of hard-fought put-back layups from Wagner kept U-M close as the higher seeded team endured a dreadful 9-of-13 shooting half, including a 2-of-13 mark from deep (.154) with eight uncharacteristic turnovers."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
By making 8-of-13 down the stretch in the first half, Loyola extended the advantage to 25-19 with 2:45 to go, prompting a U-M timeout. The cold stretch continued for Michigan and a last-second floater from Loyola's Donta Ingram gave the Ramblers their largest lead of the game at 29-22 going into halftime. Wagner (11) and Matthews (8) combined for 19 of Michigan's 22 first-half points with the rest of the team shooting a combined 1-of-13. "according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Loyola was led by Cameron Krutwig's 17 points (7-11 FG) while Custer logged 15 and Andre Jackson had 10 off the bench."according to http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/3/31/mens-basketball-wolverines-take-down-loyola-chicago-to-advance-to-ncaa-championship-game.aspx?path=mbball
Tip-off is set for 9:20pm. The game will be televised on TBS. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard