The first true test of the season is finally on the horizon. Michigan travels out to Pennsylvania to take on Villanova in a rematch of last season's National Championship game. Both sides are much changed, but the strongest elements of either team from last season also remain, with some tweaks of course.
Villanova -- An Overview:
Villanova have started the year off strong going 2-0 and jumping a spot to #8 in the nation according to the AP Poll. They beat Morgan State in their season opener with no serious trouble, but really found no resistance from Quinnipiac, beating them by 33 in the Wells Fargo Center. The spotlight has been on Phil Booth so far this season, but Eric Paschall has been right there with him as the two key threats. Villanova has gone deeper than Michigan, giving minutes that matter to nine players, eight of whom have averaged in double figures over the first two games. Villanova lost four players to the NBA Draft (Jalen Brunson - the NCAA's PotY last season, Mikal Bridges, Omari Spellman, and Donte DiVincenzo - tormentor of Michigan in the final last season). They are younger than a usual Villanova team, but that does not mean less talented.
Starting Five:
Any preview of Villanova has to start with Phil Booth. The 6'3" redshirt senior has gone from the fifth starter on last season's team to the man of the hour for Jay Wright's Wildcats. Selected to the Preseason All Big East Second Team, Booth has been the leading minute getter, scorer, assister, and shooter through the first two games. A key leader on last season's team, even earning captain-ship on the team, and finally fully healthy, the dividends have been showing. Booth does a lot well, not just shooting. When he went one-for-six from three against Morgan State, he affected the game inside the perimeter and through senior leadership. He then bounced back with a three-for-six night against Quinnipiac. The key for him is consistent all-around performances. He has been the highest-volume shooter for the Wildcats, which makes me feel this could be an interesting match-up against Zavier Simpson. This game, to me, feels like an important game more for Simpson than Booth. For Booth, a strong performance means he has a massive building block for the rest of the season. For Simpson, it's a chance to prove he is one of the best defensive guards in the country. This should be fun to watch.
Calling Eric Paschall the deputy to Booth would not be giving the redshirt senior his due credit. The 6'8" forward is just as important to this team as Booth, providing added veteran leadership to go with his game. Paschall was named to the Preseason All Big East First Team and currently sits second in the team in scoring as well as the leading rebounder. Paschall struggled from deep to start last season making just two shots in all of the 2017 portion of last season, but he eventually heated up, the capper being a four-for-five, 24-point night against Kansas in the Final Four last season. He scored 26 in the season opener, helped greatly by 11-for-12 shooting from the free throw line, and there should certainly be more to come this season from Paschall. Wright told Blue Ribbon that he wanted Paschall to "play like a guard" which offers a major challenge for this Michigan team. With Paschall able to bring the ball up, shoot, and rebound well, he makes things so difficult to prepare for as the second-biggest man of this version of a starting five. I'm watching Ignas Brazdeikis to start the game guarding him, Isaiah Livers to get some chances, but also Charles Matthews on some switches.
Delving into the more junior players of the starting rotation, we start with sophomore Collin Gillespie. Gillespie has made the sophomore jump going from bench piece to starter and done so quite well. Standing 6'3" and being a top defender, Gillespie has shown more than just defensive chops thus far. Going four-from-six from deep against Quinnipiac is just a glimpse into what he can offer this side. I'm watching for him to be tasking with limiting Jordan Poole's offensive output. Poole has been an important playmaker this season for Michigan and putting a tight defensive presence on him makes the most sense. Averaging eleven points per game thus far is a big leap from the 4.3 per game last season. It will be an important season of development for Gillespie, who is going to be 'the guy' certainly at least as a senior for Villanova.
While Jay Wright has been swapping starters in the first two games, one man whose certainly impressed this season is grad transfer Joe Cremo. The senior who had a decorated career at Albany stands at 6'4" and creates interesting match-ups at the wing position. Cremo is a three-point specialist thus far at Nova, all but one of his attempts from the field have been behind the arc. He's five-for-ten thus far, and he has all the poise of a true senior. He's a great complimentary piece for this Villanova team. Once 'the guy' over in Albany, he is no longer the go-to guy, but he's integral in creating floor spacing issues for Wright's squad. Jordan Poole is probably the guy to guard Cremo, even if Cremo does not guard the more athletic Poole. Sticking with Cremo off screens and all over the floor will be a tough task, but the hope is that Poole can do it well.
The second forward seems to be toughest to predict for this Nova side, but rounding it out I reckon we will see sophomore Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree. Starter in the second game of the season, Cosby-Roundtree has played starters minutes as a 6'9" big man alongside Paschall. Cosby-Roundtree is a strong rebounder who doesn't take as many shots as the other members of the starting line-up, but that's not a bad thing. He offers energy and size as a big man and plays very well around the basket. That said, going up against Jon Teske under the rim is never an easy task. He's going to need to rely on some good footwork and the ability to trick Teske with interior post moves if he is going to be successful playing his game.
Off the Bench:
The most notable man coming off the bench is freshman Jahvon Quinerly. A former Arizona commit and the #26 recruit in the 2019 class, the 6'1" point guard has needed to adjust to the college game in the early goings. He's just two-for-ten from the field, nine of those being from deep, for a combined seven points and four assists. He is just so young though that the minutes he is getting right now are crucial. He's a speedy point man that offers a ton in his game, most of which hasn't been prevalent in the Villanova point men of days before, and even in Phil Booth to an extent. Quinerly will play a role off the bench and his development throughout this season will be important for this Wildcats team.
The most impactful man off the bench title belongs to Saddiq Bey. Bey was very good off the bench in the opener with 16 points and three-for-five shooting from deep. 6'8" and lanky with a nice jumper, questions will be asked of how he is going to adjust against tougher opposition, but he should certainly see some decent minutes off the bench against Michigan. This offers Wright an opportunity to test a freshman who has been a pleasant surprise with not just the point production, which is almost secondary, but his defensive and rebounding ability. A former NC State commit, he has offered Wright plenty this season.
Jermaine Samuels tallied 26 minutes against Quinnipiac and will definitely figure into plans for Nova this season. A 6'7" sophomore forward, he's not afraid to shoot the ball, going three-for-nine from deep in the season up to now, but also does fantastic work rebounding, averaging 6.5 per game in the first two of this season. Wright, in Blue Ribbon, says Samuels' key is "taking the next step" and that seems to be well in motion with plenty of quality minutes played by him this season to this point.
Cole Swider was recruited by Michigan, once upon a time. Instead, the 6'9" freshman ended up at Villanova and has seen double-digit minutes in both games. He has seen freshman struggles with just one of his eleven shots dropping, and none of his six threes, but the big man is all about getting strong (he weighs just 210 pounds) and getting experience this season. He is a nice bench piece, but also look for Dylan Painter to get minutes. A starter in the opener, he's played limited minutes but the redshirt sophomore stands 6'11" and is more physically prepared to play with the bigger players of the NCAA.
Pre-Game Thoughts:
This figures to be an intense, emotionally charged game for the Wolverines. I the players from this Michigan team last season will want to avenge that National Championship loss, especially those on the team last season. Michigan has struggled on offense, and Villanova has looked quite good. For Michigan to succeed, I think they need to make no mistakes on defense but also find some sort of rhythm from deep. I don't dislike any of the match-ups on defense for the Wolverines, but you truly never now. I think we'll definitely see more Brazdeikis/Livers together at power forward and center together with the smaller Villanova team that likes to shoot the three, as we saw against Holy Cross. This is not a make or break game for Michigan, but a road win against this team is only going to look better and better once Villanova hits peak form.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
Villanova -- An Overview:
Villanova have started the year off strong going 2-0 and jumping a spot to #8 in the nation according to the AP Poll. They beat Morgan State in their season opener with no serious trouble, but really found no resistance from Quinnipiac, beating them by 33 in the Wells Fargo Center. The spotlight has been on Phil Booth so far this season, but Eric Paschall has been right there with him as the two key threats. Villanova has gone deeper than Michigan, giving minutes that matter to nine players, eight of whom have averaged in double figures over the first two games. Villanova lost four players to the NBA Draft (Jalen Brunson - the NCAA's PotY last season, Mikal Bridges, Omari Spellman, and Donte DiVincenzo - tormentor of Michigan in the final last season). They are younger than a usual Villanova team, but that does not mean less talented.
Starting Five:
Any preview of Villanova has to start with Phil Booth. The 6'3" redshirt senior has gone from the fifth starter on last season's team to the man of the hour for Jay Wright's Wildcats. Selected to the Preseason All Big East Second Team, Booth has been the leading minute getter, scorer, assister, and shooter through the first two games. A key leader on last season's team, even earning captain-ship on the team, and finally fully healthy, the dividends have been showing. Booth does a lot well, not just shooting. When he went one-for-six from three against Morgan State, he affected the game inside the perimeter and through senior leadership. He then bounced back with a three-for-six night against Quinnipiac. The key for him is consistent all-around performances. He has been the highest-volume shooter for the Wildcats, which makes me feel this could be an interesting match-up against Zavier Simpson. This game, to me, feels like an important game more for Simpson than Booth. For Booth, a strong performance means he has a massive building block for the rest of the season. For Simpson, it's a chance to prove he is one of the best defensive guards in the country. This should be fun to watch.
Calling Eric Paschall the deputy to Booth would not be giving the redshirt senior his due credit. The 6'8" forward is just as important to this team as Booth, providing added veteran leadership to go with his game. Paschall was named to the Preseason All Big East First Team and currently sits second in the team in scoring as well as the leading rebounder. Paschall struggled from deep to start last season making just two shots in all of the 2017 portion of last season, but he eventually heated up, the capper being a four-for-five, 24-point night against Kansas in the Final Four last season. He scored 26 in the season opener, helped greatly by 11-for-12 shooting from the free throw line, and there should certainly be more to come this season from Paschall. Wright told Blue Ribbon that he wanted Paschall to "play like a guard" which offers a major challenge for this Michigan team. With Paschall able to bring the ball up, shoot, and rebound well, he makes things so difficult to prepare for as the second-biggest man of this version of a starting five. I'm watching Ignas Brazdeikis to start the game guarding him, Isaiah Livers to get some chances, but also Charles Matthews on some switches.
Delving into the more junior players of the starting rotation, we start with sophomore Collin Gillespie. Gillespie has made the sophomore jump going from bench piece to starter and done so quite well. Standing 6'3" and being a top defender, Gillespie has shown more than just defensive chops thus far. Going four-from-six from deep against Quinnipiac is just a glimpse into what he can offer this side. I'm watching for him to be tasking with limiting Jordan Poole's offensive output. Poole has been an important playmaker this season for Michigan and putting a tight defensive presence on him makes the most sense. Averaging eleven points per game thus far is a big leap from the 4.3 per game last season. It will be an important season of development for Gillespie, who is going to be 'the guy' certainly at least as a senior for Villanova.
While Jay Wright has been swapping starters in the first two games, one man whose certainly impressed this season is grad transfer Joe Cremo. The senior who had a decorated career at Albany stands at 6'4" and creates interesting match-ups at the wing position. Cremo is a three-point specialist thus far at Nova, all but one of his attempts from the field have been behind the arc. He's five-for-ten thus far, and he has all the poise of a true senior. He's a great complimentary piece for this Villanova team. Once 'the guy' over in Albany, he is no longer the go-to guy, but he's integral in creating floor spacing issues for Wright's squad. Jordan Poole is probably the guy to guard Cremo, even if Cremo does not guard the more athletic Poole. Sticking with Cremo off screens and all over the floor will be a tough task, but the hope is that Poole can do it well.
The second forward seems to be toughest to predict for this Nova side, but rounding it out I reckon we will see sophomore Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree. Starter in the second game of the season, Cosby-Roundtree has played starters minutes as a 6'9" big man alongside Paschall. Cosby-Roundtree is a strong rebounder who doesn't take as many shots as the other members of the starting line-up, but that's not a bad thing. He offers energy and size as a big man and plays very well around the basket. That said, going up against Jon Teske under the rim is never an easy task. He's going to need to rely on some good footwork and the ability to trick Teske with interior post moves if he is going to be successful playing his game.
Off the Bench:
The most notable man coming off the bench is freshman Jahvon Quinerly. A former Arizona commit and the #26 recruit in the 2019 class, the 6'1" point guard has needed to adjust to the college game in the early goings. He's just two-for-ten from the field, nine of those being from deep, for a combined seven points and four assists. He is just so young though that the minutes he is getting right now are crucial. He's a speedy point man that offers a ton in his game, most of which hasn't been prevalent in the Villanova point men of days before, and even in Phil Booth to an extent. Quinerly will play a role off the bench and his development throughout this season will be important for this Wildcats team.
The most impactful man off the bench title belongs to Saddiq Bey. Bey was very good off the bench in the opener with 16 points and three-for-five shooting from deep. 6'8" and lanky with a nice jumper, questions will be asked of how he is going to adjust against tougher opposition, but he should certainly see some decent minutes off the bench against Michigan. This offers Wright an opportunity to test a freshman who has been a pleasant surprise with not just the point production, which is almost secondary, but his defensive and rebounding ability. A former NC State commit, he has offered Wright plenty this season.
Jermaine Samuels tallied 26 minutes against Quinnipiac and will definitely figure into plans for Nova this season. A 6'7" sophomore forward, he's not afraid to shoot the ball, going three-for-nine from deep in the season up to now, but also does fantastic work rebounding, averaging 6.5 per game in the first two of this season. Wright, in Blue Ribbon, says Samuels' key is "taking the next step" and that seems to be well in motion with plenty of quality minutes played by him this season to this point.
Cole Swider was recruited by Michigan, once upon a time. Instead, the 6'9" freshman ended up at Villanova and has seen double-digit minutes in both games. He has seen freshman struggles with just one of his eleven shots dropping, and none of his six threes, but the big man is all about getting strong (he weighs just 210 pounds) and getting experience this season. He is a nice bench piece, but also look for Dylan Painter to get minutes. A starter in the opener, he's played limited minutes but the redshirt sophomore stands 6'11" and is more physically prepared to play with the bigger players of the NCAA.
Pre-Game Thoughts:
This figures to be an intense, emotionally charged game for the Wolverines. I the players from this Michigan team last season will want to avenge that National Championship loss, especially those on the team last season. Michigan has struggled on offense, and Villanova has looked quite good. For Michigan to succeed, I think they need to make no mistakes on defense but also find some sort of rhythm from deep. I don't dislike any of the match-ups on defense for the Wolverines, but you truly never now. I think we'll definitely see more Brazdeikis/Livers together at power forward and center together with the smaller Villanova team that likes to shoot the three, as we saw against Holy Cross. This is not a make or break game for Michigan, but a road win against this team is only going to look better and better once Villanova hits peak form.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
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