Michigan Will Battle Villanova In Sweet 16 Matchup
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In the NCAA Tournament, the Michigan men’s basketball team has continued its recent trend of elevating their performance to a higher level.
For the fifth consecutive tournament, Michigan has secured a spot in the Sweet 16. Their next challenge lies ahead as they face Villanova on Thursday, with the opportunity to secure an Elite 8 berth.
The South Region semifinal is set to begin at 7:29 p.m. on TBS.
Michigan vs. Villanova betting odds
The Wildcats, seeded second, were favored to win against the Wolverines, who were seeded eleventh.
Michigan is considered an underdog by -points and is listed at on the moneyline.
The moneyline for Villanova is favorable.
According to BetMGM, early wagers for the Sweet 16 indicate a strong preference for Villanova, making them the third most bet team.
A majority of online sports bettors at BetMGM were favoring Villanova against the spread, with 68% of bets and 78% of the handle being placed on the team.
Villanova led by veterans
The Wildcats boast a well-rounded offense, with six players averaging over 8.5 points per game, and among those six, five are upperclassmen.
Collin Gillespie, the senior guard, sets the pace with an average of 16 points and 3.4 assists per game. He showcases exceptional shooting skills, converting 41.6% of his 3-point attempts throughout the season.
Justin Moore, the junior guard, maintains a scoring average of 15 points and secures an average of 4.9 rebounds per game.
The regular players of Villanova lack significant height, with their tallest member being Eric Dixon, a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward.
Villanova emerged victorious in their second-round game against Ohio State, despite a strong comeback attempt in the second half. The Wildcats sealed a 71-61 victory this past Sunday, bringing their season record to 28-7. Notably, they had an impressive early-season triumph over Tennessee. However, three of their losses occurred during the nonconference schedule, specifically against UCLA, Purdue, and Baylor.
Michigan peaking at the right time
Michigan appears to be living up to its preseason expectations, as evidenced by its recent tournament victories over Colorado State and Tennessee. These wins mark the first time Michigan has achieved back-to-back victories since Feb. 8 and 10, when it triumphed over Penn State and Purdue.
The Wolverines have managed to achieve their success despite the absence of guard DeVante Jones for most of the time. Due to a concussion, he was unable to participate in the tournament opener, and he had to leave the second-round game against Tennessee due to illness. However, it is anticipated that he will be back and ready to play on Thursday.
In their first two tournament games, Hunter Dickinson has emerged as the central figure for the Wolverines. He showcased his dominance by delivering an outstanding performance against Tennessee, scoring 27 points and securing 11 rebounds.
Dickinson is likely to receive ample opportunities to shine once again, given Villanova’s limited size.
However, in Jones’ absence, the guards have risen to the occasion. Frankie Collins showcased his strength against Colorado State, while Eli Brooks took charge against Tennessee. Notably, Brooks scored an impressive 23 points against the Volunteers, including a game-changing sky hook during the final moments.
