Overview
 
No team in college basketball had created more recent buzz than Michigan, beginning with a breathtaking performance in Las Vegas at the Players Era event that included a trio of 30-point plus victories, including two over ranked teams. They carried that into Big Ten play with a 101-61 win over Rutgers last Saturday.
 
Tuesday night, Villanova saw firsthand what all the fuss was about.
 
Powered by a smooth-running offense and tenacious defense, it built a 53-23 halftime lead on its way to an 89-61 triumph over Villanova in a non-conference tussle at Crisler Center.
 
Michigan's Roll Continued
 
A Tyler Perkins 3-pointer and a Duke Brennan free throw gave the Wildcats an early 4-3 lead, but the Wolverines wasted little time in re-taking the lead, moving on top 6-4 at the 17:10 mark of the first half. A driving dunk by 7-5 Aday Mara pushed the advantage to 8-4. Elliott Cadeau followed with a driving layup before Devin Askew sank a triple to cut the deficit in half, 10-7.
 
Then came a 9-0 run by the Wolverines that stretched the advantage to 19-7 in a 54-second span after the official media timeout came at 15:06.
 
Villanova head coach Kevin Willard called for a timeout.
 
Another Wolverine basket made it 21-7 before Acaden Lewis sank a short jumper for the Wildcats.
 
When Cadeau sank another triple, the Wolverines were on top 24-9.
 
Devin Deals a Counter Point
 
Villanova's grad transfer, Askew, drained consecutive 3-pointers as part of a personal 7-0 surge that narrowed the deficit to 24-16 after nine minutes of game action.
 
Michigan's offensive efficiency, however, again served it well. The Wolverines sank 11-of-18 field goal attempts to open the game, including 4-of-8 from long distance to push their lead up to 29-16. Willard utilized his second timeout before the midway point of the first half.
 
Michigan's D Stands Tall
 
The Wolverines' length presented issues for Villanova at the other end of the court. Even with Askew's heroics, the Wildcats were just 5-of-17 from the field, and the margin was soon 35-16 with 8:09 on the first half clock.
 
Michigan's fifth triple of the evening made it 38-16 and a free throw after the official timeout made it 39-16.
 
The Wolverines defense held Villanova without a point over the final 6:32 of the period. When the horn sounded at halftime, the Michigan lead was 53-23.
 
The Wildcats were 8-of-29 from the field in the first 20 minutes, including 3-of-16 from inside the arc as Michigan's size made its impact felt. Askew had 15 of the Wildcats 23 points.
 
Meanwhile, Michigan was 22-of-39 from the field for the half with a 25-14 advantage on the glass.
 
After Intermission
 
Duke Brennan was whistled for two fouls in the first 90 seconds of the second stanza and headed to the bench with four fouls. Bryce Lindsay dropped in his first 3-pointer of the night a short while later.
 
Freshmen guard Lewis and Chris Jeffrey were able to generate some points in the final 10 minutes. Jeffrey finished with 12 points while Lewis ended the night with 11 points.
 
What They Said
 
Head Coach Kevin Willard: "Everyone talks about their offense, but everything is predictated off of their defense. They switch great and they have pretty much two rim protectors on the court at all times. They are so well connected defensively right now and I saw that on film.
 
"You try to get some 3-point looks but it's hard because they are so well connected defensively."
 
Villanova returns to action Saturday at Finneran Pavilion against Pittsburgh.