VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Shortly before the tipoff between Michigan and Villanova, the Wildcats came towards the basket where the Wolverines were shooting. Phil Booth bumped Jordan Poole. Words were exchanged.
"They tried to clown us at the beginning, where they just stood in front of us," Michigan freshman Ignas Brazdeikis said. "We were like, 'What? Who do you guys think you are?'"
Was Villanova's intention to intimidate? "Honestly, it doesn't matter," Brazdeikis said. "It didn't work."
Michigan won with defense last year. But Villanova, which beat Michigan for the national championship last season, learned Wednesday that the Wolverines appear to have taken their defense, toughness, and physical play to another level this year.