Watching Wagner is top of Villanova’s defensive list
Villanova has faced its share of talented big men this season. Seton Hall’s Angel Delgado and Georgetown’s Jessie Govan immediately spring to mind.
Few, though, are as versatile as Michigan center Moritz “Moe” Wagner, who the Wildcats have to contend with if they are to win a second national title in three years.
Villanova coach Jay Wright likened Wagner to former West Virginia center Kevin Pittsnogle, who tormented the Wildcats during Wright’s first few years on the Main Line.
Only Wright called Wagner, “thinned down, eating healthier, a little more
skilled.”
No one disputes that. At 6-11 and 245 pounds, the junior from Berlin presents quite a few problems for the Wildcats (35-4). He can score in the post but also step out and hit the 3-pointer. And he’s a pretty good passer, too.
As of Sunday afternoon, Wright and his staff were still devising a plan to deal with a big man who is second on the Wolverines in scoring in the tournament (14.8 ppg), leads Michigan in rebounding (7.4) and is tied for the team lead with Duncan Robinson in 3-point field goals made (nine).
“I’ll be honest with you, we’re still watching film,” Wright said. “I’m not sure I’ve got the answer yet. We have a little bit of a plan in mind, but just so impressed with (him). I’ll just give you one play. In the Loyola game, he shot-faked with his right hand and threw a left-handed bounce pass back door for a layup. Who does that? You don’t see point guards do that.
“He has the ability to beat you in any way. I think he’s one of those players that you’re not going to shut him down. You just have to hope you can minimize his influence on the game. I think that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
That job will fall on forwards Omari Spellman, Eric Paschall and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree.
“He’s a tough matchup,” Paschall said. “He does everything for that team. He’s very skilled. I’ve watched him throughout the season. He does a lot. We just know he’s a very skilled player.”
Paschall compared Wagner to 6-10 Creighton center Toby Hegner.
“Moe definitely drives the ball a lot more,” Paschall said. “Hegner is a great shooter, just like Wagner, but Moe puts it on the floor, gets his teammates the ball and he’s pretty quick.”
Wagner was just the third player since 1979 to have 20 points and 15 rebounds in a Final Four game. The others are Hakeem Olajuwon and Larry Bird. That’s pretty good company.
“He does more than just score for that team,” Spellman said. “He’s the ultimate competitor, so when I look at him I just see someone that I look forward to competing against. … He’s very unique. He’s got a diverse skillset similar to that of a guard.”
Spellman and Paschall are pretty versatile, too. They are both shooting better than 42 percent from 3-point range in the tournament, but their biggest impact has been on the defensive end. The duo has combined to block 12 shots in five tournament games.
“Those two are big pieces of our defense because they do a lot for us,” guard Phil Booth said. “They’re high communicators and very active, and with their size, strength and athleticism, they can disrupt a lot of things.”
Spellman and Paschall, though, won’t have to share that defensive burden alone.
“It’s going to take a lot of guys to be locked in on him,” Booth said. “It’s not going to be one guy guarding him because he’s very gifted offensively. He can pass the ball, shoot it, dribble, post up, so he’s going to be a matchup that we all have to focus on.”
*** Guard Jalen Brunson picked up another Player of the Year award Sunday. The 6-3 junior received the Naismith Trophy as the most outstanding player in college basketball.
“This is a great honor to be among the greats that have won the Naismith Trophy,” Brunson said. “It’s a credit to my family, which has sacrificed a lot, and my teammates and coaches, who have helped me become the confident player I am. I’m really thankful that I get to do this with a group of guys I love. It’s all a credit to them.”
*** NOTES » This will be the ninth time Jay Wright and Michigan’s John Beilein will lock horns as head coaches. Beilein owns a 5-3 record against Wright. He was 5-2 against Villanova when he coached at West Virginia when the Mountaineers were a member of the Big East. Wright beat Beilein and Wolverines, 60-55, in the Legends Classic in Brooklyn in 2014. … This is the first meeting between the Wildcats and Wolverines in the NCAA tournament since Villanova pinned a 59-55 loss on Michigan on its way to the 1985 national championship. … With a win Monday night the Wildcats will set a program record for victories in a season. The 2016 national championship team also won 35 games.