Did You Know? Villanova/Michigan Will Be a Rematch of 2014 Legends Classic Championship

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While it hasn’t been reported on much, the Villanova Wildcats and Michigan Wolverines met in a championship game way back in the 2014-15 season. Sure, it wasn’t the championship everybody cares about, but the meeting still resulted in a trophy at the end.

On November 25th, 2014, the Wildcats beat the Wolverines in the Legends Classic title game at the Barclay’s Center. Each team had won three games apiece to get to the championship and when they got there, both teams were ranked in the AP Top 25. The Wildcats outlasted Michigan in a close, exciting contest, finishing with a 60-55 win. Villanova was a 4.5-point favorite in the game.

Now, over three years later, the two teams will square off for the biggest prize in college hoops. The coaches are the same, the uniforms are the same, and despite the time between meetings, a few of the players will be the same, too.

Back in 2014, current stars Phil Booth (Villanova) and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (Michigan) were bench players for their respective teams. Both freshman, the pair combined for only three points in 14 minutes during the Legends Classic Championship.

Fast forward to present day: the two are now full-time starters, senior leaders, and the last men standing from that 2014 meeting. Plus, they’re both having their best season to date in terms of scoring; both guys are averaging double-digits in scoring for the first time in their careers this year.

Villanova Big Favorites Over Michigan in NCAA Tournament

Michigan (33-7) will face Villanova (34-5) on April 2nd at 9:20 P.M ET for the NCAA Championship.