NCAA Championship Game 2018: Winner, MVP, Stats for Villanova vs. Michigan

Villanova sophomore guard Donte DiVincenzo posted 31 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks as the Wildcats crushed the Michigan Wolverines 79-62 in the 2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game:

DiVincenzo made 10 of his 15 field goals and six of 10 three-pointers. He also outscored Michigan 18-14 in the final 12-plus minutes of the first half. For his efforts, he was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The game wasn't in doubt much after halftime, as the Wildcats opened the second half on a 7-2 run to take a 44-30 lead. They led by double digits for the remainder of the night.

Here's a look at the most notable stats from the 2018 national championship game, which put a bow on one of the wildest tournaments in recent memory. Then, we'll take a quick look at how these two teams could shape up in 2019.

Notable Stats

Best of the Rest

Outside of DiVincenzo, Villanova junior guard Mikal Bridges pitched in 19 points. Backcourt mate (and classmate) Jalen Brunson ran into some foul trouble in the second half, which limited the National Player of the Year's scoring output to nine.

For Michigan, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman led the way with 23 points. Junior forward Moritz Wagner scored 16 points after registering 24 points and 15 boards in the national semifinal. However, the rest of the team combined for just 23 points on 10-of-31 shooting.

Battle of the Boards

Villanova freshman big man Omari Spellman grabbed 11 rebounds, while junior forward Eric Paschall snatched eight more.

They led Villanova's excellent night on the glass, as the Wildcats outrebounded Michigan 38-27. Wagner was the only Wolverine to corral more than four rebounds, as he amassed seven on the night. 

A Place in History

Villanova became the fourth team in the last 40 years to win two national titles within a three-year span: Kentucky did so in 1996 and 1998, while Duke (1991 and 1992) and Florida (2006 and 2007) went back-to-back.

The Wildcats also were on the winning end of the biggest blowout since UNC beat Michigan State in 2009 by an 89-72 score. The last team to win the national title by more than 17 occurred in 1990, when UNLV beat Duke 103-73.

Villanova also became the first team since that 2009 Tar Heels squad to win each of its NCAA tournament games by 10 or more points.

Back to DiVincenzo

DiVincenzo became the first player since 1989 to score 31 or more points in the national championship game. Twenty-nine years ago, Seton Hall's John Morton (35 points) and Michigan's Glen Rice (31) broke 30 points in the Wolverines' 80-79 win over the Pirates.

The sophomore also set the record for most points scored off the bench in the championship. Per Jerry Palm of CBS Sports, the previous record was 22 by Louisville's Luke Hancock in 2013—also against Michigan.

DiVincenzo outscored the Michigan bench 31-7 by himself.

What Lies Ahead?

Villanova

It's hard to see Brunson and Bridges returning to school when they can parlay their excellent years into first-round draft selections in 2018. Per NBADraft.net, Bridges is mocked at No. 13, while Brunson slots in at No. 28.

Perhaps one more Wildcat makes a leap, but the guess is Villanova returns DiVincenzo, Spellman, Paschall and junior guard Phil Booth next year. Even without Brunson and Bridges, that's still a tough core to contend with on a nightly basis.

Freshman guard Collin Gillespie and classmate and forward Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, who saw some playing time this year at the back end of the rotation, should see more minutes. Villanova has also signed three of the top 48 players in the 2018 ESPN 100 class.

Michigan

The key is whether Wagner makes the leap to the NBA. Right now, NBADraft.net projects him to be a second-round pick, so perhaps the big man will look to improve his draft stock with one more year in school. If that's the case, the Wolverines should still be strong next year.

The losses of Abdur-Rahkman and fifth-year guard Duncan Robinson will hurt, but the team should return everyone else from its rotation.

Michigan only has one player in the ESPN 100 (small forward Brandon Johns at No. 58), but the tournament experience with its current group should go a long way toward success next year.