Breaking down Michigan's HISTORIC start

Over the past week we’ve watched multiple Final Four caliber teams compete at the second ever Players Era Festival tournament. These teams were thought to be pretty evenly matched without a clear favorite at the beginning of the tournament. Here’s the odds on who would win the tournament prior to the first game: 

As you can see, not a clear favorite and the eventual winner with the fifth lowest odds. If you watched the games this wasn’t the case with Michigan blowing out every team they played by 30+ points. How could the team with the fifth lowest odds win so seemingly easily? It started with their defense holding some of the best offenses in the country to a total field goal percentage of 32% on 64/198 shooting. This propelled them to the KenPom number 1 defensive efficiency rating and highest overall KenPom ranking. They began the tournament beating San Diego St., a top 75 KenPom offense and defense by 40 points. They then blew out Auburn led by star Tahaad Petiford and a top 15 KenPom offense by 30. In their championship matchup against Gonzaga they came in as underdogs against a team that was top 10 in KenPom offense and defense and won by 40 once again. They were the first team in the AP Poll era with consecutive 30-point wins, both coming against ranked opponents.

This may have been the most successful early season start by any team ever.