Michigan vs. Loyola-Chicago: Final Four game preview, TV schedule

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 4: Members of the Loyola Ramblers hold the Missouri Valley Conference Champions trophy after beating the Illinois State Redbirds during the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Championship at the Scottrade Center on March 4, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

The first game of the Final Four is between Loyola-Chicago and Michigan. Can the Ramblers continue their Cinderella run? Or will the red-hot Wolverines get a spot in the title game?

TV schedule: Saturday, March 31, 6:09 p.m. ET. TBS

Arena: Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas

Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago (32-5) are just the fourth 11 seed in NCAA history to make the Final Four. It’s fitting that they were the sole survivors from the South Region, who for the first time didn’t have a single top four seed reach the Sweet Sixteen.

But the Ramblers still had a very tough path to get here, needing last-second shots to beat Miami, Tennessee, and Nevada before beating Kansas State by 16 points to reach the program’s first Final Four appearance since 1963, where they ended up winning it all.

The last time Michigan (32-7) reached the Final Four it was in 2013, where they fell to Louisville in the title game. While it wasn’t as crazy as the South, the Wolverines had to navigate an upset-minding West Region.

Although the path didn’t include a team higher than a six seed, there were some close calls. But after beating Montana, Houston, Texas A&M, and Florida State, Jon Beilein and his team are just two wins away from winning the national championship.

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This is a game featuring similar strengths, with both teams ranked in the top-10 in scoring defense. Making things even tougher is that Michigan and Loyola-Chicago possess efficient offenses, and makes each possession count.

The Ramblers are led by Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Clayton Custer, whose shot against the Vols in the Round of 32 helped get them there. He also has four other teammates who average in double figures, making each player on the court a threat to score.

Moritz Wagner and Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews are the go-to guys for the Wolverines, each capable of having big nights individually. But don’t 6’8 senior Duncan Robinson, a former D-III transfer whose three-pointers could steal the game.

Next: Keys to Michigan vs. Loyola-Chicago

Based on how each team plays, this is going to be a low-scoring game. Loyola-Chicago has shown all season that they’re more than capable of winning this game and will keep it close in the final minutes. But ultimately Michigan will be just too much for them, scoring just enough to move on to the national championship game.

Prediction: Michigan 61 – Loyola-Chicago 56

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