Hello, friends. It’s time for a special live blog as we are here in San Antonio. More importantly this is the Dave vs Sister Jean game. But, we’re not going to waste much time on the intro. We all know the stories here. I’ll be updating this blog throughout the game, so feel free to follow along.

I don’t know whether to be shocked or not, but Loyola fans are quite loud here. Michigan travels extremely well obviously and there’s a ton of maize and blue. However, Loyola is damn loud.

Michigan 3, Loyola 2

We get started with a Charles Matthews three. You can tell Loyola is daring him to shoot. There was about 18 inches of space, Matthews jab stepped twice, then went up and hit. Sloppy couple of first possessions though.

Michigan 6, Loyola 4

This is a weird game for Cam Krutwig. He’s able to get what he wants offensively, but he’s really struggling defending in this game. However, Michigan has been incredibly sloppy with the ball. They have two turnovers early. What’s important here though is Wagner hit his first three. If ehc an stay within the game and not get too trigger happy from three, he’ll have a big game.

15:43 – Michigan 6, Loyola 4

Under 4 TV timeout comes on the first foul of the game. This one is on Zavier Simpson who hasn’t had a great start. Loyola is daring him to shoot and content with leaving him open. Michigan should start trying to get Abdur-Rahkman going as he hasn’t really gotten into the flow of this game. If Simpson is going to be dared to shoot, look for Michigan to run more high ball screens.

13:3 7 – Michigan 10, Loyola 4

Michigan’s talent gap is s tarting to show a bit here. Loyola has been forced into some tough shots while Michigan is starting to go to the rim. The most recent time was Charles Matthews taking it into contact to draw an and one. Before that Wagner was able to get an offensive rebound and putback. You’re seeing them really attack Loyola while swarming them defensively.

12:28 – timeout Loyola, Michigan 12, Loyola 4

This is starting to turn into the Michigan bigs game. Charles Matthews, who by every stretch is a small ball four has 5 points. Teske has 2, Wagner has 5. Both Wagner and Teske have putback layups with Loyola rotating too much on the defensive glass. Right now Loyola just looks tight while Michigan is really blitzing ball screens.

11:56 – under 12 timeout, Michigan 12, Loyola 6

Loyola was able to get to the line, but, yeah, this one is ugly. It’s not a surprise, both these teams are excellent defensive teams. Michigan has gone with Simmons and Robinson to help with shooting, but turnovers are hurting them right now.

9:19 – Michigan 12, Loyola 10*

We have our first review! Nothing killing some momentum in this game like a review for a possible shot clock violation. Looks like he got it off in time.

8:14 – Michigan 15, Loyola 12

Aundre Jackson is starting to attack. He’s now up to 6 points after driving to the rim again and drawing a foul on Teske. That’s the thing with Loyola. They rotate who seems to be the go-to guy. Tonight looks like Jackson has the hand.

Loyola 17, Michigan 15

Well here come the Ramblers. They take the lead after Krutwig bullies his way for a layup and then gets fouled two possessions later. I think, I THINK, Loyola fans are excited here.

3:40 – Under-4 TV timeout – Loyola 21, Michigan 19

When we get back to action here, Loyola will be at the line after getting fouled on a jumper. Right now, this is about Michigan’s guards. The Wolverines are getting absolutely nothing from their guards. Simpson, Abdur-Rahkman, Simmons, Poole and even throw Robinson in there. Someone needs to step up from that group. However, saving Michigan right now is Mo Wagner. He’s got 11 and 9 already and is just feasting on the offensive glass. Loyola is continuing to attack the rim, not settling. Aundre Jackson and Marques Townes both have six.

HALFTIME – Loyola 29, Michigan 22

Well, that’s one way to end the half if you’re Loyola. The Ramblers went on a 25-11 run to take the lead 29-22 at halftime. But, that last possession sort of summed it all up. Wagner missed the front end of a one-and-one before Ingram hit a putback layup. I’ll be honest. I have no idea what Wagner was doing on that defensive rebound. That said, Michigan needs someone to help him and Matthews. They got a combined three points from people not named Wagner/matthews. That ain’t going to do it. The moment that really swung the end of this half though was when the game was 25-22 Loyola. Michigan had a runout and found Robinson wide open for a wing three. That goes in, Michigan has all the momentum. Instead it missed, right in front of the Loyola fans and then, well, you know what happened.

SECOND HALF

UNDER 16 TIMEOUT – 15:56 – Loyola 36, Michigan 29

This game is still the Mo Wagner game for Michigan. He started the half with a dunk, steal and a couple rebounds. He’s now up to 13 and 11 for the game. However, Loyola is answering every single time. Duncan Robinson hits a three, Loyola comes down ,wastes a little bit of time offensively and then is just attacking Michigan at the rim. Loyola is also playing through Krutwig, quite a bit as he has 11 now. I highly expect Simpson to be on the bench when this timeout is over. He’s missed a layup, turned the ball over and just can’t get anything going.

UNDER 12 TIME OUT – 11:25 – Loyola 43, Michigan 37

Loyola, man. This team doesn’t make sense and I know it’s not all that Sister Jean. They looked dead early in the game when Michigan jumped out to that 11-4 lead. Now with the second half underway, Loyola is continuing to answer Michigan’s buckets. When we come back from timeout, Custer will be at the line to shoot two. Michigan finally made the switch to Simmons over Simpson at point guard during the last 3ish minutes and Simmons hit a three. I expect to see more of him than Simpson late in this game.

10:06 – Time out Loyola – Loyola 45, Michigan 42

Here comes Duncan Robinson and Michigan. After getting a stop, Robinson just drilled a three from the left wing. That’s now his second made three this half from the left side of the floor. The first one came from the corner, so we’ll see now if he gets going. Needless to say he was fired up after that last one. Michigan is starting to get help from him and others not named Matthews/Wagner.

UNDER 8 TIMEOUT – 7:31, Loyola 47, Michigan 44

Loyola is continuing to hang on. We’re seeing them play through Krutwig more this half, which isn’t surprising. The entire thing coming into this game was would he give enough offensively to leave him out there because defensively he’s the mismatch. He now has 13 points. However, Michigan is cutting the lead to three here thanks to bringing in Jordan Poole. He now has 5 points, just getting two driving left. He’s good enough to put his head down and go. Don’t be surprised to see Beilein go late with more offensive lineup of like Simmons/MAAR/Poole/Robinson/Wagner.

Possible injury: Marques Townes was just outside of the huddle, stretching and working with what I believe is a trainer. He’s currently on the bench.

TIMEOUT LOYOLA – 5:48, Michigan 51, Loyola 47

Porter Moser is forced to call a timeout after Wagner hits Matthews on a back cut. That was a gorgeous pass by Wagner. What also was beautiful is right before that, Beilein ran a set for Poole on a cut to get to the post. he hit both free throws to give Michigan the lead.

UNDER 4 TIMEOUT – 1:39, Michigan 61, Loyola 53

What a run here by Michigan late. That last three that Wagner hit was just the absolute perfect possession for Michigan. They swung the ball around the perimeter completely before hitting Matthews on a baseline back cut. Instead of forcing a shot he gathered, kicked it out to Wagner at the top of the key for what seemed like the dagger three.