Big Dance: It's Loyola-Chicago and Michigan to the Final Four

In a tournament where seedings were irrelevant for long stretches, it's only right that one of the wonderdogs made it to the Final Four.

That would be your 11th seed outta the South, none other than those Ramblers from Chicago-Loyola.

Dudes left no doubt about it, too, by pounding a spent Kansas State squad, 78-62.

Maybe they really are on a mission from God.

 

Loyola's now 32-5 for the season and have looked every bit of a contender all Dance long.

Frankly, that's what they expected when they qualified outta the Valley Conference, a fiercely proud outfit if ever there was one.

 

In the Elite Eight, the Ramblers proceeded to confirm they can do more than win squeakers.

Putting it mildly, K-State got the full force of that display:

 

It's difficult to believe that a vaunted program like Michigan has been chugging along under the radar in this tourney by simply being the chalk, but for the most part ...

 

• The Wolverines cruised through Montana, as they were supposed to do;
• Their magic moment happened when a bench freshman saved them from Houston; and
• They hit cruise control again while demolishing Texas A&M.

Now that dudes have made the Elite Eight, how would they deal with Leonard Hamilton's endless supply of Seminoles who've made it this far via sheer athleticism?

 

 

Michigan's mission was to squelch any more upsets, razzle dazzle or no.

Turns out they chose no.

Instead, good old-fashioned solid defense stopped the 'Noles, 58-54.

 

John Beilen teams don't really do razzle dazzle. They do win games.

With one wonderdog commanding serious spotlight at the Final Four and a pair of top seeds favored to get there on the other side of the bracket. Odds are Michigan will continue to rumble under the radar.

Belein's no doubt OK with that.