Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from win over Loyola-Chicago

Moritz Wagner made history

Three players have recorded at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in a national semifinal game: Hakeem Olajuwon, Larry Bird and Moritz Wagner.

Wagner didn’t just play his best game in a Michigan jersey on Saturday night. He played one of the best games any Michigan player has ever had. Wagner racked up 24 points, 15 rebounds, 3 steals, and an assist. He only recorded one foul in his 36 minutes on the court.

In that awful first half for Michigan, the team’s best offense was missing shots as Wagner grabbed offensive rebounds and sank his second-chance buckets.

Wagner’s hands were sticky all night, deflecting balls and grabbing steals. He was flying all over the court and ended up in the stands a few times. Wagner singlehandedly carried Michigan for much of the game before Matthews started getting hot and the rest of the team clicked late.

He didn’t just do work in the paint. Wagner made three of his seven attempts from deep to stretch the floor and extend Michigan’s lead.

After a performance like that, it’s hard not to see NBA scouts salivating over Wagner, even considering the undersized competition. This could very well be his second-to-last performance as a Michigan Wolverine, and it was a performance that Michigan fans will remember for decades.