Michigan Basketball: 3 keys to beating Villanova for the national title

Moe Wagner needs another historic outing

If Michigan basketball is going to win its first national title in nearly three decades tonight, it needs another game for the ages from Wagner, who scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Final Four win over Loyola.

Wagner kept Michigan in the game in the first half against Loyola and in the second, during a stretch of a few minutes, he hit two 3-pointers and got a 3-point play. When his run started, Michigan was down three. By the time it was finished, the Wolverines were up eight.

The junior has put together an incredible season, but he has struggled at times in this tournament. He has gotten into foul trouble and been ineffective. The two games where he scored 20 or more, he started fast.

Against Texas A&M and Loyola, he knocked down an early triple. It seemed to set the tone. Michigan has a lot of great players, but Wagner is the superstar and at this level, you need your star players to stand out. And if Michigan is going to cut down the nets in San Antonio, Wagner needs to have another legendary performance, plain and simple.

We will find out what happens tonight. Either way, it’s been an incredible run, but if the Wolverines can defend at an elite level, have a good night from deep and get a big game from Wagner, they should be cutting down the nets Monday night.