Michigan Basketball: John Beilein’s top 6 NCAA tournament wins at U-M
T5: Beating Syracuse (2013) and Loyola (2018) to reach Monday night
If you wondered why there six games listed here instead of five, it was because I couldn’t decide to leave off either game Michigan basketball won to get to the National Championship Game under Beilein.
If you missed it, Beilein actually live Tweeted about the game when the Big Ten Network re-aired it earlier this week and that was fascinating. It was incredible to hear his thoughts in real-time.
We beat a terrific Syracuse team that night.The thing I remember the most about the end of the game was the Mich crowd remaining in their seats and cheering for a long time while Jim Nantz interviewed our team. We are so grateful to those fans forever. Thanks! #goblue
— John Beilein (@JohnBeilein) March 31, 2020
That was a stressful game. Michigan built an 11-point lead against Syracuse, but the Orange didn’t go away and the Wolverines needed some key shots late to hang on. But eventually, they won 63-56 and I can still remember Jim Nantz saying, “Onto Monday night.”
That was a phrase I didn’t know I’d hear again as a Michigan basketball fan and that night, it was music to my ears. It was a surreal moment. I almost couldn’t believe it.
By 2018, when Michigan basketball met Loyola-Chicago in the Final Four, the Wolverines were expected to win but found themselves down eight in the second half. However, a bucket by Jordan Poole, some clutch 3-pointers from Duncan Robinson and a dominating 24-point, 15-rebound effort from Moritz Wagner got Michigan basketball back to the title game.
While neither win had a memorable buzzer-beater or anything like that, each was historic in its own way for Beilein and the Wolverines.