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Moritz Wagner can lead Michigan to a national championship

By John Buhler

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 22: Moritz Wagner No. 13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after Wagner makes a three-pointer in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Staples Center on March 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 22: Moritz Wagner No. 13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after Wagner makes a three-pointer in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Staples Center on March 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Michigan Wolverines power forward Moritz Wagner is the player who can carry Michigan to its first national championship of the John Beilein era.

Love him or hate him, Moritz Wagner is exactly the type of player college basketball needs. He’s a 6-foot-10 power forward from Berlin, who has taken over the Big Ten in his junior year in Ann Arbor. Without Wagner, Michigan is not playing in the Final Four.

The last time the Wolverines made it this far in the tournament was back in 2013. Michigan would advance to the national championship, but would ultimately fall to the Louisville Cardinals in Atlanta. If it’s going to be a different result in San Antonio this spring, Wagner has to come up big for the Wolverines.

Odds are, that the team Michigan will be going up against in the Loyola Ramblers haven’t faced a player as versatile as Wagner in the NCAA Tournament. Loyola has caught fire and has taken advantage of a weak South Region. The Ramblers sure are feisty, but Wagner can certainly bring an end to the Fighting Sister Jeans of Chicago on Saturday night.

In his junior year at Michigan, Wagner is averaging 14.3 points and 6.9 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game. He is shooting 52.4 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from three and 69.6 percent from the charity stripe. Wagner shines on both ends of the floor, as his offensive rating is 117.2 and his defensive rating is 92.1.

Overall, Michigan should be in good shape against Loyola. Yes, the Wolverines will need to take care of business and not let the Ramblers hang around, as they have shown a proclivity for winning tight ball games on their winning streak.

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However, Wagner may need to play the game of his life against the winner of the other Final Four game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Villanova Wildcats in the finals should Michigan advance. Fortunately, he and head coach John Beilein should be up for the challenge no problem.

The biggest on-court name left in the tournament is Villanova swingman Mikal Bridges. He and guard Jalen Brunson have the Wildcats as the favorite to win the whole thing. Brunson is a pro prospect, but Bridges is a top-10 draft pick. He’s probably the best player Villanova has had since Kyle Lowry starred for Jay Wright in Philadelphia.

As for Kansas, this might be the best job that Bill Self has done in Lawrence. This team isn’t littered with pro prospects at a blue-blood like Kansas is in most years. It is a testament to Self, I don’t know, being a hall of fame basketball coach.

Next: Michigan would be foolish to overlook Loyola

Nevertheless, Michigan should feel really good about the pairing of Beilein and Wagner going forward. The Wolverines may not be the favorite to win the 2017-18 national championship, but last year’s champion in the North Carolina Tar Heels wasn’t exactly a star-studded squad. Wagner gives Michigan the star power it needs to win it all.

Michigan will play Loyola in the first of two Final Four games on Saturday. Tipoff from the Alamodome in San Antonio will be at 6:09 p.m. ET.

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