LOS ANGELES — In the immediate aftermath of its West Region final victory over Florida State on Saturday night at Staples Center, the Michigan players and coaches were asked about the elephant in the Final Four room.
That would be the Wolverines’ opponent next Saturday, No. 11 seed Loyola Chicago. The darlings of the NCAA Tournament have become known around the country for its improbable run as well as its nun, Sister Jean, who has been at every game.
When Michigan’s Charles Matthews, named the Most Outstanding Player of the West Region, was asked about Sister Jean, he looked perplexed.
“If you don’t know who she is, say you don’t know who she is,’’ Michigan coach John Beilein said to Matthews.
“I don’t really know who she is,’’ Matthews said. “I don’t know who Sister Jean is … no disrespect.’’
Beilein and his players were pressed on whether they realize the country — outside of the state of Michigan — will be rooting for Loyola Chicago to beat the No. 3-seeded Wolverines.
“I know that she didn’t have Loyola Chicago in the Elite Eight,’’ Michigan center Moe Wagner said jokingly.
“I mean, to be honest with you, I don’t think any of us cares about rankings, seedings or none of that,’’ Wagner added. “It’s about who is going to play better. That’s all that matters to us. We’ve got to prepare like we always do. They must be a really good team, that’s why they’re the Final Four, and that’s all that matters.’’
Beilein, who’s in his 40th year of coaching and is going to his second Final Four as a head coach, paid tribute to Loyola Chicago.
“I went to a Jesuit school, Wheeling Jesuit, I coached at both Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, where my son’s a coach now, and Canisius College,’’ he said. “I’ve always thought Jesuit schools are special. This is certainly one with a historic past. I think Villanova’s the only non-Jesuit Catholic school to win a national championship. That’s how much I know about stuff, about the Catholic schools.
“I’m just really impressed with their team. I asked [assistant coach] Luke Yaklich about them because he was in the Missouri Valley last year at Illinois State. I said they must be really good. He said, ‘You know what, Coach, they’re a lot like us. They have a bunch of good kids. They play together, they play defense. They have a bunch of guys that can shoot. The only difference is they have a wonderful nun on the sidelines rooting them on with some prayers.’ ’’
Beilein said he doesn’t buy into the notion that everyone in San Antonio will be rooting against his team.
“We won’t be hearing all those people,’’ he said. “We’re in L.A. right now. That’s a long way from Ann Arbor. I felt like we were in Ann Arbor tonight. So when we’re playing against anybody in the Final Four — Loyola Chicago — those people should be so proud of that team and come out strong.
“Michigan will be in San Antonio. Loyola’s going to sell every ticket they can get. Well, Michigan’s going to sell every ticket we can get, too.’’
