THE MATCHUPS

POINT GUARD

Redshirt junior Clayton Custer, Loyola’s leading scorer and distributor, will have his hands full with dogged Michigan lead guard Zavier Simpson, the 6-foot linchpin to the Wolverines’ eighthranked defense. Then again, Custer has been brilliant throughout the tournament against quality defenders, sinking the game-winning shot against Tennessee and averaging 11.5 points and 4.0 assists. Edge: Loyola.

SHOOTING GUARD

Ben Richardson is coming off the game of his life, a 23-point masterpiece in Loyola’s Elite Eight win over Kansas State. Matching up with Michigan’s versatile defensive-minded senior, Muhammad-Ali Abdur

Rahkman (right), will be a challenge for the sharpshooting senior. AbdurRahkman keyed the Sweet 16 rout of Texas A&M with 24 points and made the play of the tournament so far, setting up Jordan Poole’s buzzerbeating 3-pointer against Houston in the second round. Edge: Michigan.

SMALL FORWARD

It’s been a breakout NCAA Tournament for Kentucky transfer Charles

Matthews after an extended offensive slump to close the regular season. Michigan’s redshirt sophomore is averaging 16.5 points per game. He’ll have the size advantage over New Jersey native Marques Townes (right), a guard playing on the wing for Loyola. But the 6-foot-4 Townes has faced bigger opponents throughout this tournament and produced 15.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the past two contests. Edge: Even.

POWER FORWARD

Skilled and tough, Loyola’s Donte Ingram plays bigger than his 6-foot6 frame. While his game-winning 3-pointer in the tournament opener against Miami has been his most memorable moment, his defense and rebounding have been crucial to this run. His counterpart, beefy 6-foot-7 forward Isaiah Livers, can stroke it from deep, but has been a nonfactor so far in this tournament. Edge: Loyola.

CENTER

Freshman Cameron Krutwig performed so well for Loyola, he moved senior

Aundre Jackson to the bench as a super-sub. An under-recruited 6-foot10 ball-moving big man, Krutwig surpassed expectations, but it will be asking a lot for him to handle Michigan 6-foot-11 junior Mo Wagner, a projected first-round NBA draft pick who shoots 39.6 from 3-point range. Edge: Michigan.

BENCH

Keep an eye on two skilled wings, Michigan’s Duncan

Robinson and Loyola’s Jackson, both capable of scoring in bunches. Jackson, a starter entering the season, has even led the Ramblers in scoring in the tournament, averaging 12.2 points per game. Both teams will go nine-deep, bringing plenty of shooting off the bench. Michigan 7-footer Jon Teske scored 14 points in the Big Ten Tournament final against Purdue. Edge: Michigan.

COACH

It was no coincidence Michigan hammered Texas A&M when coach John Beilein had five days to prepare for the Aggies. Arguably the best in-game coach in the sport, he’ll have had a full week to get ready for Loyola. The Ramblers’ coach, Porter

Moser, however, has proven to be quite adept at in-game adjustments and diagramming final-second plays. Edge: Michigan.