FINAL FOUR BOUND: Michigan Beats Florida State, 58-54

“The coaches” kids are always like, “Just score 6 points, just score 6 points, ‘” Robinson mused after the Wolverines topped Florida State, 58-54, to clinch a Final Four berth in San Antonio next weekend.

Because the sophomore guard admitted on Saturday after MI punched its ticket to the Final Four that he doesn’t know about Sister Jean, Loyola-Chicago’s famous 98-year-old chaplain.

As a result, any hopes MI had of jumping on Florida State in the same way it did Texas A&M – when it scored the first five points and recorded a blowout, wire-to-wire victory – quickly evaporated.

The exchange overshadowed FSU’s furious rally to get back in a contest that was controlled early by MI.

Wolverines forward Isaiah Livers knows one of Loyola’s players, having played AAU basketball against each other in Chicago.

Florida State: The Seminoles’ impressive March should turn plenty of recruits’ heads as they continue to bury the myth that Florida State is a football school.

The Seminoles chose not to foul in the closing seconds and let the clock run out.

The game had evolved into the grinder that is so much a part of college basketball. Robinson grabbed the rebound and the Seminoles opted not to foul the strong MI shooter. Even as MI got off to an early lead, it didn’t take long to see the same depth and athleticism advantages that allowed Florida State to smother Gonzaga were going to have a similar impact in this one.

FSU shot 42.9% from the floor in the first half, hitting nine of 21 attempted shots.

Charles Matthews led all scorers with 17 points for the Wolverines.

Robinson’s free throws sealed it, but his 3-pointer with 2:23 left was critical. MI only made 66.7 percent of its free throws Saturday (16-for-24). Michigan’s best free throw shooter, Duncan Robinson, had the ball, up by four points in the waning seconds.

Staples Center was largely packed with maize-and-blue fans of the Wolverines, who have a vast alumni base in California.

But after trailing 15-10, the Seminoles tied it at 15-15 on a basket by Cofer and a three-pointer by PJ Savoy.

Jacobson added herself that she was grateful Hamilton came around to answer the question rather than walk away from the interview.

Though he might not like the term “football school”, he admitted the big weekend celebrations that come with Saturday afternoons at Power Five schools with football tradition such as MI and Florida State have some added benefits for a college basketball coach.

From Gatorade bathes to coaches ripping off their shirts to dance offs, it’s hard not to feel joy watching these teams celebrate.

After a laborious first half, John Beilein must have sprinkled pixie dust on his Wolverines because they rattled off 11 consecutive points, built a double-digit lead, and never trailed the final 19 minutes. The Wolverines were going inside and getting fouled. He made the first free throw.

“Someone asked me that last night, and I hadn’t had a chance to really think about it, about what it meant to me”, Hamilton said.