McLouth pulling for Michigan in NCAA title game

BOSTON -- Count Orioles outfielder Nate McLouth among those very glad Monday's game against the Red Sox was an afternoon contest.

McLouth, a Michigan native who committed to the University of Michigan to play baseball, was excited to get to watch his Wolverines take on Louisville in the NCAA men's basketball championship game starting at 9:21 p.m. ET.

"I'm more of a watch-the-game-by-myself [guy] and not go to a bar or restaurant, because I like to concentrate," said McLouth, who passed on a scholarship at Michigan to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates and begin his pro career. "I feel like I need to get my mind right for them to have their minds right."

Michigan-Louisville is widely considered a battle of the country's best offense against the best defense, with Wolverines sophomore guard Trey Burke winning all of the major national player of the year awards in college basketball.

McLouth saw the end of the team's semifinal game, which is pretty much all he's been able to watch live since the tournament started, and he said there hasn't been a whole lot of trash-talking in the Orioles' clubhouse.

"Guys actually want Michigan to win," he said.