SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
There’s still room on the Loyola Ramblers bandwagon
Mar 27, 2018, 2:35 PM | Updated: 2:36 pm
Loyola-Chicago guard Clayton Custer (13) shoots against Nevada guard Jordan Caroline (24) during the first half of a regional semifinal NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 22, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
(AP Photo/John Amis)
Remember last week when I told you about the Cinderella story happening in the men’s NCAA basketball tournament? A small Jesuit college in Chicago called Loyola advanced as a number 11 seed to make it to the Great 8 overcoming very long odds.
I told you last week that, most likely, their incredible run would end because that’s how these things work. The 11 seed just doesn’t make it to the Final 4. I’m happy to announce that I was wrong.
RELATED: This Chicago team is a real Cinderella story
The Ramblers of Loyola ended up winning again. And it wasn’t even close. They are a well-oiled machine. They controlled the game from buzzer-to-buzzer. There’s still room on the Rambler Bandwagon. Heck, I’ve only been on here for about a week. So climb aboard.
This Saturday, the young men in Maroon and Gold will be taking on the University of Michigan for the right to play in the National Championship game. No offense to the Maize and Blue faithful, but I’m pulling for the underdog to dismantle the Wolverines in this one.
If you are over the age of 40, watching this team will be a warm blanket of nostalgia. The Ramblers actually run an offense. They set up plays and have guys cut through the lane. The pass the ball and play defense. They are fundamentally strong. Their starters are veterans by college standards. There are no one-and-done players for Loyola. They have juniors and seniors who know and trust each other. This is the basketball that I grew up with. And it’s a joy to watch.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the power and sheer athleticism of watching a LeBron James dunk. I am thoroughly entertained by the other worldly ball skills of Steph Curry. There are elements of the modern game that I can enjoy as a fan, but there is a different kind of satisfaction for me watching the Ramblers play.
I halfway expect to see Gene Hackman on the bench ready to draw up a play as if this is a real life version of the movie “Hoosiers.” But this isn’t a movie. This is real life. And a squad of no-name kids from a Catholic school barely known outside of Chicago that play like it’s 1975 are one win away from the National Championship Game.
The Loyola Ramblers biggest fan turns out to be a 98-year-old nun called Sister Jean. She now has her own bobble head doll. It sold out in under 48 hours.
Do yourself a favor and believe in miracles for one more week.
Go Ramblers!
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