A bit overlooked in all the hoopla surrounding the appearance of the Loyola University Chicago in the Final Four of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament, is that all four teams, Loyola, Michigan, Kansas, and Villanova, are from schools that have won National championships. Villanova and Kansas are two of the four No. 1 seeds. Loyola is a No. 11 seed and Michigan is a No. 3 seed.
Few, if any, would have given Loyola, 32-5, a shot at postseason glory a short time ago, however, a dedicated squad, sound coaching, and a 98-year-old nun, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt for a cheerleader, has the Ramblers two victories away from the impossible dream.
Loyola won the NCAA championship in 1963 and along the tournament trail knocked off the University of Illinois in the regional championship game.
Michigan captured its lone championship in 1989 and beat Illinois in a semifinal game.
First, and with the most championships of the Final Four, is Kansas, with three, and is the first of this season’s Final Four schools to win a National championship. The Jayhawks won national championships in 1952, 1988, and 2008. Kansas, with star Clyde Lovellette, beat St. John’s, 80-63, in the 1952 championship game. St. John’s earned the right to face Kansas by edging Illinois, 61-59, in a semifinal game.
Villanova won national championships in both 1985 and 2016.
Although there is no certainty as to who will be taken in the NBA draft, none of the four teams in San Antonio appears to have a top five draft choice. Loyola is a classic example of the team concept that pays off in the long run.
Since the 2000 NCAA Tournament in only two tournaments, 2006 and 2011, has there not been at least one No. 1 seed of the four No. 1 seeds in the Final Four including this year.