The top 18 moments from the 2018 NCAA tournament--
College Basketball Talk
14. Loyola’s run begins
It ended in the Final Four, but it began with a last-second 3-pointer to knock off sixth-seeded Miami in the first round. If not for that, Sister Jean would have never entered our lives, and we all would have been lesser for it.
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12. Dan Mullen takes his shot at Wichita State
Sure, most of the the best shots and most explosive fireworks came on the floor during the tournament, but Illinois State coach Dan Mullen landed his own bit of pyrotechnics with a simple tweet chiding Missouri Valley Conference defectors Wichita State after the Shockers’ first-round upset loss.
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8. Custer-beater
First it was Donte Ingram, then it was Clayton Custer. Loyola got a game-winner from the junior guard in the final seconds to earn its spot in the Sweet 16 and keep its magical Cinderella run alive for what would prove to be a Final Four season.
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6. Loyola’s second weekend
Clutch shots, unselfish play, Cinderella status and general likability made Loyola the darling of this year’s NCAA tournament. Whether it was a late 3 that lifted them past Nevada or the no-question-about-it handling of Kansas State to get to the Final Four, Loyola was just a ton of fun and looked the part of a national semifinalist.
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
4. Sister Jean mania
This tournament will be remembered for plenty of things. Just keep reading this list and you’ll find plenty of memorable moments. If, though, in 25 years we look back and think of a single person from this year’s tournament, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it was Sister Jean.
The 98-year-old nun and team champlain stole the show who her hoops knowledge, charm and wit.
Way Too Early 2018-19 Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings: Nevada could have a top-10 team next year--
Mid-Major Madness
Way-too-Early 2018-19 Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings:
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3. Loyola University Chicago (2017-18 record: 32-6, Final Four)
It’ll be hard to follow up a Final Four appearance for Loyola, but Porter Moser has his core returning, led by rising seniors Clayton Custer and Marques Townes. If Cameron Krutwig continues on the trajectory he’s been on, the Ramblers will be easy favorites in the Valley and MAYBE can get some respect in the at-large discussion (not that they’ll need it). We’re already looking forward to their MVC-MWC Challenge game against Nevada
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25. Illinois State (2017-18 record: 18-15)
It was supposed to be a step-back season for the Redbirds in 2017-18, and it was. But Dan Muller kept Illinois State competitive after losing the top three players from his 28-7 team the year before. If all holds, continuity won’t be a problem in 2018-19. The Redbirds could return a formidable senior trio of Phil Fayne, Milik Yarbrough, and Keyshawn Evans, which led a team that finished in the top 157 in KenPom offensive and defensive efficiency in a rebuilding year.
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Evansville Courier & Press
McCarty, UE planning to announce assistant coaches this week--
Evansville Courier & Press
Women's Basketball honored for free throw shooting prowess--
gopurpleaces.com
Yarbrough ready to move forward for Redbirds in 2018-19 season--
The Pantagraph
Junior center Ndiaye to transfer from ISU--
The Pantagraph
Yarbrough will not enter NBA Draft, will return to ISU for senior season--
Vidette Online
Ndiaye granted release from ISU hoops--
Vidette Online
The Morning Dish – Tuesday, April 3, 2018--
Hoopville
Side Dishes:
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A little nugget about TV ratings from the Final Four games on Saturday, one that should’ve gotten some attention, but maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that it didn’t as the media has had no interest in covering it for going on 12 years now. The national semifinal game between Loyola and Michigan delivered viewing ratings 29% higher than the first national semi two years ago, the last time TBS hosted them. (Comparisons to years when CBS hosts the games aren’t valid, as CBS is in considerably more households and thus automatically generates bigger ratings) The ratings for Loyola/Michigan also were far higher than the matchup between Villanova and Kansas, a blowout almost from the start that nonetheless had two well-known, name-brand programs that we’re to believe have massive amounts more appeal than no-names like Loyola this year or Butler, George Mason, VCU or Wichita State in the past.
It’s a statistical fact that Loyola’s games in the tourney drew eyeballs (and it wasn’t just in the Final Four, either, as Sports Media Watch reported last week). Given how often we’re told that teams like Loyola just don’t attract television audiences and only big names do, it should’ve piqued a responsible media’s interest at least somewhat that such a theory was disproven…no? This also was hardly an outlier either, as ratings for the 2011 Final Four game between Butler and VCU showed, as did ratings for George Mason’s run in 2006. At what point does this story actually start getting acknowledged, that maybe the public really does enjoy the underdog in college sports, and wants to see more of them, not less?
Will Loyola Chicago coach Porter Moser stay or parlay Final Four to power conference job?--
USA Today
Final Four: Sister Jean doesn't talk to reporters after Loyola loss to Michigan--
USA Today
Bracket busters, buzzer beaters and a 98-year-old nun: The best of the NCAA tournaments--
USA Today
Loyola Ramblers team chaplain Sister Jean at the Final Four before tipoff. (Photo: Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)
Loyola was the feel-good story of the men’s tournament. I mean, the Ramblers reached the Final Four in their first appearance since 1985 and had a 98-year-old nun as their Sixth Man. You can’t script stories any better than that.
Though the Ramblers lost to Michigan in the Final Four, they showed they were every bit the equal of teams from the power programs. Which — hint, hint — should not go unnoticed by the selection committee, which is getting stingier and stingier with its bids for mid-majors.
As for Sister Jean, we’re all better for her brief time in the spotlight. She showed us that life can be lived well at any age, and the genuine affection between the team chaplain and the Ramblers was a reminder of how much the elderly have to offer. In other words, if you haven’t talked to your grandparents lately, give them a call.
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BUZZER BEATERS AND UNBELIEVABLE SHOTS
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But there were plenty of other late-game heroics, including Jordan Poole’s 28-footer to beat Houston in the second round; last-second daggers by Loyola’s Donte Ingram (first round), Clayton Custer (second round) and Marques Townes (Sweet 16); and Dakota Mathias’ late three that allowed Purdue to hold off Butler.
Top 10 college basketball moments of men's and women's Final Four--
USA Today
10. A simple gesture for Sister Jean
As Loyola-Chicago's Cinderella run came to an end Saturday night, Michigan guard Jordan Poole saw Ramblers team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt in a hallway and stopped to shake her hand. He told Sister Jean that he was a fan, and later explained why the 98-year-old nun impressed him. "She got those guys," Poole said afterward. "She had their back the entire time."
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8. A BFF pick-me-up
Best friends since third grade, Loyola-Chicago guards and Kansas natives Ben Richardson and Clayton Custer share a unique friendship that led to one of the Final Four's most gripping moments following the Ramblers' 69-57 loss to Michigan. Richardson, sobbing because he had played his last collegiate game, was consoled by Custer as he walked off the court.
"He grabbed me around the neck, and I just started holding him up," Custer said. "To see somebody I grew up with going through that much pain was hard to see. ...The fact that it's his last year. And our last time playing together."
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3. The Sister Jean press conference
For the first time in the history of the NCAA tournament, a 98-year-old nun addressed a crowded room of reporters in a scheduled press conference. It was pretty awesome. And make no mistake: Sister Jean came armed with some hot takes to boot, including why God is a basketball fan — and why he probably prefers college hoops to the NCAA.
Kevin Sweeney’s Way-Too-Early Top 25--
CBB Central
#25. Loyola-Chicago
This isn’t just throwing a bone to the little guy coming off a deep run. Loyola has legit talent once again, bringing back arguably their 3 best players from this season’s Final Four team. Add in the x-factor in New Mexico transfer Aher Uguak, a high-upside combo forward who has drawn rave reviews during his redshirt year, and this team has a chance to be really good once again. Porter Moser is building something special at Loyola.
Way-too-early projection of the 2019 NCAA tournament field: Loyola the only team from Illinois again--
Chicago Tribune
30. Loyola. Clayton Custer? Back. Marques Townes? Back. Cameron Krutwig? Back. But the most important thing for the Ramblers is they will likely remain as committed to moving the ball with brilliance on offense as some younger players emerge in larger roles. Loyola should be the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley after its Final Four run.
LOOK: Loyola-Chicago's Sister Jean 'enlisted' to be chaplain for the Washington Generals--
CBS Sports
College basketball rankings: National champion Villanova ranks No. 1 in final coaches poll--
CBS Sports
But NCAA Tournament upsets and Cinderella's sent shock waves across the final top 25, most notably with mid-major Loyola-Chicago finishing at No. 7 after a run to the Final Four.
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USA Today Coaches Poll
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7 Loyola-Chicago 32-6 555 --
Custer Claims Henson Award--
Valley Hoops Insider
Dozens of Ramblers Traveled 22 Hours on Charter Buses to Final Four--
Loyola Phoenix
Clayton Custer Named Recipient Of The Lou Henson Award--
loyolaramblers.com
Paul Lusk lands job as Creighton assistant--
Peoria Journal Star
Fired Missouri State coach Lusk replacing DeVries hired as Creighton assistant--
Des Moines Register
Former MSU head coach Paul Lusk lands assistant coach job at Creighton--
Springfield News-Leader
Clayton Custer Named Recipient Of The Lou Henson Award--
The Missouri Valley
Newman continues to develop his skills--
24/7 Sports
While at this point the schools are waiting to see him with Meanstreets before offering, Newman is definitely getting increased interest.
"Purdue, Indiana, Creighton, Nebraska, Miami-Ohio, IUPUI, Valparaiso, Xavier and a few other schools have been by to see me," noted Newman.
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