Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Every Missouri Valley team’s most successful season since 2000

By Shea Irish

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Missouri Valley Basketball Loyola Ramblers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Missouri Valley Basketball Loyola Ramblers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Loyola Chicago Ramblers

Year: 2017-18

Record: 32-6 (15-3)

NCAA Tournament Results: 11 Seed- Advanced to the Final Four

-Defeated (6) Miami 64-62, (3) Tennessee 63-62, (7) Nevada 69-68, and (9) Kansas State 78-62. Lost to (3) Michigan 69-57.

Head Coach: Porter Moser

Notable Players:

Clayton Custer 6’1” JR (13.2 PPG, 4.1 APG, 45.1 3-PT%):

-2018 MVC Player of the Year

Marques Townes 6’4” JR (11.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG):

-Eventual 2019 MVC Player of the Year

Donte Ingram 6’6” SR (11.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 74 3-PT):

-2018 MVC 2nd-Team Selection

Cameron Krutwig 6’9” FR (10.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG):

-2018 MVC Freshman of the Year, eventual 2021 MVC Player of the Year, and 2021 3rd Team All-American.

Season Summary

For a team that had been to just one NCAA Tournament since 1968, the Ramblers certainly put themselves back on the map during the 2017-18 season. Capturing the Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships on their way to a school-record 32 wins, they would take the college basketball world by storm during the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Behind clutch shot after clutch shot, and with a little luck from Sister Jean, of course, Loyola Chicago went on a Cinderella run to the Final Four. Becoming just the fourth 11 seed ever to achieve that honor, they certainly rank towards the top of the best Missouri Valley Conference teams of all time.

Another Season Worth Honorable Mention: Loyola Chicago’s 2020-21 team that advanced to the Sweet 16 by knocking off Georgia Tech and then the in-state powerhouse and top-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini.