Loyola

[MU82]

I am positive there are Kansas State fans disappointed with this run because it probably buys Weber a couple more years. There's definitely a faction that still adamantly wants him out, and I'd say they are larger and more vocal than our own Wojo bashers.

Weber is an interesting story. I was covering Illinois in his first season, 2003-04. The fanbase was furious that Self left for Kansas, and they wanted him replaced with a "big-time" coach, not a guy from Southern Illinois. (They even gave token interest to Crean, and I wrote a column that pissed off some Illinois fans in which I said Illinois wasn't as good a job as they thought it was - certainly no better than Marquette.)

The Illini started 4-2 that season. The first loss was a close one to UNC but the second was a blowout loss to Providence in the preseason NIT - a humiliation on national TV at the Garden. Weber was having trouble getting the team's stars, Self loyalists Dee Brown, Deron Williams, etc, to buy into what he wanted to do. (This was a few years before it became common practice for players recruited by departed coaches to bolt.)

A vocal section of the fanbase wanted Weber fired on the spot. "Let's cut our losses now. The guy obviously can't coach."

Before the next game, Weber walked into the locker room dressed in black. "I wore black to tell the guys that it's over, it's a funeral of Bill Self in that he's no longer the coach here. He's no longer the coach here, so we've got to move forward and go on.''

The ploy was met with derision by fans ... but Illinois won its next 6 games and later closed the regular season with a 10-game winning streak. They finished 26-7 and reached the Sweet 16, where they lost to Duke. The following season, they were ranked No. 1 most of the way and lost the national championship game to UNC in a nail-biter to finish 37-2.

For the next few years, the fanbase was divided between those who thought Weber was a brilliant coach who was being unfairly dogged, and a bad coach who merely had capitalized on the guys Self had brought in. The beginning of the end for him was when Eric Gordon rescinded his commitment and went to Indiana instead, "proving" Weber couldn't recruit well enough to compete at the highest level.

Of course, since firing Weber, Illinois has been drifting through the basketball wilderness.

I don't follow K-State as closely as I followed Illinois during the Weber years, but I wouldn't be surprised if similar factions there are battling now.

I thought he was a good to very good game coach and a genuinely good guy whom most players considered "corny" and old-fashioned. He doesn't excite recruits the way so many "big-personality" coaches do.

I'm not surprised to hear that many K-State fans would rather the team have sucked this season so that they could rid themselves of Weber once and for all ... and now they're worried they'll be "stuck" with him for another year or 3.

[GoldenWarrior11]

It'll never happen, but I would love to replace DePaul in the Big East with Loyola.  Give them Wintrust Arena.  They would at least get fans there.

[Galway Eagle]

It'll never happen, but I would love to replace DePaul in the Big East with Loyola.  Give them Wintrust Arena.  They would at least get fans there.

They can't even get 2,000 to the on campus arena. They'd pack it for about 6 games next year before the students and alumni realized they're back to being less than average and stopped making the trip down to the south loop.

[GoldenWarrior11]

They can't even get 2,000 to the on campus arena. They'd pack it for about 6 games next year before the students and alumni realized they're back to being less than average and stopped making the trip down to the south loop.

They will now.  They have instantly become a national sensation, and become the city's top men's basketball team.  With all the new revenue the school will now get, including the new admissions due to the Flutie Effect, the school will increase its perception and resources.  They already have a higher academic ranking than DePaul, a higher endowment and more undergrad students on campus. 

[GGGG]

They will now.  They have instantly become a national sensation, and become the city's top men's basketball team.  With all the new revenue the school will now get, including the new admissions due to the Flutie Effect, the school will increase its perception and resources.  They already have a higher academic ranking than DePaul, a higher endowment and more undergrad students on campus. 

Yeah don't oversell that.  Read what chick wrote about what happened to Butler.

[Galway Eagle]

They will now.  They have instantly become a national sensation, and become the city's top men's basketball team.  With all the new revenue the school will now get, including the new admissions due to the Flutie Effect, the school will increase its perception and resources.  They already have a higher academic ranking than DePaul, a higher endowment and more undergrad students on campus.

Really. Let's take the last completely out of the blue mid major that made the final four. George mason.

2006 they made the final four and averaged 4500 fans a game.

2007 they bumped that to 6800 with excitement around a program just off the final four. They limped to 18-15 5th in the coloni and no postseason.

Since then they've lost fans every year and are now down to 4200.

A similar thing will happen with Loyola. They'll get a big boost and student support before they realize the team was not meant for long term sustained success and they'll fade to obscurity again.

[MU82]

Really. Let's take the last completely out of the blue mid major that made the final four. George mason.

2006 they made the final four and averaged 4500 fans a game.

2007 they bumped that to 6800 with excitement around a program just off the final four. They limped to 18-15 5th in the coloni and no postseason.

Since then they've lost fans every year and are now down to 4200.

A similar thing will happen with Loyola. They'll get a big boost and student support before they realize the team was not meant for long term sustained success and they'll fade to obscurity again.

Unless they keep winning, this absolutely will be the case.

Until 2 weeks ago, Chicago basketball fans didn't know Loyola existed. The vast majority ignore Northwestern and DePaul, too. Chicago is by and large a pro sports town, and fans there need a reason to care about college sports. DePaul basketball gave them reason in Ray Meyer's later years.

There is a solid ND football fanbase there. Otherwise ... it's a classic bandwagon situation.

Loyola is the flavor of the month. If they go back to being what they were during almost the entirety of Moser's time there (and the decades before that), they will barely be a blip on the Chicago sports scene.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Yea, I'm a Rogers Park native and as much as I love the Loyola run, it won't be sustained. I mean, their volleyball team was/is so much more popular than their basketball team, even before their two National Championships.

I hope they continue to be successful in the MVC and help make it a two bid league, and hey if they're still as successful 5 years from now you can always give them a call later on.

[MarquetteDano]

Yea, I'm a Rogers Park native and as much as I love the Loyola run, it won't be sustained. I mean, their volleyball team was/is so much more popular than their basketball team, even before their two National Championships.

I hope they continue to be successful in the MVC and help make it a two bid league, and hey if they're still as successful 5 years from now you can always give them a call later on.

ChiTown: check your PM

[GooooMarquette]

I know it isn't gonna happen...but if Loyola replaced DePaul in the BE and Wintrust, why wouldn't they have as good a chance as DePaul (or even better) to succeed?

People say Loyola will return to being just another a mid-major program soon after this season, and they're probably right...but that's because they will remain in the MVC. If they had the opportunity to jump to a major conference, they just might be able to maintain some momentum.

And seriously, do people really think they would be any less successful than DePaul if they had the same BE advantage?

[Galway Eagle]

I know it isn't gonna happen...but if Loyola replaced DePaul in the BE and Wintrust, why wouldn't they have as good a chance as DePaul (or even better) to succeed?

People say Loyola will return to being just another a mid-major program soon after this season, and they're probably right...but that's because they will remain in the MVC. If they had the opportunity to jump to a major conference, they just might be able to maintain some momentum.

And seriously, do people really think they would be any less successful than DePaul if they had the same BE advantage?

If Loyola were given the wintrust or even able to split it with Depaul and it was within a year or two I could see them being able to nab a class like the three amigos when we went to the Big East. You're right they couldnt be worse than Depaul at least in conference. Essentially this is a crossroads for them, do they try to build off this and turn themselves into a good program or do they go down as the School with the most efficient tournament success in history.

[Billy Hoyle]

Really. Let's take the last completely out of the blue mid major that made the final four. George mason.

2006 they made the final four and averaged 4500 fans a game.

2007 they bumped that to 6800 with excitement around a program just off the final four. They limped to 18-15 5th in the coloni and no postseason.

Since then they've lost fans every year and are now down to 4200.

A similar thing will happen with Loyola. They'll get a big boost and student support before they realize the team was not meant for long term sustained success and they'll fade to obscurity again.

And don't forget that Mason upgraded conferences too and still has been stuck in a solid state of mediocrity ever since.

One year does not define a program. They've been less than mediocre since 1985. They've got on a lucky run. SLU had 3 strong years and went back to being, well, SLU. Let's see if LUC can sustain it for a few years before crowning them the next Butler or Creighton.

[We R Final Four]

LMC?
LUC.

[rocket surgeon]

Rocket, how did the media treat Villanova being a Catholic school?     Sister Jean is just a fun story.    You are correct about Moser's overall record.    Who here would have been championing Moser a month ago, a year ago?   Or even if Loyola had missed the shot against Miami.    A great story.    An awesome story.    Everybody loves a Cinderella story.     But for anybody to say 'we need a coach like Moser' means they are missing the big picture and his overall record as a head coach and what he had accomplished before this year.

yes, that was unfair, but you know rocket wouldn't be rocket without throwing a little "gas" on the fire. 
       coulda done without the snark...

[The Equalizer]

And don't forget that Mason upgraded conferences too and still has been stuck in a solid state of mediocrity ever since.

Same could be said for DePaul.

[Billy Hoyle]

When they get to the game with Nova. Maybe.

Why? The whole "you root for other teams in your conference" argument is weak. Not much different than Wisconsin fans saying you should root for other in-State teams.

Besides, I'll never pull for G-Town and certainly didn't cheer for WVU and L-ville when we were conference brethren.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I would trade Loyola for DePaul. I trust Loyola's willingness and ability to make an investment in men's basketball more than I trust DePauls.

[Galway Eagle]

Why? The whole "you root for other teams in your conference" argument is weak. Not much different than Wisconsin fans saying you should root for other in-State teams.

Besides, I'll never pull for G-Town and certainly didn't cheer for WVU and L-ville when we were conference brethren.

Except we get paid more the better Nova does

[GGGG]

Why? The whole "you root for other teams in your conference" argument is weak. Not much different than Wisconsin fans saying you should root for other in-State teams.

Besides, I'll never pull for G-Town and certainly didn't cheer for WVU and L-ville when we were conference brethren.

Why is it weak?

[tower912]

Love Villanova.  Want to play like Villanova.  Appreciate the $ Villanova bestows on the rest of the Big East, as well as the love Jay spreads.

[ATWizJr]

They will now.  They have instantly become a national sensation, and become the city's top men's basketball team.  With all the new revenue the school will now get, including the new admissions due to the Flutie Effect, the school will increase its perception and resources.  They already have a higher academic ranking than DePaul, a higher endowment and more undergrad students on campus.

. Wouldn't it be funny if the Loyola success had a negative effect on our recruiting in Illinois?

[Galway Eagle]

. Wouldn't it be funny if the Loyola success had a negative effect on our recruiting in Illinois?

Under wojo we've gotten one player from Illinois by way of Nebraska. Under buzz we got 2 both of whom transferred out. not sure the Illinois pipeline is as open as we pretend.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Loyola is different than George Mason, VCU, Wichita State and even Butler because Loyola has already won a national championship.  What if they win it all this year?  To simply dismiss Loyola out-of-hand because it is a "lucky" run is shortsighted.  Every single mid-major listed above that went on a long run ended up moving up conferences. 

The city of Chicago owns Wintrust.  What's to stop them from giving Loyola a handful of dates to play at Wintrust due to this run?

[brewcity77]

It feels like LUC winning four games has caused people to confuse them with Gonzaga.

[Galway Eagle]

Loyola is different than George Mason, VCU, Wichita State and even Butler because Loyola has already won a national championship.  What if they win it all this year?  To simply dismiss Loyola out-of-hand because it is a "lucky" run is shortsighted.  Every single mid-major listed above that went on a long run ended up moving up conferences. 

The city of Chicago owns Wintrust.  What's to stop them from giving Loyola a handful of dates to play at Wintrust due to this run?

A) beyond George mason each of those had real school support  before they made the final fours. It's not surprising that the schools that cared before are still doing well and the school that didn't is not.

B) The city does not own the Wintrust. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority own the Wintrust.