UTC senior guard Trey Bonham speaks at Monday's NIT Final Four media session.
photo by NCAA.com/NIT
As if taking on the talented Loyola University Chicago squad wasn’t enough of a challenge, the Chattanooga Mocs must also recognize the unseen influence of the Ramblers’ biggest fan even though she rarely attends games these days.
It’s been seven years since the college basketball world was formally introduced to Sister Jean, the venerable nun at Loyola University Chicago who also served as team chaplain for the Ramblers basketball team since 1994.
At the time she was 98-years old, and she became a media sensation as the face of Loyola during their run to the Final Four in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Her fame grew when the 11th-seeded Ramblers upset Tennessee in the second round for their first Sweet 16 appearance in 33 years, culminating in Loyola’s elimination at the hands of Michigan in the semifinals.
Bobblehead dolls of Sister Jean seated in her wheelchair sold for more than $300 on eBay at the time, and her inspiring prayers and scouting reports for her beloved Ramblers provided an inspirational storyline.
She celebrated her 105th birthday last August, citing the keys to her longevity to “loving others and God, taking care of your mind and body, and interacting with young people.” While she seldom makes appearances at Loyola games these days, she still serves as an iconic figure representing the program.
Her beloved Ramblers will take on another team from Tennessee on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with another national title in the mix. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (27-9) will be making its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament Final Four where they will encounter Loyola Chicago (25-11) in a game televised on ESPN2.
UC Irvine – with former Moc Myles Che starting at guard - and North Texas meet in the other semifinal slated for a 7 p.m. tip
This is Loyola’s seventh appearance in the NIT, having won the tournament in 1962 the year before the Ramblers captured the NCAA title. Chattanooga is making it’s fifth showing in the tournament, but the first since making it four straight years from 1984-87.
Loyola opened the season with nine straight wins before losing five of six games entering Atlantic-10 Conference play. The Ramblers finished 12-6 in A-10 play to finish third, then were eliminated in the conference tournament by eventual champion Virginia Commonwealth.
The Ramblers advanced through the NIT with wins at San Jose State (73-70) and at San Francisco (77-76) before defeating Kent State (72-62) at home in the quarterfinals. Loyola split a pair of games against Dayton, who Chattanooga eliminated in the second round by an 87-72 margin. The Ramblers lost 83-81 in overtime at Dayton before capturing a 76-72 home win against the Flyers.
The two schools have met only twice previously, with Loyola winning both times. Their last encounter was a 61-59 victory in Chattanooga in December 1989.
CHATTANOOGA PUNCHES TICKET TO NIT SEMIS FOR FIRST TIME
Chattanooga advanced to the NIT Semifinals for the first time in program history after rallying for a 67-65 comeback victory on the road at No. 3 Bradley on Tuesday night inside a rowdy Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois. The Mocs erased a 16-point deficit (38-22) with 2:15 remaining in the first half with a dominant second half. UTC held Bradley to just 27 second-half points (42-27) after trailing 38-25 at half.
CHATTANOOGA NIT HISTORY RUNS DEEP
Chattanooga is making its fifth NIT appearance in program history after four-straight berths from 1984-87. The Mocs are now 6-4 (.600) all-time in the NIT after Tuesday's win, and the current run to the semis topped the program's deepest run to the quarterfinals in 1985.
RECORD-BREAKING SEASON CONTINUES
During the historic 2024-25 season, UTC has set new single-season program marks in multiple categories including: games played (37); points (2,865); assists (611); field goals made (1,012); free throw percentage (77.0); turnovers per game (10.1); and assist to turnover ratio (1.67).
APRIL BASKETBALL? SURE THING
Chattanooga will play in the month of April for the first time in program history. The previous latest date before Tuesday's (3/25) win at Bradley was 3/24/1985. The Mocs are the only current SoCon member to play in April in an NCAA-sanctioned event (Samford, 4/1/14, CIT Semis) and the first SoCon school since N.C. State in 1947 to reach NIT Semifinal stage.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com