Before the 2018 Final Four, it was easy to find cheap Loyola-Chicago basketball tickets. But that changed after the Ramblers went on one of the most memorable Cinderella runs in recent memory. Granted, the 2018 NCAA Tournament wasn’t the first time the Ramblers made some noise on the big stage. They’ve always been a solid mid-major program. However, after that Final Four run, nothing will be the same again with every sports fan in the Windy City eager to get their hands on last-minute Loyola-Chicago basketball tickets.

History in the Making

Going to the Final Four in 2018 is, at best, the second-greatest accomplishment in Loyola basketball history. In 1963, the Ramblers made history under head coach George Ireland, who led the program from 1951 to 1975. In the days when there was an unwritten agreement among coaches not to play more than two African-American players at the same time, Ireland regularly had three or four black players in his starting lineup.

During the 1962-63 season, the Ramblers entered the NCAA Tournament with a 24-2 record. They went on to beat powerhouses Illinois and Duke on their way to facing two-time defending champion Cincinnati in the national championship game. After trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half, Loyola rallied to force overtime before beating Cincinnati 60-58 to claim the national championship with a majority African American lineup against the backdrop of segregation. By starring four players in the championship game, Ireland and Loyola opened the door for Texas Western to feature five black players in the title game three years later.

The Rest is Just Icing

After the impact Loyola-Chicago made on the sports world in 1963, everything else the program has accomplished is just icing on the cake. That includes half a dozen conference titles, a Sweet 16 appearance in 1985, and the unforgettable Final Four run in 2018. Thanks to that run, Loyola-Chicago is back in the spotlight, making the Ramblers a team to watch in the Missouri Valley Conference.