(Nashville, TN) – Two teams of destiny will meet in Atlanta on Thursday. Loyola’s Ramblers and Nevada’s Wolf Pack are unlikely combatants in the Sweet Sixteen game. Two teams that have overcome long odds and higher seeded teams to advance to the Peach State hosted game.
Seventh seeded Nevada earned their spot in Thursday’s contest with two dramatic, come-from-behind victories here in Music City. Down by 14 against Texas on Friday, they forced overtime and won 87-83. Then Sunday’s history-making mountain climbing victory was as monumental as they come.
The Wolf Pack overcame a 22 point deficit (the second largest in NCAA Tournament history) to defeat second seeded Cincinnati 75-73. The Wolf Pack locker room was the happiest head coach Eric Musselman has ever seen and apparently the coach went topless.
Loyola Chicago’s two Texas-sized victories were no less heart-stopping. A game-winning trey from Donte Ingram on Thursday dispatched Miami and it was Clayton Custer’s contested jumper that pushed the Ramblers past Tennessee on Saturday. Coach Porter Moser says his team’s mind set and togetherness have brought them to this historic place.
Both teams trailed big early and fought back to win their Sweet Sixteen qualifying victories. Musselman talks about how his team’s pace of play and a changing defense were keys to the win. Players Cody Martin and Josh Hall talk about Hall’s game-winning bucket.
Custer’s game-winning shot bounced around and fell through and he says he felt blessed it went through and also says he felt it vindicated the 1,000s of hours of practice.
Musselman turned around a Wolf Pack program that won nine games the season before he arrived. Under the third year coach Nevada has won the CBI Championship (2016) and ventured into the NCAA Tournament twice. Musselman has guided the Wolf Pack to 81 wins in his three seasons.
In his seventh season, it took Moser a bit longer to turn the corner, but the Ramblers also produced a 2015 CBI championship, and now this historic run have validated the grass-roots, hard work of this ‘Catholic Kid from Chicago.’
Later this week we will break down the match up and handicap the Rambler’s chances to reach the Elite Eight. For now, let’s celebrate two teams that have overcome much to reach these lofty elevations!
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