Not to be.
The Illini were in search of their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2005 and were winners of 15 of their last 16, but they were no match for Loyola Chicago on Sunday. The No. 8 seed Ramblers controlled the contest from start to finish, stymying each and every Illinois comeback attempt to win 71-58 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
For 40 minutes, the Ramblers looked like a team that had been there before. They had, of course, reaching the Final Four just a few seasons ago. One can see what made Porter Moser’s program successful the last time it made the NCAA Tournament.