A Prairie State showdown
Could 1st in-state NCAA Tournament matchup since 1984 symbolize a hoops resurgence?
Illinois-Loyola matchup in tournament could symbolize the start of a college basketball resurgence in the state.
INDIANAPOLIS — When Illinois’ Ayo Dosunmu and Loyola’s Lucas Williamson were kids in Chicago, playing on the same Small Fry and AAU teams, they lived for basketball.
But unlike kids in Kentucky or Kansas, where teams perennially made the NCAA Tournament, they watched March Madness with little particular rooting interest.
“I really didn’t keep up with a lot of tournament teams,” said Dosunmu, who played at Morgan Park. “I’d watch the tournament but like the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight or games that were more interesting.”
Said Williamson, a former Young player: “I never followed a favorite team. I always watched it just because I loved basketball.”
They can’t be blamed. The state of Illinois offered little to root for during March Madness when they were in their formative basketball years.
Dosunmu and Williamson are now headliners in the NCAA Tournament, facing off Sunday in the second round with a trip to the Sweet 16 at stake. No. 1 seed Illinois (24-6) takes on No. 8 Loyola (25-4) at 11:10 a.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse (CBS-2).
It is the first time since 1984, when DePaul beat Illinois State, that two teams from the state face off in the tournament. It’s also the
first time since 2007 that two teams from Illinois made the tournament field.
Between 2008-19, only one team or no teams from the state earned NCAA Tournament invitations each season. Five times during that span, including three straight from 2014-16, no team from the state competed.
This showdown could symbolize the start of a state resurgence.
“State of Illinois basketball is important,” Underwood said. “It can’t be anything but great for the state.”
Some Loyola fans are miffed the Ramblers drew a second-round matchup against a top seed from in-state. Some Illinois fans are annoyed the Illini have to face a popular underdog that probably deserved a higher seed.
But Moser sees this as a golden opportunity. Yes, it’s a chance for the Ramblers to affirm their growing stature in college basketball, but the game should highlight college basketball in the Land of Lincoln.
“Being from Illinois, seeing two ranked teams going at each other in the Round of 32, it’s a great basketball state,” said Moser, a Naperville native who previously coached at Illinois State. “There’s a huge amount of passion for basketball in the state of Illinois. It’s been that way for decades. To see two ranked teams go at it to get a ticket to the Sweet 16 is great for the state.”
This used to be the norm, multiple teams representing the state.
From 2002-07, at least two teams earned tournament invitations. Those years saw a fun Sweet 16 run from Southern Illinois and a brilliant runner-up finish from Illinois. Three teams from Illinois earned invitations in 2002 (Illinois, SIU and Illinois-Chicago), 2004 (Illinois, DePaul and UIC) and 2006 (Illinois, SIU and Bradley).
It truly was an era of pride in this state that produces historic basketball talent. What happened between then and now? There were a number of factors, including recruiting issues and so-called one-bid conferences.
Underwood coached as an assistant at Western Illinois from 1992-2003. The Leathernecks had talented teams, but they struggled to win the Summit League for an automatic bid.
Making the tournament “is really really hard to do,” he said. “The Missouri Valley is a very good league. The Ohio Valley, Summit, whatever league you’re in, it’s really hard to win your league, it’s really hard to win your tournament.
“We had really good teams at Western when I was there, but we could never get by Valpo. It’s so hard and so challenging and you have to have a little luck.”
Dosunmu’s commitment to Illinois as a top-flight recruit stopped a long line of coveted high school players choosing schools such as Kansas, Kentucky or Michigan State.
Moser has brought in-state talent to Loyola. Center Cameron Krutwig is from
Algonquin, and Marquise Kennedy played at Brother Rice. The 2018 team featured Donte Ingram from Simeon.
“Why it fell off ? I have no idea,” Moser said of the years with few Illinois tournament teams. “For us, it’s been a process.
“Ten years ago when I took over, we were Loyola Chicago, and we had one Illinois player on the roster. One. Now we’ve had a number of them make huge contributions.”
It seems safe to say the Illini have resurrected themselves since the dark days.
Illinois likely would have made the NCAA Tournament last season if not for COVID-19 postseason cancellations. Underwood’s recruiting, like landing freshman Adam Miller from Morgan Park, indicates the Illini will be back in March Madness for years to come.
Loyola also has sustained its success, stacking 20-win seasons, conference championships and earning the right to play in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years.
This could make other players from Illinois think twice before signing outside the borders.
“The state of Illinois has always produced basketball players,” Williamson said. “We just never had people stay. Illinois (schools) were never a popular location for top recruits like Ayo. In that extent, this game and this tournament, it is changing the narrative in terms of Illinois collegiate basketball.
“It shows recruits in high school, you can play at the highest level and play in Illinois.
You don’t have to go far to play at this level.”
Sunday’s game is a sign the tide is turning in the state.
It’s no accident the Loyola and Illinois programs are on the rise: They hired successful, charismatic coaches who recruit well, and the universities committed to facility upgrades.
“I think it takes a lot of people to find success,” Underwood said. “You look at what Loyola’s done with facilities over the years. You have to have administrative support at the highest level. Things have fallen into place at Loyola, and they have here.”
Other teams need to follow suit. DePaul hasn’t made the tournament since 2004. The Blue Demons will be hiring a coach to replace recently fired Dave Leitao. Northwestern made its first tournament appearance in 2017 but has struggled to get back.
Dosunmu said he rooted for Loyola when it advanced to the Final Four in 2018.
“I always root for Chicago teams,” Dosunmu said. “I wanted them to go far.”
When fans tune in Sunday, the state will be divided between Illinois and Loyola fans. But a competitive game means the state wins.
“You have two ranked teams going at it,” Moser said. “It’s been a basketball passionate state. The city of Chicago is. I know Champaign is.
“To see that going for a ticket for the Sweet 16, I know there will be a lot of eyes, not just in the state but in the country.”