Fans cheer Loyola basketball team after latest NCAA tournament victory

CHICAGO (Fox 32 News) - The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers may be the team that not many people across the nation expected to make it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, but fans at Gentile Arena Sunday afternoon said they were not among the doubters.

The men’s basketball team returned from a trip to Atlanta where they defeated Kansas State the day before. Inside the Gentile Arena, everyone seemed to be riding the high of victory.

“The entire atmosphere on campus - everyone has a pep in their step and it's so exciting,” said student Alex Ponder.

The team’s chaplain, 98-year-old Sister Jean was present, as well.

Head coach Porter Moser and players addressed the crowd.

“They came out of nowhere for everybody else, but I didn't have a doubt. They had it in the season,” said Maggie Yarnold, a Loyola-Chicago student.

Sophie Tangel, also a student, said her voice had become hoarse from cheering.“I never expected it, but I knew that our team was so strong,” she said.

Less than one percent of ESPN brackets had the team advancing to the semi-final round of the tournament.