Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt threw her hands up in excitement after the final buzzer Saturday against Kansas State in Atlanta. Loyola was going to the Final Four for the first time since 1963.
Sister Jean didn’t doubt Loyola would make it to the Final Four, especially after the Ramblers defeated Nevada a few days before.
Before Saturday’s tipoff against the Wildcats, the 98-year-old basketball-loving nun had a member of Loyola’s athletic department cancel her dentist appointment that was scheduled for the following Saturday. She clearly was planning her trip to San Antonio for the Final Four.
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It seems the nation can’t get enough of Sister Jean, Loyola’s fairy godmother in the Ramblers’ Cinderella story. She has captivated the nation with her attitude and passion for Loyola. Within two days of being on the market, Sister Jean’s bobblehead became the best-selling doll in Bobblehead Hall of Fame history, selling more than 5,000 units.
But former Bulls guard and Michigan star Jalen Rose’s grandma isn’t buying into the hype.
Rose shared a video on Instagram on Monday of his 100-year-old grandmother, Mary Belle Hicks, calling out Sister Jean.
“Sister Jean, it’s been a good ride,” Hicks said. “But it’s over Saturday.”
Rose spent parts of three of his 13 NBA seasons with the Bulls. He played three years for the Wolverines and was selected 13th overall in the 1994 NBA Draft.
Loyola is the fourth 11th-seeded team to make it to the Final Four. The Ramblers will take on third-seeded Michigan at 5:09 p.m. Saturday.
Follow me on Twitter @madkenney.
Email: mkenney@suntimes.com
