CAN LOYOLA BUILD ON SUCCESS FROM THIS FINAL FOUR RUN?
Three teams that turned a surprising tourney run into lasting success …
Gonzaga: Reached the Elite Eight in 1999. Mark Few replaced Dan Monson and went to 19 straight NCAA tournaments, including his first Final Four in 2017.
Butler: Back-to-back championship game appearances in 2010 and 2011. Brad Stevens left for the Boston Celtics, but the Bulldogs have gone to five NCAAs since and Sweet 16 in 2017.
Wichita State: Final Four in 2013. Gregg Marshall had top-25 and NCAA tournament team each season following that run, most notably Sweet 16 squad in 2015.
Three teams that faded from prominence after their run …
George Mason: Final Four in 2006. Has only made the NCAA tournament twice since then, not once after coach Jim Larranaga left for Miami (Fla.) in 2011.
Florida Gulf Coast: Made Sweet 16 in 2013. Two NCAA tourney appearances (first round losses) after Andy Enfield's run and departure to USC five years ago.
Virginia Commonwealth: Final Four run in 2011. Flirted with being a top-25 program for a few years, but hasn't been beyond NCAA second round since coach Shaka Smart left for Texas.
