Loyola and Butler Named to 100 Greatest College Basketball Programs of All Time

Jan. 27, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS - Horizon League members Loyola University Chicago and Butler University have been named two of the 100 Greatest College Basketball Programs of All Time by Street & Smith's Specialty Publications in a magazine by the same name that was released nationwide Jan. 25. Three hundred and nine schools were eligible for consideration for the national honor.

In 1963, Loyola pulled off the greatest feat in the storied history of the program, knocking off two-time defending NCAA champion Cincinnati in overtime to claim the NCAA National Championship. In addition, Loyola's 1985 squad advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 before falling to a top-ranked Georgetown team led by Patrick Ewing. The Ramblers have made five NCAA and four National Invitation Tournament appearances in their history.

Butler, which claimed basketball national championships in 1924 and 1929, compiled seven consecutive 20-win seasons from 1997-2003. During that stretch, Butler made five NCAA Tournament appearances, including an NCAA Sweet 16 run in 2002-03, and earned two trips to the National Invitation Tournament. Butler's seven-year record during the successful stretch was 167-59.

Kentucky was named the No. 1 college basketball program of all-time, while UCLA grabbed the runner-up spot.

Street & Smith's 100 Greatest College Basketball Programs of All Time is available on newsstands, or can be purchased directly from Street & Smith's at www.specialpubs.com/100Greatest, or by phone at 1-800-380-7404.