By Daniel Gilhooley
Every March, many discussions are held that ask “Who will be this year’s Cinderella story?” To those who aren’t familiar with the world of sports, this doesn’t make any sense, however, those who are will immediately fire off a variety of strongly opinionated answers. For those who identify with the former, this question is related to March Madness, a 68-team college basketball tournament that starts in mid-March and ends in early April. People across the country fill out annual brackets with underdog upsets, “blue blood” dominance, and more, waiting to see who will come out on top. While the historically top-seeded teams have a high chance of advancing to the final couple rounds, most fans hope to see a low ranked team exceed expectations and defeat these favorites. These underdog teams began being referred to as “Cinderella stories” because of their similar storylines to the classic fairy tale, especially the version by Charles Perrault. Traditionally, Cinderella is a story of a young girl who was looked down upon her entire life, but eventually shows her true beauty and marries a prince, fulfilling the original underdog story. Out of all the Cinderella stories in college basketball history, Loyola University of Chicago’s run in 2018 truly fits the criteria of what it means to receive this label and shows how being recognized as a Cinderella story alters the trajectory of a program due to the publicity provided.
As stated earlier, Cinderella is an icon that is constantly referred to when discussing this seasonal tournament, however, the comparison has a deeper history outside of college basketball. While modern announcers such as Gus Johnson and his iconic calls such as “the clock strikes midnight,” “the Cinderella run continues for [insert team],” and most famously “the slipper still fits!” (Jarden) have played an essential role in popularizing the fairy tale comparison, its origin dates back to a boxing match in 1939. In this event, James J. Braddock beat Max Braer in surprising fashion in the heavyweight title, birthing the nickname “Cinderella Man,” (Curtis). Surprisingly, the first NCAA basketball tournament occurred in the same year, but it wasn’t until 1950 in which the first recorded use of “Cinderella story” was used. This timely reference can be attributed to the release of Disney’s animated film of the fairy tale in the same year. According to sportingnews.com, the City College of New York won the NCAA tournament (prior to it being coined “March Madness”) in the spring, defeating North Carolina, Ohio State, and Bradley. Defeating these powerhouses is impressive, however, the most shocking part of their journey was that they became the first team to win the official tournament and the “Not in Tournament” bracket in the same year (Jarden). This journey from rags to riches completed the ultimate underdog story, which was rightly compared to the popular new Disney movie. The combination of CCNY’s rise to the top and the movie release sparked the use of “Cinderella” in describing any low-seeded team that makes an unexpected push late into the tournament. Since this pioneering run, many iconic college teams have had similar journeys, including George Mason (2006), Davidson (2008), VCU (2011), UCLA (2021), and most notably, Loyola Chicago (2018). When discussing Cinderella stories in March Madness, most fans will name one of these squads as the most iconic, however, it may be surprising to learn that some highly coveted teams throughout history weren’t true underdogs.
Each of these teams consistently defied the odds, defeating highly ranked teams in the fast-paced tournament and overcoming adversity from the media. However, there are yearly upsets, so what is the distinction between an upset and a true Cinderella run? Traditionally, a team that earns the title of “Cinderella story” is low seeded (11 or below) and is favored to lose in every game, mostly by multiple points. Shown below are the teams listed earlier and their point spread in each round of their March Madness games, using empirical data to help prove whether they were truly an underdog or not.
Surprisingly, George Mason is a team that doesn’t quite fit the numerical criteria for a true Cinderella team, even though they’re highly regarded as one of the most popular underdog stories in the history of college basketball. George Mason, along with Davidson and UCLA were favored to lose by as many as fourteen points in a majority of their games, however, it’s hard to ignore the round in which they played an inferior team. Even though the Patriots have been labeled as a Cinderella story by college basketball fans, people seem to forget that they weren’t underdogs in all of their games. If Cinderella teams were judged solely by numerical data, it would be easy to rule some of these teams out of the conversation, but this is where media and in-game play is a major factor.
Loyola Chicago’s historic run doesn’t just fit the criteria based on point spread; the team was able to use its in-game play to add an additional element from the fairy tale that emphasizes their story. To start, the Official NCAA website states that in the history of 11 vs. 6 seeds in the first round, the lower-seeded team wins only 38.16% of the time, already setting the Ramblers up for an improbable victory (Boozell). This low chance paired with the data on how their opponents were constantly favored by multiple points proves how they had everything against them, however, they introduced another aspect from the fairy tale that ameliorates their Final Four run.
People who grew up reading classic versions of “Cinderella,” such as the one written by Charles Perrault, are aware of the midnight deadline put in place by her fairy godmother so that her magic doesn’t wear off.
“But her godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay till after midnight, telling her, at the same time, that if she stayed one moment longer, the coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice, her coachman a rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as they were before” (Perrault).
This part of the story can be directly related to the plot of Loyola Chicago’s first three games according to the NCAA Video Vault. The Ramblers had a similar deadline in these games: the buzzer. In both the story and their first three rounds, Cinderella and Loyola needed to get home, or win, before the clock struck midnight. As 1.5-point underdogs against the University of Miami, they were losing with less than ten seconds left. However, Donte Ingram made a last second heave “about 26 feet away from the rim, which is never a high percentage shot at the college level” (Wittry). As Ingram sunk this deep three point to give his team the lead, it resembled the fairy tale in that Cinderella was able to escape with just enough time to make it home before her magic disappeared. This aspect is often forgotten when discussing Cinderella stories because it extends beyond the normal underdog narrative given to these teams. Ingram’s shot in the final moments and the team’s ability to pull through allowed them to continue “dancing” just like Cinderella and her ability to go to the ball the next day.
Immediately, Loyola Chicago was praised as successful underdogs following their first-round win, but it wasn’t until their second round in which they were labeled as a Cinderella story. Facing off against the Tennessee Volunteers, they continued to be doubted, projected to lose by five points. Just like Cinderella, they continued to be doubted as people didn’t believe that they were truly “beautiful”. This game ended similarly to the previous round, winning on a shot with six seconds left to defeat Tennessee by one point. Again, they escaped the deadline in time to continue their magic, just as the fairy tale depicts. Even though they were doubted, they overcame challenges and showed people who they really were. This is also similar to “Cinderella” because after barely escaping the ball on her second visit, she was recognized for her true beauty and married the prince. Likewise, after escaping this game, the media finally labeled the Ramblers as a Cinderella story.
Lastly, their win in the Elite Eight to move onto the Final Four identically mimics the interaction of Cinderella trying on the slipper because of the doubt from others and the result that followed. In Perrault’s rendition of the classic tale, when Cinderella offers to try on the slipper, “her sisters burst out a-laughing, and began to banter her” (Perrault). This reaction from others is similar to how people would’ve reacted to the Ramblers hoping to win this game if basing it off historical data. As of 2024, only six 11 seeds have made the Final Four, giving them approximately a 3% chance to make it this far at the start of the tournament. After examining the data, viewers would have laughed at Loyola for hoping to make it to the coveted Final Four, but they would sadly be mistaken. As if trying on the slipper and fitting it perfectly, the Ramblers overcame the Kansas State Wildcats in an astonishing 78-62 victory, defying the doubters and advancing onto the next round. By being statistical underdogs, moving on safely right before the deadline, and symbolically fitting a slipper whilst people doubted them, Loyola Chicago perfectly fits the criteria for a Cinderella story.
Labeling a team, such as Loyola Chicago, as a Cinderella story positively alters the university publicity and team morale. Cinderella stories are very prominent in media coverage, which undoubtedly boosts the school’s overall popularity. This surge in popularity can be seen in growth in applicants and enrollment in the university. Since their magical run in 2018, yearly applications have increased by an average of 3,468 per year, jumping by as many as 12,000 in one year (How Loyola University). This 82% increase from the 1,906 average in the five years prior is no coincidence, in fact it can be directly attributed to their growth in media coverage throughout the 2018 March Madness tournament. Granted, most schools see a natural increase in popularity as time goes on, however this immediate surge in applicants is clearly caused by the publicity received from their underdog journey to the Final Four. As these new applicants enrolled at Loyola Chicago, the entire atmosphere of the school changed: once a school that excelled in nursing and medicine is now a basketball school. Posters advertising team game days and season long-schedules line the Damen Student Center and other campus buildings, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere all built from this improbable Final Four journey in the 2018 March Madness Tournament. By labeling Loyola Chicago as a Cinderella story, the publicity that came with the label positively impacted the overall popularity and atmosphere of the university.
On top of popularity, the Cinderella story label increased team morale. Being labeled as an underdog undoubtedly incentivized them to win more, attempting to earn their place as a true favorite in their games. In an interview with head coach Porter Moser, he discussed the team’s mindset and intentions in the tournament. Originally co-conference champions, he stated that the team continued their mindset into the tournament in that “they wanted more, they want more… it’s just the way they’re wired… we’ll have plenty of time to celebrate [after]” (Katz 00:01:15 – 00:01:25). This statement from the head coach clearly displays the goal of the team, showing how they’re driven by being considered underdogs. They’re never satisfied with winning just one game or tying for conference, they want to be champions with no doubt. Labeling a squad with this mentality as a Cinderella story implies that they are underdogs and it’s magic, making it their top priority to escape this label and prove to everyone that they are the real deal. Calling the Ramblers a Cinderella Story motivated them to be successful, pushing them to fulfill the true tale of Cinderella and live happily ever after.
On the other hand, not all impacts of this label are positive. Firstly, when a team is named a Cinderella story and receives an increase in media attention, their expectations immediately rise for their next season because of their sudden success. Coming off a 32-6 season and a trip to the Final Four, fans expected Loyola Chicago to have as good if not a better season. While this was nearly the best season in program history, outside of their national championship in 1963, it wasn’t unfair to hope for their success to continue. Sadly, these high expectations weren’t met as the Ramblers finished the season with a 20-14 record, significantly lower than the season before. Along with this worse record, the team completely missed the NCAA tournament. Just one year prior, Loyola was tearing up March Madness and taking the media by storm, however, now they must watch from the sidelines. As a result of their magical “Cinderella story” title caused by their run in the 2018 tournament, Loyola Chicago received high expectations from fans and analysts that hoped to repeat their magic. These expectations were far from being met, causing the team to let down their fans.
Another negative effect of being labeled as a Cinderella story comes from the coaching staff. The increased attention drawn from this incredible run also involves the person who ran the team, not just the overall program, players, and fans. Upon showcasing strong skills in leading their team through the biggest stages in college basketball against the best teams, highly renowned programs begin to notice these talented coaches and offer them a spot on their staff. This is one of the most troubling issues with Cinderella stories because the coaches, who played a key role in these magical runs, get recruited by higher-ranked programs and abandon their original team. In 2021, just three years after completing his underdog story with the Ramblers, head coach Porter Moser accepted the head coaching job at the University of Oklahoma, a highly talented and historically successful program in the Big 12 Conference. Programs at larger universities receive more funding, giving them an advantage over programs like Loyola Chicago. At LUC, Moser made around $450,000 per year before being given a raise to $1.1 million after playing an essential role in their Cinderella run. Even though this raise nearly doubled his salary, Oklahoma offered him a deal that paid him between $2.5-3 million annually (Zagoria), blowing his original contract out of the water. Moser was the final piece of this magical story, hoping to keep the spark alive. However, when he left, he stripped the program of their fairy tale affinity. As a result of being labeled as a Cinderella story, the Loyola Chicago men’s basketball program received an increase in media presence, leading to their head coach being recruited by a more powerful program. Although an increase in publicity may seem like a benefit, there are harms that sometimes go unseen with this recognition.
Throughout the Rambler’s historic run in the 2018 NCAA March Madness tournament, they fulfilled what it truly meant to be a Cinderella story. However, with this title came many benefits and detriments for the program. The label “Cinderella story” augmented publicity, causing yearly application numbers to increase and change the identity of the university. It also improved player morale, pushing them to escape the underdog label and become an undoubtedly successful team. However, Loyola Chicago was also harmed by this trendy label. As a new Cinderella story, they received higher, unmet standards and lost their coveted head coach. While this label has its advantages and disadvantages, I believe that the term “Cinderella story” overall positively impacts basketball programs and is important for college basketball.
Works Cited
“Andy Katz Interviews Loyola Chicago Head Coach Porter Moser.” YouTube, March Madness, 23 Mar. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYGJHkjtDTs&t=116s
Boozell, Joe. “History of 11 Seeds vs. 6 Seeds in March Madness.” NCAA.Com, 24 Jan. 2024, www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2022-02-23/history-11-seeds-vs-6-seeds-march-madness
Curtis, Charles. “Why March Madness Upset Teams Are Known as ‘Cinderella.’” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 17 Mar. 2023, ftw.usatoday.com/lists/march-madness-cinderella-why-origin
“How Loyola University Chicago’s Acceptance Rate Changes.” College Tuition Compare, 2023, www.collegetuitioncompare.com/trends/loyola-university-chicago/admission/
Jarden, Sam. “What Does Cinderella Mean in March Madness? How the NCAA Tournament’s Underdog Nickname Started.” Sporting News, 24 Mar. 2023, www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/cinderella-march-madness-meaning-ncaa-tournament-underdog-nickname/dvn3qryslyma7fe3qydnrr2q
“NCAAB Database: College Basketball Betting Data.” Odds Shark, www.oddsshark.com/ncaab/database Accessed 14 Apr. 2024.
Perrault, Charles. “Cinderella.” Sur La Lune || Cinderella Annotated Tale, 1889, www.surlalunefairytales.com/a-g/cinderella/cinderella-tale.html
Wittry, Andy. “NCAA Video Vault: Cinderella Loyola Chicago’s Three Straight Game Winners in 2018 March Madness.” NCAA.Com, NCAA, 22 Jan. 2022, www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2022-01-11/cinderella-loyola-chicagos-three-straight-game-winners-2018-march-madness
Zagoria, Adam. “NCAA Coaching Carousel: Oklahoma Names Loyola’s Porter Moser New Head Coach.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 3 Apr. 2021, www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2021/04/02/ncaa-coaching-carousel-oklahoma-poised-to-name-loyolas-porter-moser-new-head-coach/?sh=3cdee9c329bd
