Let it not be lost in the euphoria that Jimmy Patsos coached a great game. He managed the foul situation in the first half adeptly.

• Quote:

Students will be allowed on campus at noon on Sunday.

I just stopped by the bookstore and asked when they will have the MAAC championship tee shirts. I was told they are supposed to arrive tomorrow (Tuesday). I don't know what time tomorrow, or when they'll be on the floor - but no later than Wednesday seems to be a safe guess.

With NCAA berth, Loyola University preps for merchandise rush

Loyola University Maryland is gearing up for a rush of apparel sales after the school’s men’s basketball team punched its ticket Monday night to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 18 years.

Shortly after Loyola defeated Fairfield 48-44 in the MAAC title game, the school ordered 100 championship T-shirts and 100 Loyola basketball shirts, said Jennifer Wood, director of campus services, which oversees the university’s bookstore. The campus bookstore is currently sold out of the basketball shirts, which sell for $21.95 apiece.

The shirts are expected to arrive Wednesday. The school is only ordering 100 at a time due to storage limitations, Wood said, but if sales are brisk more can be ordered and shipped within 48 hours.

Since the game ended, seven pre-orders were placed online for shirts, Wood said. An additional 23 basketball-related items sold overnight, she said.
“Obviously this is a learning experience for us,” said Wood, noting that this is a larger event for the school than orientation, graduation fairs, parents weekend and reunion weekend. “But we’re excited and we’ll take it.”

The true merchandise test, however, will come next week when the university’s 3,500 undergraduate students return from spring break.

• Loyola expects NCAA berth to pay off

Meanwhile Loyola, whose bookstore is operated by Barnes and Noble, has also ordered shirts to celebrate the first time its men’s basketball team has won at least 20 games. Those shirt will arrive within the next week.

Meanwhile, the success of the basketball team has already contributed to a spike in merchandise sales. Compared with the start of the season, apparel sales at home games tripled toward the end of the year, Wood said.

Loyola’s opponent in the first round of the NCAA tournament won’t be known until March 11.

With NCAA berth, Loyola University preps for merchandise rush

Since the game ended, seven pre-orders were placed online for shirts, Wood said. An additional 23 basketball-related items sold overnight, she said.
“Obviously this is a learning experience for us,” said Wood, noting that this is a larger event for the school than orientation, graduation fairs, parents weekend and reunion weekend. “But we’re excited and we’ll take it.”

That is unbelievable. Yes it's bigger than orientation and other events. No clue.

• LoCo2011 Said:

I cannot tell you what a buzz kill I had this morning to learn that this all happened during spring break.

I feel bad for the team and students. You've been robbed of the euphoria of the moment. Poor IYF, sitting there, watching the game with his mother!Even when we win, we lose!

• jdp 94 Said:

Hey now, nothing wrong with watching the game with momma. I've watched my undergrad win a couple National Championships with her, and this was just as exciting. Loyola essentially won their National Championship last night.

It's great going around the Internet know and finding all this great stuff. The video of welcoming the team back to campus, all the articles we have, the post game interview, espn highlights.

Patsos on Scott van Pelt show this afternoon: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=765 2646

• InYourHead Said:

Fair enough. I'll amend accordingly:

I feel bad for every student except IYH, for missing out on the once-in-a-lifetime college campus experience.