Beloved Loyola Chicago fan Sister Jean picks Kentucky to win 2023 NCAA Tournament 

March Madness is right around the corner, which means the re-emergence of college basketball’s most spiritual celebrity: Sister Jean of Loyola Chicago. The 103-year-old nun originally made headlines back in her late 90s as the team chaplain for the 2018 Loyola club, who made a surprise run to the Final Four as an 11-seed. Ever since, whenever the Ramblers make the NCAA Tournament, she’s been at the forefront of the party.

However, this season has been rough for Loyola Chicago. The team has an overall record of 9-19 and are dead last in the A-10 in their first year with the new conference, posting just a 3-13 record in league play so far. Barring a historic and unprecedented run from last place to win the conference tournament, Loyola wil not be heading back to the Big Dance. So, with the Ramblers almost certainly out of the picture, who does Sister Jean have winning it all?

“Right now, it looks to me as though Kentucky will,” she said when asked in a recent interview who will win the NCAA Tournament.

A very bold choice by Sister Jean considering the Wildcats’ shortcomings throughout the year. But perhaps she’s catching the wave at a perfect time as Kentucky is soaring right now after just winning their fourth straight game by blasting a tourney-bound Auburn team by 32. This team may not earn a one or two seed, but they’re plenty capable of making a run — and per Sister Jean, they’re going all the way.

Don’t believe Sister Jean’s Hoops IQ matches her understanding of the Bible? Well, take it from the Loyola Chicago players and coaches themselves, who claim the 103-year-old nun is just as helpful as the staff over on the sidelines.

“Everything she says is right on point,” said head coach Drew Valentine. “We got to rebound, next game, better. Or we got to hit our three-pointers better next game.”

“She’ll let us know when we mess up,” said senior forward Tom Welch. “And she’ll let us know when we do good things.” Another senior, Marquise Kennedy, added: “It’s almost like having another coach out there and just that spirit that we’re actually feeling when we step on the court.”

No doubt the Ramblers have had a fortunate run over the last few years and Sister Jean is in part to thank. Now we know who to credit if Kentucky makes a deep run. No, not John Calipari, but instead: Sister Jean Schmidt.