Chris Logan knows just how hard it is to make it to the Final Four because he never did.

The former Natchez High School point guard does, however, have the chance to watch his alma mater — the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers — compete today in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Semifinals.

“It’s been really exciting to see them this year being an alumni and everything,” the 2002 NHS graduate said. “It’s hard too, just because it’s one of the things I wanted to do the most.

“It’s crazy how far they’ve gotten. It’s hard to just make it out of the conference. So, to make it to the tournament is unbelievable.”

Logan, who played for Loyola in his junior and senior seasons following a career at Northeast Mississippi Community College, has already secured his ticket to today’s Final Four matchup as the No. 11 seed Ramblers are scheduled to play No. 3 Michigan for a 5:09 p.m. tip-off in San Antonio, Texas.

Long before, Logan said he believes he was an instrumental part to building a program that has been on the verge of a miracle championship run.

“My first year (in 2004) we lost our first 11 games. It wasn’t a program that was really focused on basketball,” he said.

Logan said he didn’t begin as a starter, but eventually worked his way up, proving himself as a player who definitely didn’t want to lose.

“After I played my first game, we then won 13 straight games,” Logan said. “I always wanted to play with a sense of pride. Watching them now and to know what I did then carried on, it brings back a lot of memories. By watching them play, they are known for basketball now.”

Loyola has defied many odds this season, taking down No. 6 seed Miami, No. 3 Tennessee and No. 7 Nevada in the first three rounds of this year’s tournament by two points or fewer.

In last Saturday’s Elite Eight matchup with No. 9 seed Kansas State, the Ramblers won, 78-62.

Logan, who now lives in Houston as an offshore captain, says the connotation around his former team has changed since this year’s success, in which Loyola sits at 32-5.

“I’ve been watching them all year, but really since the tournament started,” he said. “When I’m in Natchez, I used to tell everyone that I played there but they would usually be confused and ask who that was. When I mention it to them now, they look at me differently.

“People really respect what you’ve accomplished, because I think you always want to build a legacy. I knew the value of (Loyola) by going there, and think this year really allowed people to see how great they are.”

If the Ramblers are to win, they will make their first appearance in the tournament championship since 1963 when they took home their only title in school history.

While Logan said he is planning to attend the championship, too, he wants to enjoy the time he will have with many former friends at today’s game.

One in particular, a 98-year-old nun who has made quite the statement on this year’s team; Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt.

She has worked as the team chaplain for Loyola since 1994.

“Every game before we would run out, she would stop us and give us a speech. She would say a prayer and send us on our way,” Logan said.

Logan said it’s no wonder Sister Jean has garnered so much attention.

“She is a feisty woman, and she definitely wants to win,” he said. “But, it’s not hard to see she is a real good woman.

To think she was in her 80s when I was there and she’s still going now, its incredible.”

If anything, regardless of Sister Jean’s blessing, Logan just wants people to know Loyola is a force to be reckoned with.

Logan was scheduled to compete in today’s alumni basketball game at Natchez High, but said he doesn’t mind missing out for this.

“This is a once and a lifetime opportunity,” he said. “I’m happy. I had a close relation with all of those people at Loyola. They really care about you, and for these kids, it’s really just a dream come true.”

Loyola’s Final Four game is scheduled to be broadcast on TBS.