A matchup of former national champions, Saturday’s college basketball game between Loyola and the University of San Francisco was a low-key affair — only 2,638 fans turned out to see Loyola triumph, 66 to 63, and there was no local television coverage.
The low turnout underscores the waning influence of Roman Catholic schools throughout college basketball.
In the 1950s, U.S.F. teams were kings of the court, winning back-to-back N.C.A.A. tournament titles in 1955-56, and Loyola’s Ramblers were national champions in 1963. But San Francisco has made only one tournament appearance since 1982, and the Ramblers have not been to the tournament since 1985.
DePaul University was in the tournament in 2004, but the Blue Demons have been sliding ever since, going without a victory in 18 Big East Conference games last season.
There has not been a Catholic university national champion since 1985. Only three Catholic institutions have reached the Final Four since 1989, prompting Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated to wonder if the schools have given up tournament basketball for Lent.
