Charles Barkley and Sister Jean-the odd couple we never knew we wanted?

Charles Barkley and Sister Jean would be a true odd couple, but is Sir Charles on to something?

As Loyola-Chicago has made a run through the NCAA Tournament, with three wins by a combined four points to reach the Elite Eight, 98-year old team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt has become a cult hero in postgame interviews. She now has custom tennis shoes, and a bobblehead of her likeness is now for sale.

Before the Ramblers stepped on the floor against Kansas State Saturday evening, the crew led by Greg Gumbel with Clark Kellogg, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley previewed the game Friday night. It’s typically clear Barkley doesn’t watch a ton of college basketball prior to each year’s NCAA Tournament since CBS and Turner joined forces, but he is also his typically loquacious self.

With Loyola-Chicago one win away from a trip to the Final Four in San Antonio, Barkley went all in in to practially ask Sister Jean out on a date.

Barkley gained notoriety for calling out the “big ‘ol women” in San Antonio a few years ago, and he did it again a couple years after that with an apology afterward. Now he’s calling the San Antonio River a “dirty creek”, which is sure to draw ire from the locals ahead of his arrival to cover the Final Four.

Next: 5 candidates to be the next Louisville men's basketball coach

Barkley has always called things as he sees them, dating back to his days as a Hall of Fame player. As for his invitation for a boat cruise date to Sister Jean if Loyola-Chicago goes to the Final Four, the Ramblers are leading Kansas State 54-35 with about 12 minutes to go as I finish writing.