For Halloween night, the Loyola men’s basketball team is disguising itself as an NCAA Division I school when it tips off its 2006-07 season against Bo McCalebb and the University of New Orleans Privateers.
McCalebb, arguably top point guard in the Sun Belt Conference and one of the best scorers in the country, averaged 19 points and nearly four steals a game before he broke his wrist four games into last season.
And he’s just the first on a spooky list of big-time programs and monstrous names the Wolfpack’s scheduled to suit up against, which includes Tulane University, Troy University, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Louisiana-Monroe and maroon-and-gold rivals Loyola University-Chicago – all on the road.
“It’s preparing us to play our conference games on the road,” Coach Michael Giorlando said. “Those are the toughest to win. By scheduling a tougher non-conference schedule – the atmosphere of a big crowd, playing against taller and stronger players, adjusting to non-conference officials- we look at it as a real benefit.”
UNO last year finished 10-19 overall, squeaking by Tulane (who torched the ‘Pack 87-41) 50-49.
Though McCalebb’s a daunting opponent – he scored in double figures 29 times and eclipsed a school record by scoring 20 or more points in 15 games in 2004-05 – he’s not the toughest road test for the ‘Pack to answer to.
In the Windy City, stars Luke Zumo, psychology junior; Mario Faranda, finance junior; and James Bunn, accounting senior, face the tall order of containing Loyola-Chicago’s Blake Schilb on Dec. 9.
Schilb, a 6-foot-7 point guard that posted 19 points per game last year, spearheaded the Ramblers to a 19-11 overall record and a third place finish in the Horizon League. CBSSportsline.com ranked his season as the 52nd best among guards in the country – three spots ahead of Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo, who’s now a Boston Celtic.
“I’m confident we can upset some of these other schools, but it’s not gonna be easy,” Bunn said about their non-conference slate. “We have to play our best and expose some of their weaknesses that night to upset someone like that.”
Despite the stacked odds, the team’s leaders are excited about their road game in Chicago.
“It’s the first time we’ve flown to a game. It’s interesting that we’re playing another Loyola, being really on the road away from our fan base,” Faranda said.
“I’ve never been on an airplane, so I’m pretty pumped,” Zumo added.
Faranda is also excited about Loyola’s Nov. 21 re-match against star Conference USA forward David Gomez and bully-on-the-block Tulane at Fogelman Arena.
“I’ve only played Gomez once, last year. And the scoring was a little lopsided. This year, I think it’s going to be a different story.”
The Green Wave last year finished 12-17 overall and they return top rebounder Donnie Stith and top assister Andrew Garcia.
Personnel
What’s inspired Faranda’s bold message is that the team has returned four starters – Zumo, Bunn, Faranda and history sophomore Torry Beaulieu – from a 5-13 squad that advanced to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference semifinals and has deepened a bench they feel can immediately contribute.
Zumo, the team’s star attacker, led Loyola with 14.7 points a game on 40.7 percent shooting last year. He scored the most points in a single game for the Pack, with 27 against Southern University-New Orleans on Jan. 13.
Bunn led the team in steals (2.1), assists (2.7), and free throw percentage (85.2). He was the team’s second highest scorer (12.8).
Beaulieu quarterbacked the ‘Pack last year, serving as the primary ball-handler while chipping in 12 points a game. He impressed as a freshman, displaying versatility in scoring on the fastbreak, off jump-shots and playing relentless defense on ball-handlers.
Giorlando said, “He could play at a Division 1 school because of his ability to penetrate and kick, penetrate or shoot, or knock down threes if left unguarded.”
“I wouldn’t trade one of our guards for another guard in the conference,” Faranda said. “Torry takes care of the ball very well, and shooting-wise. Luke and James can take over the game at any point.”
Faranda, the ‘Pack’s premier post-man, led the team in field goal percentage last season (52.8 percent) and rebounds (6.2). He averaged 11 points.
“Mario’s definitely a scoring threat on the inside,” Zumo said. “What that does is draw attention to him on the inside and free (the guards) to hit open shots from the outside.”
They’ll hope to keep Faranda out of foul trouble – Loyola’s post-scoring suffered dramatically when Faranda fouled out, sometimes resulting in blown leads.
“It’s an emphasis for all of our (forwards),” Giorlando said. At one point last season, Loyola had the top four foul-getters in the conference.
Forward Carter “Bear” Wurts, general business junior, is the fifth projected starter.
What’s more, Bunn said, “It’s the deepest bench in my four years. I’m confident we can bring guys in and not lose a step. They pick right up and keep the game going.”
Newcomer Sean Bennett, general business freshman, brings ball-handling, three-point scoring and a wheeling ability to score in transition. In an Oct. 23 intra-squad scrimmage, Bennett scored regularly off those types of plays, finishing fast-breaks off long rebounds and steals with alarming regularity.
It’s a style that suits the starting backcourt very well. “Everyone’s comfortable dribbling the ball in transition, and we’re getting wide-open layups,” Zumo said.
Faranda added, “It’s important because it kills the other team. When we score easy buckets, it kills their morale.”
General business freshman Nick Tuszynski, a McDonald’s All-American nominee last year, brings tenacious rebounding to a team that finished last in the GCAC in boards.
Tuszynski connected three-of-four midrange shots and regularly created second, third and even fourth chance opportunities for his team in the scrimmage.
“He’s got long arms and he’s got a strong desire to rebound. He wants to average 10 rebounds a game and I think he’ll get a lot of garbage points,” Giorlando said.
Political science junior David Curtin and marketing freshmen McArthur Strickland and Matt McCabe all provide offensive and defensive quickness and rebounding ability immediately off the bench, Giorlando said.
Ramon Vargas can be reached at [email protected].
