UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — There are a couple of words that immediately come to mind when talking about the John Carroll men's basketball program: tradition and winning — a lot of it.
"Enjoyable, to say the least," junior guard Luke Chicone, a Mentor native and All-Ohio Athletic Conference selection last season, says of the team's current success. "But not only on the floor; I think off the floor, as well — just the relationships we've built, the stories we're going to be able to tell our families in the future. I think it's something that's going to stick with us for a long time."
This season has been even more memorable than usual on South Belvoir Boulevard, though. The Blue Streaks are ranked No. 1 in the country in Division III, with an impressive win-loss record of 22-1. Pete Moran's team is also unbeaten in OAC play.
It's a special group with big-time goals.
"The model has never changed here: You recruit quality young men," Moran told 3Sports. "A. They want to get a job, right? You come to John Carroll to get a heck of a job. And B. You come here to have fun. And C. You come here to win championships."
After finishing last in the league in 2021-22, JCU earned a share of the conference title a season ago, resulting in Moran getting his second OAC Coach of the Year Award. Unfortunately, the Streaks were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament with a 66-61 loss to Oswego State in the second round.
However, that disappointing finish has helped fuel this season, as John Carroll hopes to finish the job and win the program's first national title.