Progress is a one few gifts that the Cal Poly men’s team can take from an 0-5 start this year. In a season thus far filled by losses and traveling, head coach Joe Callero and his players feel they’re getting better.
“More important that winning is continual improvement,” Callero said. “We’ve seen that in five games.”
Heading home from a season opening road trip the Mustangs have yet to win a game, but Callero faces a familiar opponent, as he squares off against Seattle University — his old team — Thursday night in Mott Gym.
“The best thing about playing against Seattle, is that I have a good scouting report on the existing players, ” Callero said. “I know what we’re in for as far as their motivation, their discipline and their hunger to continue to have success.”
Callero, who became the fourth coach to lead Cal Poly since the team made its transition to division I in 1994, spent eight seasons as head coach of the Redhawks, coaching them to a 117-105 record. In his final season he posted a 21-8 mark this past season in the school’s first year of transition back to the Division I level.
The Cal Poly coach has been acclaimed for having a knack for revitalizing basketball teams, in his prior duties.
Under Callero, Seattle posted four consecutive winning seasons. In that span Seattle boasted a 75-37 mark. The run highlighted the first time in the past 36 years the Redhawks had four straight winning campaigns.
This year without their former coach Seattle (5-3) has gotten off to a solid start, with wins against Utah and Weber State and is not ready to forfeit their new tradition if winning.
“This is a program and a team that has won the last three or four years, ” Callero said. “(Seattle) has averaged 19-20 victories per season. They have a lot of confident players coming into that program.”
That tradition of winning has attracted attention from other schools and has attracted three new players to a squad returning eight starters.
One of those is junior transfer forward Charles Garcia.
The transfer is a huge key to Seattle’s team, Callero said.
Garcia is posting monstrous numbers this season with 26.6 points per game paired with 9.4 rebounds per game. He is considered a high to major NBA prospect Callero said.
“He has been putting up big numbers, he’s impressive; big body, long arms, good athlete,” sophomore forward Jordan Lewis said. “We will execute our game-plan and play good team, physical defense and won’t allow any easy shots.”
Lewis has found success on the court this year for the Mustangs. The sophomore has etched his name into the starting line-up, despite seeing limited paying time last year. Lewis has posted 7.8 points per game this season, but brings much more to the court than just scoring.
“Jordan came into this year as an unknown and is (near the top) of our team in minutes,” Callero said. “He brings so much basketball IQ to what we do offensively and defensively.”
Jordan is a 6-foot-4 forward that is falling short in terms of height.
“What you see when your just 2-3 inches shorter at these positions, you give great effort, great game-plan, great execution, but guys 2-3 inches taller simply can make shots,” Callero said.
Fans will get their first glimpse of this year’s team on Thursday. The Mustangs were 3-12 at Mott Gym last year and senior guard Charles Anderson says the Mustangs need to change that this year.
“It’s the first game our crowd gets to see us play. We just want to come out and excite our fans,” He said.
While the Mustangs are looking to improve this year, the Big West Conference itself has shown signs of great improvement. UCLA, a perennial national power has fallen victim to two big West teams this season. The Mustangs will have to contend with what is likely going to be a more difficult conference schedule this year.
“December starts a brand new month for us,” Callero said. “Now we’re starting to be able to see the benefits of our road trip.”
Tip-off is set for 7:05 and will be broadcast on ESPN 1280 with Tom Barket providing play-by-play.
-Jeremy Jauregui contributed to this article.