The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
JCU’s Cirillo enjoying senior year
The accomplishments have been many for John Cirillo and his three fellow seniors on the John Carroll University men’s basketball team.
On the watch of Cirillo, Tony Vuyancih, Matt Csuhran and Brian Papich, the Blue Streaks have compiled records of 81-21 overall and 50-11 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
They’ve played in two NCAA Division III tournaments (2015, 2016) and won the 2016 OAC Tournament with an upset victory over host Marietta.
This season, they’re 13-2 overall. In the OAC, they’re 7-1 and have a one-game lead over Baldwin Wallace, Marietta and Ohio Northern.
The Blue Streaks and BW (12-2, 6-2) are set to square off Jan. 17 in a midseason showdown at Ursprung Gymnasium. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
“They’re good,” Cirillo said of the crosstown rival Yellow Jackets. “That will be a real test for us.” Despite all the winning they’ve done since arriving at JCU, Cirillo said he and his fellow seniors feel there is unfinished business to attend to before their playing days are over.
“We’ve never won the (OAC) regular-season title in our time here, so that’s an obvious goal,” said Cirillo, a Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School product.
The JCU seniors also have not forgotten the Blue Streaks’ disappointing finish last season.
Losses to Capital in the regular-season finale and Muskingum in the first round of the OAC Tournament were not the way they wanted to send off legendary coach Mike Moran into retirement after his 25-year run at the helm.
“Our heads were through the roof last year after winning the OAC Tournament and going to the NCAA Tournament the previous season. Guys were talking about not losing a game,” Cirillo said.
This season, with Moran’s son, Pete, running the show, the attitude is different, according to Cirillo.
“We brought in a lot of new guys and came in hungry instead of cocky,” he said.
Cirillo, averaging 13.4 points and 5.1 rebounds, has moved into the starting lineup after three seasons as a reserve in Mike Moran’s trademark five-in, five-out rotation.
“I worked my way up from the gold unit to the blue unit and, now, to the white unit,” Cirillo said, smiling. “This is our style. It’s unique, but it works. At halftime, the other guys are huffing and puffing, but we’re fresh and coming right back at them.”
Cirillo is quite aware that his playing days are numbered.
“I’ve looked at the calendar and can’t believe it’s almost over,” he said. “I remember being at Gesu (elementary school) and coming here in 2010 to play for the CYO city championship. It feels like yesterday.”
The youngest of three children of Jim and Debbie Cirillo of Pepper Pike is on track to receive his bachelor’s degree in sports management.