STWF Sports | NEW ORLEANS | Dec. 5 2025 – After eight straight road games to open the 2025-26 season, the New Orleans Privateers are finally coming home — and doing so on one of the most memorable nights in program history. UNO hosts the Houston Christian Huskies on Saturday at Lakefront Arena in its Southland Conference opener, with tip-off scheduled for 5 p.m. The emotional centerpiece of the night will be a halftime jersey-retirement ceremony honoring Privateer legend Bo McCalebb.

The moment is long overdue and deeply meaningful for generations of Privateer basketball supporters. McCalebb, who played from 2003–08, remains one of the most decorated players to ever suit up in New Orleans blue. He ranks among the top 25 scorers in NCAA history, led the Sun Belt in scoring, and later compiled 13 championships and cups over a standout professional career overseas. His No. 1 jersey will now hang alongside Ervin Johnson (#40) and Sandra Hodge (#44) among UNO’s forever icons.

A Challenging Road Swing Prepares UNO for Conference Play

Those emotions will run parallel with a vital on-court responsibility: beginning conference competition with a win.

New Orleans comes home with a 2–6 mark, fresh off an 86–70 defeat at Memphis on Wednesday. Despite the score, the Privateers flashed encouraging individual performances and second-half fight against one of the AAC’s most athletic programs.

Four Privateers reached double-figures, highlighted by TJ Cope, who electrified FedEx Forum with four dunks and a season-best 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Cope’s athleticism and efficiency have been rising weekly, with Wednesday marking the second time he’s thrown down four dunks in a game this season.

Jakevion Buckley extended his streak of scoring in double-figures to eight straight contests, finishing with 14 points. After just one field goal in the first half, Buckley came out inspired in the second, hitting four of six shots.

UNO has played almost exclusively in hostile environments so far. Through eight road games, they’ve faced an average of over 5,500 opposing fans, more than any Southland team and accounting for a combined 44,215 spectators. Saturday brings a welcome shift — home-court advantage at last — and history shows the Privateers won’t take it lightly.

Series History and Stakes

UNO owns a 17–10 all-time record against HCU, though the Huskies swept the two-game season series in 2024-25. The Privateers have never lost more than two straight to HCU, and reversing last year’s results will be a priority.

Monday’s follow-up against UIW brings its own intrigue; New Orleans is 9–9 all-time against the Cardinals, who have won the last three head-to-head matchups.

Scouting the Opponent: Houston Christian Huskies (4–4)

HCU arrives in New Orleans with confidence despite a narrow 77-75 road loss to North Texas earlier this week. The Huskies shot an efficient 48 percent from the field but struggled on the glass, an area UNO will likely look to exploit Saturday.

This season, HCU ranks:

• 4th in the Southland in field goal percentage (46.5%)

• 4th in turnover margin

• 13th in scoring (led by Kylin Green’s 13.4 PPG)

Green sets the tone as a three-level scoring guard, and limiting his rhythm will be at the top of the scouting report for UNO.

Monday Opponent Snapshot: UIW Cardinals (5–3, 1–0)

After opening league play with a statement win over defending champion McNeese, UIW looks like a dangerous early contender. The Cardinals feature the Southland’s leading scorer, Davion Bailey (21.3 PPG), fresh off a 29-point night with seven made threes.

UIW ranks:

• 2nd in the conference at 86.6 PPG

• 1st in total three-pointers made (80)

UNO’s perimeter defense will face a major test.

Final Word

With an emotional halftime honoring Bo McCalebb and a conference race beginning fresh, Saturday marks the true start of UNO’s season. The Privateers have shown flashes of growth against high-level competition — now, with a long-awaited home court and a packed arena, the program has a chance to turn those flashes into momentum.