Mike Loughnane saw the pictures growing up and heard the stories from his father. And Loughnane didn’t pass up the chance to ask his dad about Jim Calhoun whenever he saw the legendary coach on TV.

Loughnane’s father, Bill, had a special connection to Calhoun, having played for the Naismith Hall of Famer from 1976-80 at Northeastern and serving as a captain for the Huskies in his senior year.

Five decades later, Loughnane has stepped into his father’s shoes.

The decision to transfer from Davidson to Northeastern last April didn’t just ensure a homecoming for Loughnane, who is a Quincy native. It was an opportunity to be linked again to his dad by going through the same experience he had all those years ago while fortifying their already tight father-son bond.

“It’s very special,” Loughnane said. “He had a great playing career here. So to be able to go somewhere where he had a major impact and see that impact is really cool. It had always been a dream to play here, and when you get the chance to live out a childhood dream, it’s tough to not grab it.”

Loughnane spent just a matter of days in the transfer portal once his sophomore season at Davidson concluded. The 6-foot-4 guard almost immediately heard from Northeastern head coach Bill Coen and quickly visited the school, too. Loughnane had heard and seen enough once his on-site visit ended that he cancelled the rest of his trips, only making the one to Northeastern.

Coen recruited Loughnane out of high school when he starred at BC High under his father, a legendary high school coach in his own right with over 500 career victories.

Loughnane finished his high school career as BC High’s all-time leading scorer and teamed up with his dad to lead the Eagles to an undefeated season and Division 1 state title in 2022. And Coen didn’t miss his second chance at landing Loughnane in a Huskies uniform.

“I just love the story. It brought all worlds back together again,” said Coen, who has known Loughnane’s dad for years. “And knowing that he was an elite, high character young man who was a terrific student, terrific basketball player and the type of guy that would fit into our locker room perfectly. And he exceeded all expectations on those fronts.”

Northeastern University’s Mike Loughnane gets off a shot in a game earlier this season. (Jim Pierce – Northeastern Athletics)

Bill Loughnane stayed out of his son’s recruitment process once he hit the portal. That was by design, not wanting to sway any decision-making.

But just like reading a complex defense, Mike Loughnane could see the excitement his father tried to disguise when learning his son would play for his alma mater.

“He didn’t want to influence me one way or the other,” Mike Loughnane said. “But I could tell he was very, very happy when I chose Northeastern.”

The decision by Loughnane meant his father, along with other family members and friends, could be in the stands at the Cabot Center watching his son on a regular basis despite his jam-packed schedule as a high school basketball coach.

The two have always been close. Loughnane reveres his father, and as a kid looked at the teams his dad coached as if they were the Boston Celtics.

The two-year excursion at Davidson brought Loughnane away from his father’s shadow. But Loughnane never saw it that way. Instead, he sees him and his father as a package deal and is more than happy to be mentioned alongside his dad again at Northeastern.

“I never really wanted to get out of it,” Loughnane said. “I always enjoy it. I think it’s cool. I think he’s built something pretty cool in the high school ranks and I always enjoyed being associated with him, being a part of it.”

For Bill Loughnane, he sees his son as his own separate star and is delighted that he forged his own path.

“I’m happy and proud that it’s his journey and he takes responsibility for it,” the elder Loughnane said. “The success he’s had is just because of his hard work and diligence.”

Mike Loughnane had to rely not only on his work ethic once at Northeastern, but his perseverance, too. He struggled to start the season, shooting 30.5% from the floor in his first seven games.

But as he became more comfortable, everything fell into place, and it started with a 15-point showing against Holy Cross in early December. Injuries, including one to starting senior point guard LA Pratt, pushed Loughnane into the starting lineup ever since.

Loughnane hasn’t disappointed with Northeastern looking to him to be its floor general. He set a career high with nine assists in a win over Elon on Thursday and his breakout performance came earlier this month against Campbell when he shot 10-of-15 from the field and finished with 23 points.

The trust in Loughnane from Coen is evident as he’s played 30-plus minutes in each of the last five games.

“When LA went down, we were looking for somebody who was going to drive the bus,” Coen said. “Those people, they have to have certain basketball qualities, but they also have to have certain intangibles and Mike has all those – leadership, competitiveness, determination, perseverance. He personifies all those qualities. Since he’s been in that role he’s played extremely well.”

Northeastern University’s Mike Loughnane drives baseline in a game this season for the Huskies. (Jim Pierce – Northeastern Athletics)

Setting up the offense and dishing out assists is basically in Loughnane’s blood – he leads the Huskies in assists per game. His father holds the single-game record for most assists at Northeastern with 15.

And his father makes sure to remind his son about it, too.

“After every game – only when we win because he knows not to say this when we lose – he’ll say, ‘You still don’t have it. You’re still this many short. You’ll never get it.’ Stuff like that. Just jokes,” Loughnane said.

But in secret Bill Loughnane is hoping his son tops his record.

“He has some good shooters around him and if they get hot someday, he might have a shot at it,” Bill said. “I hope he destroys it. I hope it’s in a Northeastern victory.”

And if it does happen, it will be just like old times on Huntington Avenue for the Loughnanes.