School Databank:
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Enrollment: 4,250
Famous sports alumni: Matt Guokas (NBA), Jim O'Brien (NBA Coach), Dr. Jack Ramsay (NBA Coach, ESPN Analyst), Jameer Nelson (NBA), Delonte West (NBA)
Last game: Lost to Holy Cross 71-66
Last game vs Creighton: Jays won 73-72 on 12/14/1981
Series: St. Joe's leads 4-1
The second Philadelphia school on the Jays schedule comes to town on Sunday, Phil Martelli's St. Josephs's Hawks of the Atlantic 10. The last time these teams met, Creighton won by one point in a game at the Civic Auditorium...in December of 1981. That game was payback for St. Joe's eliminating Creighton from the NCAA Tournament eight months prior, 59-57. It also stands as the only time Creighton has won a game in the series. For the record, I was three years old when this happened. This is what you call "research", because I don't exactly remember those games first-hand...
One of the interesting things about St. Joe's, to me, is the fact that they bring their mascot to every game, no matter where its played. "The Hawk Will Never Die" is the chant, and the mascot flaps its wings non-stop for the entirety of the game -- as ESPN calculated in a 2003 game, this can be as many as 3500 flaps per game! At home games, it flies in figure eights during timeouts on the court to the delight of the crowd; I would imagine he will refrain from such shenanigans in Omaha, lest Billy take him down a notch. But this is fascinating to me. At a road game where perhaps 500, or at the most 1000 Hawks fans will be in attendance, the mascot will stand there flapping its wings non-stop all afternoon? It has for 50 years, so obviously the answer to my question is a resounding "yes", but still. Man, that's something I have to see to believe.
On to the team. St. Joe's is 4-3 as they enter this game, with wins over Fairleigh-Dickenson, Boston University, Ball State and Penn State. Their losses are to Gonzaga, Syracuse and Holy Cross. The game to Syracuse was the regional final of the NIT Tipoff at the Carrier Dome, and the Hawks played a tight game only to lose by three (72-69). The loss to Gonzaga at home hurt because they blew a lead down the stretch, went overtime, and then lost 70-65. And I have no idea how they lost to Holy Cross at home. Alma mater of The Sports Guy or not, Holy Cross is terrible, so to be behind 18-2 early is unexplainable.
They play seven guys in their rotation, which puts them at a supreme disadvantage to a Jays team that will go 11 or 12 deep. My guess is the Jays will run their full-court pressure, running bodies in and out of the game, and will wear out the Hawks.
That said, coming into the season many prognosticators had this pegged as a 20-win team. Their frontcourt was arguably the most talented in the A-10 a year ago, and all three players are back. Junior Ahmad Nevins averaged 17 points and 8 boards a game and brought home first-team all-A10 honors. He can be deficient on defense, however, and coach Martelli lists that as the main area of weakness in an otherwise solid game for the big man. The other two frontcourt players are both seniors. Pat Calathes is 6'9" and averaged 13 points and 7 boards last year; 6'8" forward Rob Ferguson averaged 11 and 5. Calathes led the team in both assists AND made three-pointers a year ago, making him a very difficult matchup. Dane Watts will have his hands full, to be sure.
I see this as a tough, tough matchup for the Jays, despite what many people are predicting on the message boards. St. Joe's is a solid team 4-3 record be damned. I think the Hawks frontcourt will keep the game close early, but the Jays superior depth and athleticism will allow them to pull away late.
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