Archive: March, 2013
Marc Narducci
St. Joseph’s center C.J. Aiken will bypass his senior season to pursue a professional basketball career. The 6-foot-9 Aiken averaged 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots for the 18-14 Hawks.
"After lengthy meetings with C.J. Aiken and his family, C.J. has decided to pursue a career in professional basketball,” coach Phil Martelli said in a statement. “There will always be a place in my heart for C.J. I wish him well in all his future endeavors."
Aiken, the Plymouth Whitemarsh product, is seen as somebody who has one major skill for the NBA level – his ability to block shots.
Marc Narducci
The final game was sort of a microcosm of the season for St. Joseph’s – some good stretches, some rough ones and then a disappointing ending.
The Hawks finished 18-14 following Tuesday’s 63-61 loss to St. John’s in an opening NIT game at Hagan Arena.
The game received plenty of national attention, but not the type St. Joseph’s would desire. The game-winning, off-balanced fall-away jumper by St. John’s sophomore Sir’Dominic Pointer at the buzzer was considered the top play of the day by ESPN’s SportsCenter.
Marc Narducci
St. Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli isn’t looking at his team’s second straight NIT appearance as a way to prepare for next year.
At 18-13, Martelli sees the NIT as an opportunity to improve now. “It’s a chance to win a game against great competition,” he said.
The Hawks will host St. John’s (16-15) in a 7 p.m. matchup Tuesday at Hagan Arena.
Marc Narducci
Since St. Joseph’s 82-79 Atlantic Ten quarterfinal loss to VCU, it’s been suggested by Hawks fans that the technical foul on Halil Kanacevic was a major turning point.
Yes, the Hawks lost by just three, a deceptive margin, since they hit a three at the buzzer and VCU did let down in the last few minutes, but still it’s not a unrealistic thought that this turned the game around.
It’s just something we don’t agree with.
Marc Narducci
Marc Narducci of the Inquirer reports from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. where St. Joe's lost to VCU in the A-10 tournament, 82-79.
Marc Narducci
ATLANTIC 10 QUARTERFINAL
No. 10 St. Joseph’s (18-12) vs. No. 2 VCU (24-7)
Tonight, 6:30 p.m. at the Barclays Center
Marc Narducci
Marc Narducci discusses Saint Joseph's first round of the A-10 tournament against Xavier on Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Hawks beat Xavier earlier this season at Hagan Arena 59-49 on January 26.
Marc Narducci
St. Joseph’s won’t be favored in its opening Atlantic-10 tournament game with Xavier, but winning won’t be impossible, especially since it already occurred once.
Too bad for the Hawks sake, the A-10 tourney isn’t being played at Hagan Arena.
No. 10 seeded St. Joseph’s (17-12, 8-8 A-10) will meet seventh seeded Xavier (17-13, 9-7) in Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. A-10 opening round game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Marc Narducci
Almost every coach praises the upcoming opponent regardless of its record. Yet when St. Joseph’s plays host to Rhode Island in the final regular season home game on Wednesday, the Rams should draw praise despite being just 3-11 in the Atlantic-10.
Whether C.J. Aiken (back, wrist) plays or not, the Hawks could have their hands full with Danny Hurley’s Rams.
Rhode Island is playing its third straight Philadelphia team and if the first two games are any indication, the Hawks will be in for a competitive evening.
Marc Narducci
St. Joseph’s basketball coach Phil Martelli has been miffed about all the talk (or actually the writing) about the Hawks chances to qualify for the Atlantic-10 Tournament.
Twelve of the 16 teams will qualify. There is one week left in the regular season.
And with two games remaining, the Hawks are 16-11 overall and 7-7 in the A-10 and are among many teams who haven’t earned a berth.
