Saint Joseph's basketball at a glance
Key points to consider about the Hawks' upcoming season.
SAINT JOE'S PROSPECTUS
It all comes down to: How well the new players and inexperienced returning players perform. The Hawks lost veteran players who knew how to play and, by the end, knew how to win. None of that happened overnight. It was a process, sometimes painful, exhilarating at the finish. The game has evolved to a point where, if you don't have three-point shooting, you are playing against basketball math. These Hawks definitely will be playing against that math. "We've had to change the way we play," coach Phil Martelli said. "We're going to try to drive the ball more, create more layups, play a little more aggressively defensively." Freshman James Demery will start and often defend the other team's best perimeter player, no easy task against the schedule the Hawks will face.
Shouldering the load: DeAndre Bembry was the perfect new player for last season's team. He was the athletic wing they did not have and balanced out an unusual roster. This season, he will have to be a major star, regularly scoring in the 20s while getting five rebounds and five assists. He has that kind of talent. The question is: Will he be playing with enough talent to keep other teams from tilting everything in his direction on defense.
Key stretch: Well, there is home against Temple on Dec. 3 and at Villanova on Dec. 6. And there is the first week of league play in January, solid George Washington at home on a Saturday, at improved Duquesne on a Wednesday and at VCU, the league favorite and the team the Hawks beat for the 2014 championship, on a Saturday.
Quote of note: "We have a little bit more depth. If you were to come watch us practice, you would say: How are they going to score enough points. We're going to have to play faster, but we lack shooting." - Phil Martelli.
Bottom line: "We're a little further ahead than I would have anticipated," Martelli said hopefully. With senior point guard Chris Wilson and Bemby, SJU has two proven A-10 players. Everything after them is an unknown at this point. The league may not be as good as it was last season with five NCAA at-large teams, but it is still very good and the Hawks lost so much. If they could finish this season around .500, get some experience for the young players and welcome a very good recruiting class that would be a success. This season matters, but the reality is that it is about building for the future and putting together another team that can make a run.
- Dick Jerardi