Hawks Flying High in Summer League?

The NBA summer league is now in full swing! This allows us to get a look at the NBA’s next batch of superstars! Whether you are watching to see how the first overall pick Ben Simmons is doing or the question mark in the draft Thon Maker, it will be an interesting summer. Saint Joseph’s University students and alumni are glued to their TV’s as well. As we watch how our former superstar DeAndre Bembry adjusts to the NBA, and our former most improved player Isaiah Miles tries to make an NBA squad. Both players bring different unique games to their respective teams. These two have much different paths, but both hope to be great assets to their NBA teams.

DeAndre Bembry- Atlanta Hawks 21^st Overall

There is no doubt Bembry has continued his college dominance right onto the NBA summer league. Many reporters and fans are calling him the best player on the Hawks summer team, and his skills are truly being shown. Not only has Bembry brought his strong ability to take the ball to the rim, and his unbelievable defense to the NBA. But, he also brought along his never quit work ethic. Bembry has increased his basketball IQ, meaning he is taking shots that he is much more confortable with. DeAndre has also improved his ability to distribute the basketball among his teammates, something he was known on Hawk Hill for. In three games Bembry is averaging 10pts 4.7assists and 4.7rebounds. He is bringing his do all attitude right along with him to the NBA. It is clear to see the 21^st overall pick will continue to garner a lot of attention and playing time. Look for Bembry to be in the headlines in Atlanta come this fall.

Isaiah Miles- Dallas Mavericks Undrafted
Unlike his former teammate, Isaiah Miles is taking a much different approach for his path to the NBA. Miles wasn’t drafted, nor was he high on many teams’ draft boards. Miles is looking to take an approach much like that of Langston Galloway his former teammate. However, the former Hawks big man is looking to translate his unique game to the NBA. As someone who is both tall and can shoot the three, there were many questions surrounding how Miles game would work in the NBA. Miles has struggled early on in the summer league only averaging 1.7ppg and 3.3rebounds in three games. Miles though has always been a late starter. Look for his numbers to increase has the summer season goes on. Miles will continue to do his job on the court, he will score when open and pull down rebounds when needed. Minutes will be the biggest enemy for Isaiah Miles. If Miles can continue to improve his shot and rebounding ability, he may find himself a valuable asset in the D-League for an NBA team.

-Brett 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

So it Begins...

Purpose of Non-Conference Games

College basketball has started and our St. Joe’s Hawks will tip-off their season against Drexel Dragons tonight, Friday November 13th. Even though the Hawks did not beat the Dragons by much last year, some are saying that it is a preseason warm-up. However, SJU also lost to Fairleigh Dickinson last year to start their season. Of course a game that everyone has circled is Villanova, but don’t you dare call it the Holy War or else some cranky history professor will cry about it in the Philly Inquirer. The Hawks are catching a break this year since they are playing against Ivy League schools.

Hall of Fame Tip-Off

The Hawks will get a chance to showcase their athleticism against Niagara, Buffalo, Florida, and Old Dominion/Purdue. Florida and Old Dominion/Purdue will be played at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

Starting 5

To start the season, the starting five will be WG Bembry, PG Newkirk, WG Brown, F Miles, and F Olivia. In case you are not aware, Coach Martelli has never really stuck with the tradition starting 5 with a center, shooting guard, and small forward. He simply puts the best 5 players out on the court.

Phil has received quite a bit of criticism for not playing his freshmen enough during the season. This year with Pierfrancesco Olivia starting, there is speculation that it is only because of Papa Ndao’s lingering issues. No matter who is part of the starting five, it is the total minutes that will explain which player plays more of a pivotal role on the team. During the non-conference games, Martelli’s bench normally gets more action than during the regular season. However, hopefully this season proves that he can trust more of his bench throughout the entire season. 

Aaron Brown is a player that gives it his all on every play, which is what probably earned him the starting role. There are players like Javon Bauman, DeAndre Bembry, Isaiah Miles, and Papa Ndao that know have won the A-10 championship, and have seen what it takes to win. Going into the season St. Joe’s Hawks are predicted to end their season ranked 7th in the conference.

-Pants

Non-Conference 2015-16 SCHEDULE

Friday November 13 - DREXEL - 8:00 p.m.

Sunday November 15 - NIAGARA - 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 18 - BUFFALO - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday November 21 - vs. Florida - 2:30 p.m.

Sunday November 22 - vs. Old Dominion/Purdue - 12/5:30 p.m.

Tuesday December 1 - VILLANOVA - 7:00 p.m.

Friday December 4 - at Columbia - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 8 - PRINCETON - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday December 13 - at Temple - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday December 19 - ILLINOIS STATE - 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 22 - vs. Virginia Tech - 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 29 - MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE - 7:00 p.m.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4 

Emotional Loss for the Hawks

Saint Joseph’s Hawks fell to the Richmond Spiders 57 to 63 in an emotional game at Hagan for their last weekend home game. Overall, the entire Hawks team had poor shot selection. Instead of taking it to the basket, they took questionable shots. With a field goal percentage of .393, they were left being vulnerable. Even though the game was emotional, it lacked energy.

Despite the Hawks not backing down, the Spiders did let up. With close to three minutes left the game was tied at 54, however with a step-back three from T.J. Cline the Spiders took lead. Richmond’s guards Trey Davis and Anthony Kendall were able to control the ball the entire game. Listening to Martelli talked after the game it became apparent that they did not plan for the success that Davis had.

Richmond’s zone allowed a mismatch early for DeAndre, but team did not expose it. During the match-up, DeAndre Bembry, “Mr. Everything” was not able to get much momentum. Turning the ball over five times did not help the team overall.  Though Bembry made some unbelievable plays, including an amazing block he was never truly able to get started. Number 43 for the Hawks seems to play better when he is away. Bembry may possibly play better when he feels as if he needs to overcome something. After 25 consecutive games, Bembry ended the night in single digits; which is something that did not happen since the Gonzaga game. He may be the most underrated player in the NCAA, but he does not do himself any favors in winning the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. Good thing he does not care much for personal accolades.

The bright spot for the Hawks was Aaron Brown. It is unclear why Phil Martelli does not show much faith in him. Besides missing a couple of lay-ups in the first half, he kept the Hawks fighting. The Hawks may not have a presence under the basket, but Brown proved that he can be productive along the baseline. Aaron Brown finished the night with a team high 15 points.

The Hawks have two games left in the season. On Wednesday, March 4^thagainst Rhode Island  it will be their last home game. The only changes they hope to make in the final two final two games of the season is a genuine desire to win. Their efforts to end the season strong did not start well against Richmond.

--- Pants

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4

Defense Wins in Hagan

Defense won the game for Saint Joseph’s Hawks against the George Mason Patriots, with a score of 54-58 in Hagan Arena. If the Hawks repeat this performance in the last 8 Atlantic games, it will not be enough to finish in good-standing.  The team needs to improve offensively. St. Joe’s struggled to take the ball past Mason’s aggressive defense. In the second half

DeAndre Bembry’s sealed the game with a dunk. The game would have been over well before the dunk, but free throws were once again were an issue. It is hard to win a college basketball game when the team is shooting 51 percent from the foul line.

Head Coach, Phil Martelli is aware that the team will only win their upcoming games from playing strong defensively. Martelli will put together a starting lineup based on who will provide the best defensive match-ups. The Hawks totaled 12 steals and were able to capitalize on 7 of those possessions.

Besides a strong defense, Jai Williams energized the team with his high energy plays. He has been improving during practice and deserved the opportunity to play against George Mason. Jai is tremendous at using his size and athleticism to his advantage. He could be an offensive presence that the Hawks need under the basket. Williams entered the game and scored 6 pts in one and half minutes. Jai and DeAndre came to Hawk Hill in the same recruiting class. Their relationship was shown as Bembry found Williams under the basket twice. Defensively, Jai’s effort was the key as he gave all that he could to block as many shots. Two attempts ended up being fouls, however one was successful.   

Jai Williams and Javon Bauman had a tough match-up. The two Hawk centers were defending against George Mason’s best player, center Shevon Thompson. Thompson is ranked 16^th in the national with 11 double doubles.  Thompson grabbed rebounds and scored with ease. He finished the game with 15 points and 16 rebounds. 

Isaiah Miles left the first half  with 2 and half minutes to left with a reported sprained knee. During halftime, he wrapped it up with ice, and returned in the second half. It did not appear to affect him too much, but he had open shots that he did not take advantage of. Miles also did not appear to attack the ball in the air like he has in the past. Hawk fans hope that the injury does not linger during the remaining games.

The biggest positive is that the Hawks never lost the lead throughout the entire game. Saint Joseph’s plays next against Rhode Island in Hagan Arena at 7:00pm on Wednesday. 

-- Pants

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4

Athletic Freshmen: Newkirk and Demery

We have seen the Hawks go against top and sub-par Atlantic 10 competition. No matter who the opponent is, they have been out-played. The Hawks would fall to an early deficit, and then attempt a meaningless comeback. The team is forced to try to find their identity while attempting to comeback. Shavar Newkirk and James Demery are two freshmen that Hawk fans are seeing develop throughout this season.

There is not much of a point in giving Chris Wilson additional senior minutes. Freshman point guard, Shavar Newkirk should be slowly gaining minutes each game in order to prepare Newkirk to start next season. If Newkirk improves each game, he should be starting by the end of the season. Maybe Chris Wilson will be on the bench to start the game, similar to Tay Jones. Number 1 for the Hawks is a tremendous team player. He has the second most steals for the Hawks with 12, behind DeAndre Bembry’s 26. Just like the team, Newkirk’s main issue is finding ways to score. He is too small to play under the rim. Newkirk made his first 3-point shot against George Washington and is now 1 for 15 behind the arc. The freshmen point could become an effective scorer if he develops a jump shot from within the paint.

Unlike Shavar, James Demery is a starter. Being a wing guard, Demery has a similar role on the court as DeAndre Bembry. It appears that at times Coach Martelli has taken James Demery out of the game because of Demery committing typical freshmen mistakes. Demery can be the most explosive player during a game. He attacks the basket with ease. As he gets the feel for college basketball, James will gain confidence. Hawk fans have seen him struggle from under the basket. As he develops, he will be able to play under the rim better. James Demery’s first 3 pointer brought the Hawks into overtime against LIU.

Both Shavar Newkirk and James Demery seem to be enjoying being Hawks. They were part of the past incoming athletic freshmen class. Martelli wants to build his team around athletic players that want to be Hawks. Coach should let Newkirk and Demery play through all of their mistakes. The team will only improve, when they do. Benching potential future Hawk stars will not benefit the team. Martelli has to learn to allow the players to play through their mistakes, especially Newkirk and Demery. These two athletic freshmen will not learn how to shoot on the bench.

The Fordham Rams will come to Hagan Arena on Wednesday. The Hawks and the Rams hope to get their first win in the Atlantic 10. St. Joe’s will not have an easy win this season. It is too early to call the season a wash. The team has talent; they just need to find ways to score.

- Pants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4

Hawks Improving

The Saint Joseph’s Hawks started conference play losing 64-60 to George Washington. From tip-off the Colonials played as if they had the game won. It appeared as if the Colonials put very little effort in the game. They played soft and let the shot clock run down each of their possessions. The Hawks did not play at a high-level the entire 40 minutes. It is a mystery as to what sparked the team, but something got them going in the second half.

Even with limited possessions and being down by 20 at one point, the Hawks played with hustle and desire. Character shows when a team is losing. St. Joe’s did not lose any tenacity while playing down throughout the entire game. SJU never gave up as they scored more points in the last 11 minutes, 32 compared to 28 in the first 29 minutes. The Hawks played better when they were pressing. Their passing was smoother on the run and they attacked the basket.

The Colonials are one of the better teams in the Atlantic 10. For the Hawks next match-up, they will travel to A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh to play Duquesne. Both teams are considered to be the weaker teams in the Atlantic 10. After playing Duquesne, Saint Joseph’s plays another top conference team, in VCU on Saturday. Playing these two tougher conference games early, will help the Hawks improve. We already saw the them improve throughout the George Washington game.

Isaiah Miles inconsistency is the Hawks biggest issue. His role on the team is to be the perimeter shooter. It appears as if Miles can only make an impact in a game when the team did not fall to an early deficit. He needs to learn to how to be part of the flow of the game even when the team is losing. 

Right now, St. Joe's is a one man show. DeAndre Bembry is the only player the opposing team has to worry about. If DeAndre has the ball in his hands at the start of the game, St. Joe’s will not be trailing early. The team can feed off of his energy. Once the team has momentum, Bembry can act as a facilitator. The team needs to learn to play through him in order to play their best basketball.

Hawk fans can see the team’s potential. The team needs to learn how to play together as a team from tip-off and not when their backs are up against the wall. If pressure is how the team will score their points, then the quicker players should be on the court more. 

- Pants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4

Just the Start of Conference Play

Saint Joseph’s Hawks start conference play as the defending champions against the George Washington Colonials. Tip-off will be at 2:00 on Saturday, January 3^rd in Hagan. Even though it does not appear that the Atlantic 10 will have a strong presence in the NCAA tournament, the Colonials are likely going to be representing the conference. If St. Joe’s will play a competitive game against George Washington, they will need to play up to their full potential. If they do not do not play competitively, it is only the first conference game. It will not determine the rest of the season.

The Hawk’s success this season will be determined by how quickly they develop their potential. Once their full potential is developed, they will be able to compete with the top teams in the conference. The quicker they reach their potential, the sooner they can play competitively against the top teams in the conference. Every game’s outcome could change based on when the game is played. Each team has the opportunity to develop and worsen throughout the season.

Phil Martelli is often criticized for not developing his young players. Heading into the 2014-2015 season, the Hawks biggest issue was their lack of experience and developed players. In order for a player to develop, they need to experience in-game action. DeAndre Bembry and Chris Wilson were the only returning players that averaged more than 10 minutes a game last year. The two experienced Hawks have been consistent this season. Any young team needs strong leadership. Leadership brings the team together.

Aaron Brown and Shavar Newkirk are the only two players who have not started and have played every game. They are also the only two players to average more than 20 minutes a game. Besides Brown and Newkirk, both Jai Williams and Obi Romeo should play every game as well. Williams and Romeo are the Hawks’ bigs coming off the bench. Williams and Romeo should each receive at least 5 minutes. Those are valuable minutes that will not only allow them to develop, but also give other players rest.

Due to Papa Ndao sitting out for the season for medical reasons, Isaiah Miles has received more minutes this season than originally anticipated. Miles has developed his rebounding and shooting ability. The team plays their best basketball when number 15 is grabbing offensive rebounds and making three pointers. If he plays at the level that he ended the non-conference games at, he will soon be playing just as many minutes as Bembry.

Brendan Casper started to receive valuable minutes after he scored 9 points and grabbed 9 rebounds against Villanova. If a player were to play well during a game that lost its competitiveness from it being a blowout, Villanova would be the team to do it against. It is also an easy way to not only become a fan favorite, but a player Martelli would be comfortable bringing off the bench. Ever since the Holy War, Casper has been receiving valuable minutes. Brendan is a sophomore without a scholarship, and Coach Martelli is allowing him to develop.

The first game of conference play does not represent how well the team will play at the end of the season. Each team has their own potential, and St. Joe’s may not reach theirs until the end of the season. If Martelli allows each player to develop, the Hawks can reach their full potential this year. St. Joe’s may lose poorly against the Colonials to start conference play, but at the end of the season the hawks may be able to compete against them. 

- Pants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4

Miles, Hot or Cold

At the start of the season, St. Joseph’s Hawks were lacking a player that can carry the team and Isaiah Miles has had moments leaving fans questioning why he is part of the starting five. Recently, the starting forward has had moments having fans standing up and cheering.

Last season, Isaiah only averaged 9.3 minutes on the court. Miles did not receive enough playing time last year for him to grow. He was playing behind solid starters such as Halil Kanacevic and Ronald Roberts Jr. This year, Isaiah Miles is starting and averaging 29 minutes a game. His confidence has grown from this valuable playing time. He is no longer timid to shoot a three. At the start of the season, it appeared as if hesitation made his shot slow. Now, there is no hesitation and he is a better three point shooter because of it.

The Hawks last five match-ups were against Denver, Marist, Loyola, Villanova, and Temple. The six foot seven forward scored 24, 23, 9, 0, and 20 respectively. When Isaiah is hot, he is the most impactful player on the team. However, when he is not the team struggles. When St. Joe’s played Temple, Hawk fans first saw Miles’ true potential and why Coach Martelli recruited him. Miles led the team in scoring with 20 points and rebounding with 9. Miles’ presence was never felt against Villanova because in the first four minutes he had 2 fouls, which brought him to the bench early. Against Loyola, Miles had an average game statistically while the team played tremendously.

Miles dominated against Marist and Denver with his three point shooting. He went 4-7 behind the arc against Marist and 4-6 against Denver, combining to a 62% three point percentage. The first nine games of the season, he was shooting only shooting 23% behind the arc. Before Marist he never scored four threes before, now he has done in back to back games. He has accounted for almost a third of the team’s points during the past two games.

Isaiah Miles has shown that he can carry the team. The junior out of Baltimore has grown throughout the non-conference play and first 11 games of the season. Miles has likely become the shooter that the Hawks can rely upon to take a game deciding shot.  It seems as if Isaiah Miles has grown into the three point shooter that the team needs for conference play, which starts January 3^rd at 2 against George Washington. St. Joe’s fans are hoping that Miles is not just on a hot streak, but this is the player he truly is.

 -          Pants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4

Flying Slow...

I have to be honest, I wasn't expecting the greatest season by the Hawks. Yes, I thought for sure they would be competitive and possibly punch a ticket to March. With a player like DeAndre Bembry how could you not think that they had a chance? However, it pains me to watch this team play as of late. Phil Martelli’s squad is in the bottom 300 for NCAA teams in ppg, the has lost to two easily beatable teams, and now they have a tough schedule the next few days. This may be a bad few weeks for Saint Joseph’s.

This team has potential; however they just have not lived up to it lately. They are struggling hard and not producing on the offensive side of the basketball at all. A team cannot be successful if they are ranked 318^th in the NCAA in points per game. It is impossible for a team to win games if they are not scoring and this has just been bad of late. The Hawks have only broken 70pts once this season and that was when the team went to overtime. The Hawks also fall at 326^th in the league for field goal percentage as well. A team will not win games if they are not hitting their shots and if they are not scoring baskets. This so far has been the main problem for this Martelli’s team. If they want to start competing they will have to get their points per game up.

SJU has lost to two teams that experts would say were easily beatable. St. Joe’s has now brought their record to 3-3, a record that should be 5-1. Losing to FDU was a tough pill to swallow, however losing to WKU is even tougher to take. This team should have won these two games, there is not a doubt in my mind or many experts minds as well. The team lost today by 3pts after an atrocious start, and they lost by 1pt against FDU. Two teams that do not have a winning record, that is inexcusable. The Gonzaga loss was expected from this team, Gonzaga is one of the best teams in the country and SJU truly did not have a chance going in. But, I will say again they should easily be 5-1 this season going into the Temple game.

After, a tough loss tonight the Hawks have to go into a tough rivalry week ahead of them. Wednesday they take on a much underrated Temple team. Temple is a team that has played extremely well this season even though there were low expectations going in. Temple lost to UNLV a few days ago however they played very well. They kept UNLV to only 57pts throughout the game, playing very strong defense. The 3-2 Owls will play a very good game against the Hawks, and Martelli has to start game planning. After, Temple the Hawks will take on their archrival the Villanova Wildcats. The 5-0 Villanova team has been playing unbelievable as of late. They have truly earned their #12 ranking in the country. This will most likely be a blow out for the Hawks team. I do not foresee them being able to out play the high Nova offense.  With two very tough games coming up, SJU fans have to stay positive.

The Hawks have struggle this season. They have not played up to what many expected, even though that was not much. The team has talent and has skill, they just need to show it and play it out. If there is any positive to take out of the team from late it is how well DeAndre has played. Bembry has scored 23, 17, and 22 in the team’s last three games of the season. Bembry will be the one constant with this team for this season. Expect big things out of this team in the future; however don’t expect great play anytime soon. If this team can put the points on the board they will be able to compete and they will be a top team in the A-10.

-Brett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4

The Hawks Defend Their Nest

The Saint Joseph’s Hawks had their backs up against the wall after their worst loss in history. They rebounded with a win against Vermont after a devastating 52 point loss against Gonzaga. It was a team effort, but Isaiah Miles led it with his corner threes. The team is setup for Isaiah Miles to be the three point shooter. If Miles is consistent with his outside of shots, the team can find success. When Miles fills the three point role, it will take the pressure away from DeAndre Bembry. Miles production helped to propel the Hawks to an 8 point victory and if it continues they can be contenders moving forward.

The Hawks created turnovers with their pressure inside the arc. It proved that they know how to defend any pass within the perimeter. St. Joe’s excels attacking off a break-away. Even though Aaron Brown did not play his best against Vermont, he still impacted the game by taking on the bigger forwards and defending the perimeter well. They executed high pace counter attacks that led to points for each player. This helped SJU to easily surpass their points per game of 50.3. The Hawks defense controlled the entire game after the first five minutes.

Unlike Miles, James Demery and DeAndre Bembry’s role is running along the sidelines and attacking the basket. The team plays their best when they are flying down along the sidelines. They were able to play that style of basketball in the second half. Bembry looked comfortable for the first time this season being the team’s number one shooter and being guarded by the opposing teams best defender. It is possible for Bembry to be the top scorer on the team; however it is appears unlikely that number 43 will not consistently be the top scorer. The Hawks can contend with the top teams in the A-10 if each player is on the top of their game and playing together.

Moving forward they must stay focused, which might be difficult for a young team to do. Watching SJU grow their lead, you can tell that the team was gaining confidence. They began the game down 11-1 and then came back as they were building character and identity. The Hawks did not look back after gaining the lead going into halftime. However, they were not able to put away Vermont as they were always within ten. The young and now .500 hawks should not get too comfortable with their success against Vermont, and keep the pressure on the opposition. Let us hope we will see Bembry and company put LIU Brooklyn away in their upcoming game Tuesday November 25th at 7PM at Hagan.

-Pants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4

Changes for Drexel

After a tough loss to FDU, Hawks fans are starting to get worried. St. Joe’s plays Monday against Drexel and concerns should not be too high. The Drexel Dragons are considered the worst team in the “City Six”. Sju just needs to bring everything together and pull off an easy win. A win would help the Hawks to gain their confidence back. It became apparent during last game that this team was truly lacking confidence, and it looked as though Phil could not get them to believe in themselves during the game. St. Joes’ clearly has the talent to compete in this league; Phil just needs to get it out of them.

Looking towards this game Hawk fans should be looking for a few things to be different in this game. First, Miles will not shoot the ball as much as he did the first game. Even though Miles did have a double-double in the first game of the season, these numbers lie about his real performance. Although Miles was productive, he shot the ball too much. Miles’ job should be to be the clean-up guy, kind of like what Halil did. He needs to score off rebounds due to the fact this is where he is most productive. Additionally, look for Evan to get even more minutes this game. In the first game, Evan played twelve impactful minutes at the guard position. It is apparent that both Demery and Shavar, are not ready to take control of the starting role. Both players struggled on the court taking bad shots and making huge foul mistakes. The pace of the game seemed to be a bit too much for Demery. From the buzz that we heard out of practice, that was not the case. Both of the freshmen that received playing time should not start. Moreover, Demery is likely lost his starting wing position, opposite of Bembry. The last thing to look for in this game against Drexel is Aaron Brown starting. Brown plays with energy and intensity that will be rub-off on the rest of the team. Aaron proved to not only SJU fans but himself that he deserves to be starting. The guy is not only super athletic, but he plays unbelievable defense and can provide some relief to DeAndre. 

Coming into this season many thought that the Hawks had an opportunity to start the season at least 2-0 before going to Gonzaga, however that will not be happening. This team can clearly compete due to the fact that on paper they have one of the best players in the A-10 in DeAndre Bembry. However, it looked like DeAndre felt some pressure in game one of the season.  This team will get it together and will be contenders in the A-10 this season, and against this Drexel team look for the starting lineup to become more stable and older. The lineup should be Chris, Evan, DeAndre, Brown, and Miles, with Javon coming up with some valuable minutes off the bench. This team has the talent to compete even though they lost their three main seniors last season.

The Hawk Will Never Die

-Pants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsAndRants

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsAndRants

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sportsandrants

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-rants-brett-pants/id934063452?mt=2&uo=4

FDU Loss is a Start

Saint Joseph’s Hawks lost their season opener against Fairleigh Dickinson 58-57 from a crushing three by FDU to win the game with almost less than 3 seconds to go. Hawk fans desperately wish to have the “Big 3” back after the loss to Fairleigh Dickinson; however Roberts, Galloway, and Kanacevics are all playing profession basketball. Many of us on HawkHill thought that we were in for a long, tough season. But, nobody thought the losses would start after the first game. The young SJU team is officially 0-1 to start the season, losing to an FDU team that they were seen as clear favorites against. This loss proves that the Hawks  may not be ready to take the next step after the loss of their seniors last season.  Fairleigh Dickinson was their first game of the season and as a completely new unit. This season’s team will play differently together and will win together. 

Phil Martelli will tell you, the team wins as a team and lose as a team. It will take a few games before the Hawks play as an entire unit up and down the court. Though St. Joe’s lost, there were bright spots throughout the game: Evan played tight defense, Javon was a solid rebounder, and Wilson looked strong controlling the game. Isiah Miles took advantage of his size. Miles had a double-double. He battled down low, even though his shooting left more to be desired. At different points of the game, a new player stepped up. That is great to see, however; the team struggled throughout and FDU shut DeAndre Bembry down.

DeAndre Bembry has an immense amount of responsibility this season. For what Bembry accomplished last year, he is a humble individual. Number forty-three for the Hawks know he needs to do better. He knows that he has to score at least 15 points a night to even have a chance. DeAndre cannot rely on the “Big 3” to carry the team. Bembry has to accept the challenge putting this team on his shoulders. 

Hawk fans knew coming into this season DeAndre Bembry was going to be covered by the best player on every team SJU faces that DeAndre was going to have to fill in for the “Big 3”. Everyone knew that DeAndre would get shutdown against better teams in the conference and in the NCAA, however no one expected DeAndre to be shut down by FDU last night. He struggled trying to create open shots. He even passed up shots when they should’ve been taken. DeAndre last season was not known as a shooter, but more of someone who can drive the ball. He worked all off-season to become a reliable outside shooter and perfect his game. Though his shot has gotten better, it looked as if DeAndre did not trust himself shooting the ball. DeAndre is an unbelievable talent and may be the best player to play as a Hawk since Jameer. As DeAndre grows into his leadership role, the team will gain confidence. Last night we saw that DeAndre doesn’t want to be a ball hog, and doesn’t want to shoot the ball when he gets it. He would rahter distribute it. It is time for DeAndre to take charge and take over a game. DeAndre Bembry needs to take charge in order for him the team and him to reach their full potential.

After the loss to Fairleigh Dickinson Saint Joseph’s will not repeat their illustrious 03’-04’ season by going undefeated. It is a long season ahead. There is no reason to panic yet. SJU returns to action on Monday night at Drexel and the again on Wednesday against Gonzaga in Spokane. Gonzaga is a tough opponent and has the potential to not be a pretty matchup. The season started fast for the Hawks, and it will prepare them for the pre-season NIT tournament.

The Hawk Will Never Die

-Brett and Glen