Beginning Monday, June 21st, 2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the opening day of the 2004-05 Season.

Bookmark the 144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back each day to see which team is previewed next.

#39 Saint Joseph’s Hawks

Atlantic 10

2003-04: 30-2, 16-0, 1^st

 2003-04 postseason: NCAA Elite Eight

By Joel Welser

After an incredible season for Head Coach Phil Martelli and his Hawks, the expectations have quickly receeded.  The loss of the player of the year, another first round draft pick and a defensive genius will do that to a program.  It will be interesting to see how the team reacts with the loss of such great talent, but don’t overlook the Hawks just because the big names are now in the NBA.  Swingmen Pat Carroll and Chet Stachitas will be ready to take over the scoring.

Who’s Out: There isn’t much left to say about Jameer Nelson’s career at St. Joe’s.  The numbers are great and the intangibles are even better.  Nelson scored 20.6 points and dished out 5.3 assists per game last year.  Delonte West averaged 18.9 points, 5.4 boards, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals his junior, and last, season in Philadelphia.  Guard Tyrone Barley was known for his defense but was able to contribute on the other end as well scoring 7.2 points per contest.  The backcourt will go through a lot of changes but with Carroll and Stachitas on the wings and Dwayne Lee running the point, the team will have some talent.  Little used forward Brian Jesiolowski has also run out of eligibility. 

Who’s In: Point guard Abdulai Jalloh should compete with Lee for some minutes in the unenviable job of replacing Jameer Nelson.  Jalloh is a tough, hard worker but can be scary for coaches and fans at times with his style of play.  He can amaze you one minute and bewilder the next.  Jalloh will become more consistent with experience and be a big player down the road.  Pat Calathes is unique for a 6-10 player.  He was a point guard as a freshman in high school…a 5-11 point guard.  A few years later and nearly a foot taller, Calathes still has all those guard skills to go along with his center like height.  He has a solid outside shot and great ball handling skills for a player of his size.  Coach Martelli should find a spot for Calathes this year.  Rob Ferguson will add even more to a frontcourt that has suddenly become the teams strength.  Ferguson redshirted last year and spent that time bulking up and gaining a lot of experience practicing with the squad.  That experience will allow Ferguson to see a lot of minutes from day one.  He’ll have to fight for minutes though with a talented frontcourt.  Last year starters John Bryant and Dwayne Jones are returning as a quality frontcourt duo. 

Who to Watch: Pat Carroll will be looked to for scoring and floor leadership.  Carroll, who started all 32 games a season ago, is one the best shooters in the nation.  As a junior last year he averaged 10.1 points per game.  The 6-5 lefty led the A-10 in 3-point percentage at .458.  Without Nelson and West, opposing defenses may not leave Carroll open as much on the perimeter.  He’ll have to work harder to find open shots, but Carroll should put up some big numbers. 

Projected Conference Rank: The frontcourt is deep and the backcourt has some untapped talent.  It won’t be easy for the Hawks, but Coach Martelli has the tools to lead his team back to the big dance.  It won’t be anywhere close to a 16-0 conference record, but St. Joe’s will be very happy with a 2^nd place finish in the Atlantic 10.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

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Email Joel Welser: jwelser_chn@ameritech.net

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