« Team Preview: 5th Place - UMass Minutemen | Main | Team Preview: 3rd Place - Dayton Flyers »
Team Preview: 4th Place - Saint Joseph’s Hawks
By CCT Staff | November 13, 2008
(Ian Nolan; Chris DiSano)
2007-2008 Season In Review
Saint Joseph’s 2007-08 season was a successful campaign in which a veteran laden squad dug down deep late in the year and turned a year of highs and lows into an NCAA Tournment appearance.
Early on, many believed it would be much easier. Beginning with a non-conference win versus Fairfield and ending with another ‘W’ over intra-city rival Villanova, the Hawks ripped off a fantastic 11-1 stretch where their only loss came at the hands of Charlotte. The Hawks began A-10 play by jumping out to a 6-1 start and, coming off a twenty-two point thrashing of ‘Nova, looked prime to contend for the league title.
From there, Phil Martelli’s team faltered as they neared the finish line, going just 3-6 in their final nine conference games. During that span, the Hawks fell to lesser teams such as Duquesne, La Salle, and St. Louis. When the regular season concluded with a twelve point loss to Dayton, the team that at one time looked like a lock to be dancing in the NCAA tournament was suddenly faced with the prospect of being left out in the cold come Selection Sunday.
As the Hawks traveled from Dayton, Ohio to Atlantic City for the Conference Tournament, Pat Calathes and company pushed their chips to the middle of the table. This fresh start may have been all the Hawks needed to recapture their mid-season form. At Boardwalk Hall, the Hawks defeated Fordham, Richmond and top seeded Xavier (for the second time in a month) to move into the title game where the Temple Owls awaited.
Against their rivals, Saint Joseph’s fought valiantly but came up five points short to Dionte Christmas, Mark Tyndale and Co. The NCAA selection committee determined that Saint Joseph’s final push was good enough to slot them an 11th seed squad in the East Region. A loss to a more talented and complete Oklahoma team ended their season, but the Hawks showed great heart in the season’s final weeks and look to build upon that in 2008-09.
Probable Starters:
-
PG - Tasheed Carr, 6′4″, Sr.
-
SG - Darrin Govens, 6′1″, Jr.
-
SF - Garrett Williamson, 6′5″ Jr.
-
PF - Idris Hilliard, 6′6″ So.
-
F/C - Ahmad Nivins, 6′9″, Sr.
On the Court in 2008-09:
Saint Joseph’s has a core of players who are more than capable of bringing Hawk Hill a top four finish in the league. Led by the conference’s best post presence, Ahmad Nivins, and fellow senior point guard Tasheed Carr, the Hawks are extremely strong at the crucial positions of one and five. Along with Nivins and Carr, the Hawks round out their starting five with Darrin Govens, Garrett Williamson and most likely Idris Hilliard, a sophomore.
With two seniors and two juniors, Saint Joseph’s has a balance of veterans, and as far as the coach goes…no introduction is needed for Phil Martelli.
Guard play has always been a staple for Martelli and his teams, and this season will be no different. Carr dished out 167 assists last year (second in the A10) and his assist/turnover ratio of 1.99 was fifth best in the league. Carr is a very good, physical defender at his position, allowing Martelli to pressure opposing team’s guards for 94 feet if he chooses.
On the wing, Darrin Govens returns after averaging 9.8 points on 37% shooting from three. Govens scored in double figures 16 times last year, and will be the number one scoring option at the off guard position for the Hawks.
Garrett Williamson averaged 23 minutes a game in each of his first two seasons, but started in 27 less games last year than in 2006-07. Williamson is a lock-down perimeter defender with extremely solid lateral quickness. While his impact is mainly felt when the Hawks are without the ball, on the offensive side he is a capable passer (89 assists) and takes care of the ball (1.6-to-1, assist/turnover ratio), but could stand to give the Hawks a bit more production (5.3 points per game). Freshman guard Chris Prescott will be asked to contribute off the bench and spell Williamson and Govens when needed, as will senior Edwin Lashley.
Down on the blocks, Nivins and Idris Hilliard will most likely be the starting bigs. The 6-foot-9 Nivins has already made a name for himself; He averaged 14 points and 5 rebounds a game as a junior and was named Third Team All-Conference. A career 63% shooter, Nivins is the definition of offensive efficiency and if anything, must be more assertive and perhaps even downright selfish. His rebounding average decreased by nearly two rebounds a game last year from his sophomore season, and would have been felt more if not for the presence of Calathes and Rob Ferguson. With neither on the roster this year, Nivins will need to be a warrior on the glass.
The number one question coming into this season for the Hawks is who is going to win the other forward position? The aforementioned Idris Hilliard may get the first crack at what could be a carousel of forwards to play alongside Nivins. Hilliard averaged under six minutes per contest last year and just over 1 point, but the sophomore needs to step in right away and produce. Hilliard has the skill set to be an effective scorer around the bucket for the Hawks. Nivins will garner so much attention on the opposite block, that others like Hilliard will be freed up at times due to double teams and weak-side help.
Bryant Irwin, a 6-8 forward, may be waiting in the wings should Hilliard not seize the opportunity. According to Martelli, Irwin has been a tremendous surprise in practice during the early going and is expected contribute right away. Finally, freshmen A.J. Rogers and Temi Adebayo round out the frontcourt for the Hawks and should develop into contributors for SJU down the road.
Newcomer Breakdown - According to Assistant Coach Dave Duda
Chris Prescott - The headliner of the group in terms of national profile, and I feel he is the most ready to contribute as a freshman. He is a good scorer, with great range on the jumper. I feel he’s a more athletic version of Darrin Govens on our current roster.
Bryant Irwin - The most intriguing player, as he averaged over 30 points per game in high school. He plays multiple positions and could develop into a tough matchup in the future.
A.J. Rogers - Played for the legendary Bob Hurley at St. Anthony’s, and we always feel fortunate to have someone from his program. AJ will serve as a glue guy, doing the dirty work, that same as he did for St. Anthony’s National Title team this past season.
Temi Adebayo - A unique case. He sat out a large portion of his senior year, waiting to get medically cleared for a heart condition. He did not get cleared until late in the season and, therefore, wasn’t a household name. We feel fortunate to get him at such a late date. Like most Nigerian players at this stage, his defense is ahead of his offense. His best days are ahead of him.
Go-to-Guy: When discussing a go-to-guy in college basketball, the conversation almost always begins and ends with guards. In Saint Joseph’s case, the debate is more complicated with a Ahmad Nivins, one of the best players in the entire league, in the pivot. Nivins is a 74% FT shooter (top returnee on the team) who converts almost as well from the field (64%), therefore its difficult to argue against him being the Hawks go-to-player. When the big man does get the ball late in games, he can also draw double teams and find open shooters in guards Carr, Govens, Williamson and Chris Prescott. Because Ahmad Nivins can score from the field as well as the line at a quality percentage, and draw double teams, he is the Hawks go to player in critical situations. Simply put, when the ball flows through Nivins - regardless of whether he ultimately pulls the trigger - good things happen.
Impact Newcomer - Chris Prescott has received much acclaim leading up to this season, but Bryant Irwin may have the inside track on becoming the top newcomer. Irwin has been excellent since practice began on October 17th, and if the freshman and former West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year can contribute early and provide SJU with another presence (6-8, 230lbs.) opposite Nivins, his impact upon SJU can be profound.
Marquee non-conference match-up - Anytime an Atlantic 10 club gets the chance to participate in the Maui Invitational, that team is sure to grab headlines around the conference. This year, the Hawks have that honor, as they travel to the Aloha State to take on Rick Barnes and Texas in the opening round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Texas returns their own talented trio with A.J. Abrams, Connor Atchley and Damion James. The Longhorns fell just one game short of the Final Four last year, losing to eventual runner-up Memphis, and should prove to be a difficult early season test for the Hawks.
Notable Positive Statistic (2007-08) - Saint Joseph’s finished first in the Atlantic 10 and twenty-second in the nation in Offensive Field Goal Percentage. Shooting the ball at a 47% success rate was just one of the reasons the Hawks were able to play basketball into March and the NCAA Tournament.
Notable Negative Statistic (2007-08) - The Hawks finished dead last in the league in Three-Point Field Goal Percentage Defense. Only St. Bonaventure permitted more trifectas last season, and the coaching staff on Hawk Hill will undoubtedly look to improve upon this rather ugly stat.
The Hawks will succeed if…Idris Hilliard or Bryant Irwin can step up and become a contributor on the offensive end. The Hawks lost 44% of their scoring offense mostly due to the departures of Pat Calathes and Rob Ferguson, and it would behoove them to identify another interior presence sooner than later. Hilliard played under six minutes a game last year and Irwin is a true freshman; but the Hawks are expecting each to help shoulder the load with Ahmad Nivins.
Martelli has a talented trio of guards in Govens, Carr and Williamson, but is thin at the forward spot. If SJU finds others in addition to Nivins that can convert in the paint, things will free up for the guards on the perimeter. It will then be incumbent upon the backcourt to knock down shots at a consistent rate.
The Hawks will also have to transfer their home court advantage to the Palestra on the other side of Philadelphia as Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse is undergoing some much needed renovations. The Fieldhouse was one of the best home court advantages in the league, so the Hawks will hope they can simply carry the noise and atmosphere over to the relatively cavernous Palestra.
Outlook - Any Phil Martelli led team is going to be given a chance to succeed. This season, Martelli has one great player in Ahmad Nivins, and a combination of veterans and young talent who will be asked to complement him. While Tasheed Carr is the only other impact senior, Govens is a junior with good experience. Young players like Hilliard (So.), Prescott (Fr.) and Bryant Irwin (6-8, 230 lb., Fr.) will be asked to blend in with the veterans and contribute right away… book-ended by the experienced Williamson leading the perimeter defensive brigade.
The Hawks should have another winning season and find themselves squarely in the postseason discussion. In a bit of a role reversal from last season, however, the Hawks will begin doing it with defense. If the offense comes along as the year progresses, that development combined with a great forward, steady point guard and wise coach should lead to continued success. A Conference Championship is asking a lot, but contending for one isn’t out of the question.
Topics: General |
