Hawk stuff...

Jack, Don and Jim in front of the Ramsay Center, getting ready to celebrate the centennial of Hawk Hoops.

Matt & 6th Man talk about nothing interesting in front of the new facade at Hagan. (more on Fullmer later)

Mr. BTGOTF & Ms. Hawk T Model deep in thought about The Hawk Hoop Club, under the watchful eyes of Ignatius himself.

Deeg and OPHawks... always so serious ;-)


BACK TO FULLMER : This is no posed picture -- yup, the limo broke down on the Schuykill Expwy.

Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Matt Fullmer, married at Sacred Heart Church in Havertown, PA this summer!

Michael J. Hagan Arena

The Michael J. Hagan Arena in Philadelphia has been home to dozens of memorable events, from a 1967 speech by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to a stunning run of victories by the Saint Joseph University Hawks basketball team, who call the arena their home. Event Date Venue Price Range 2009 St Josephs Hawks Basketball Tickets - Season Package (Includes Tickets for all Home Games)

Michael J. Hagan Arena in Philadelphia, PA

Riddle me this? Why is the Atlantic 10 - a league filled with Eastern and Midwest teams and has three members located in the city of Philadelphia - moving its league offices to Newport News, Virginia? The presidents of this league, who okayed this move, must have lost their minds. This is the worst decision the conference has ever made. It's obvious this league could care less about trying to generate publicity with Northeast corridor media outlets. If the Atlantic 10 was looking to save money, all it had to do was move across the river to Cherry Hill or out of King of Prussia. But Newport? Other than Richmond, there isn't another A-10 school close.

My major concern now is the welfare of beloved associate commissioner Ray Cella, who is the best thing the league has going for it.

A-10 ShootAround - ESPN

1. New digs: Three of its schools are in Philadelphia. Nine are in the Northeast. The tournament is in Atlantic City, N.J. So naturally the league moved its offices to … Virginia? Conference officials and coaches alike say this move isn't any pending sign of doom, but more a sign of the economic times. The lease on the office space in Philly was up, and the league could get a sweeter deal in Newport News. Still, for a conference chronically working to generate money -- Atlantic City hasn't exactly become the destination site for the A-10 tourney -- it's an awfully odd move to take your offices out of the geographic footprint of your teams.

12. Saint Joseph's: The loss of the league's best big man, Ahmad Nivins, is significant. Replacing point guard Tasheed Carr won't be easy, either. The Hawks have been a consistent 9-7 in A-10 play the past four seasons, and Phil Martelli probably would take 9-7 again in a heartbeat. Guards Darrin Govens and Garrett Williamson will have to play like Jameer Nelson and Delonte West for Saint Joe's to make noise in conference play.

HHC Message Board

hawkhoops06

Posts: 4,139

Re: ESPN A-10 Shoot-Around

I know the team isn't going to be very good this year, but I find it really hard to believe that it'll be THAT bad (12place). If so, they better begin construction of the new bar right now.


FlappinHawk

Hawk Ambassador

Posts: 3,740Location: Lafayette Hill, PA

nominee, quote of the month

FH

Atlantic 10 Basketball Prospectus

Saint Joseph’s heads into the 2009-10 campaign having lost Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and NBA draft pick Ahmad Nivins but gaining a new arena, which they hope will translate into the same homecourt advantage enjoyed in the years at historic Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. The expansion and renovation of the Fieldhouse will produce the Michael J. Hagan ’85 Arena - capacity 4,200 - which is scheduled for an October 2009 opening.

Now in his 15th season as head coach of the Hawks, Phil Martelli has a mix of experience and youth and will be looking for a go-to player to emerge. Saint Joseph’s three returning starters – senior guards Darrin Govens and Garrett Williamson sophomore forward Idris Hilliard – will need to pick up the scoring to replace both Nivins (19.2 ppg.) and guard Tasheed Carr (14.3 ppg.). Govens averaged 12.5 points and knocked down a team-high 72 field goals from beyond the arc, while Williamson (6.1 ppg.), a member of the league’s All- Defensive team, led SJU in assists (4.53 apg.). One of the more improved players in the Conference, Hilliard averaged 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds after playing sparingly as a freshman, A mix of newcomers and returning players will compete to round out the lineup. Todd O’Brien (4.4 ppg.), a 6-11 center, is eligible after his transfer from Bucknell and should find his way into the rotation. Sophomore forward Bryant Irwin (3.1 ppg.) saw action in every game his rookie year and has impressed Martelli in offseason workouts. Sophomore guard Chris Prescott (2.8 ppg.) has also made great strides in the offseason and gives the Hawks a potential outside shooting threat. Junior Charoy Bentley (1.2 ppg.) increased his playing time last season and could help with the perimeter scoring.

Freshman Carl Baptiste (21.8 ppg.), a 6-8 forward, was a 1,000-point scorer in high school and should compete for minutes. Joining Baptiste in the freshman class are a pair of true point guards in Justin Crosgile (24.5 ppg.) and Carl Jones (25.0 ppg.). The 5-11 Crosgile was a New Jersey All-State first-team selection, while Jones was the runner-up for Player of the Year honors in Ohio. Martelli sees the two freshmen as the top candidates for the starting point guard job, which would allow Williamson to move back to his natural offguard or wing position.