Is St. Joe's An NCAA Tournament Team?
At 6-4, the Hawks are surely a disappointment so far this season. They were considered challengers in a rugged A-10 Conference, right up there with Butler, VCU and Temple, but the losses are starting to mount and offset an early-season win over Notre Dame.
Post an overtime win over the Fighting Irish, St. Joe's has lost to Florida State, demolished at Creighton (after winning against the Bluejays last season), lost to Big Five rival Villanova and dropped a home contest to Fairfield. A close win over Iona could be the turning point as guards Carl Jones and Langston Galloway are starting to get hot. Jones and Galloway combine to average 31 a night, while forwards Ronald Roberts and Halil Kanacevic are playmakers in the frontcourt. Both are tough, versatile and can score from 12-feet and in.
The biggest disappointment thus far has been lanky, 6'9" center C.J. Aiken and head coach Phil Martelli will surely need more production from the preseason all-conference performer. Aiken is averaging just 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks per game, a solid stat-line, but nothing compared to what the junior was expected to do as these numbers are right on par with his sophomore season.
If Aiken can moved back inside on offense (almost half of his shots are from 3-point range), then St. Joe's is not only an at-large team in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, but an A-10 title hopeful.
By NBA-DRAFT.com Staff Writer - 1 -1- 13
