Creighton men’s basketball entered the AP poll this week at #19, placing the Bluejays inside the top 20 in both polls for the first time in several years. Each game has been against what appears to be a tougher opponent. The game at St. Joseph’s on Saturday morning could easily be classified as their toughest yet.
The Hawks came into this season with a lot of questions about how good they might be. However, it appears they have received some of those answers through their first nine games — there is a chance they could be really good and challenge in A-10 play.
Last season Creighton stole St. Joseph’s President, Father Timothy Lannon, to take the helm at the Hilltop. This year, the Bluejays hope to steal a win against the Hawks. To help us get a better understanding of what to expect at Saturday’s 11:05 a.m. Central tip, we talked to Philadelphia Inquirer and Philly.com writer Marc Narducci. He covers Hawks hoops, and here is what he had to say.
White & Blue Review: St. Joseph’s looks like they are having a pretty decent season so far. What were the expectations of this team coming into the season?
Marc Narducci: The Hawks had two consecutive 11-win seasons so improvement was expected. There still aren’t any seniors on the team, so I think realistically, a winning season was probably a realistic expectation, but this is a team that is capable of doing better than that.
WBR: After the success the Hawks had during the Jameer Nelson days, there have been seasons of ups and downs. How close is St. Joseph’s to returning to that stature? Is everyone still satisfied with Phil Martelli as coach?
MN: It’s hard to return to the Jameer Nelson days simply because St. Joseph’s reached the Elite 8 and was close to making the Final Four. That said, this is a young team, whose strength is in the sophomore class. It isn’t unrealistic to think the Hawks should contend for an NIT berth this year at the least, and possibly an NCAA berth. That is still far away from the Nelson days, but by next year, this will be a team with high expectations.
WBR: Langston Galloway and Carl Jones had good games against Creighton last season. How have they improved since then?
MN: Carl Jones is the leading scorer but he hasn’t played consistently this year. He has committed a team-high 30 turnovers, and even though he is averaging 18.3 points and just scored his 1,000th career point in Wednesday’s 75-68 win over Boston University, he hasn’t hit his stride this year. Galloway is a different story. He is a consistent player, a strong defender and is coming off a career-high 30-point effort in the win over Boston U. He has probably been the most consistent player in the first nine games.
WBR: In the matchup last season, the Hawks held Creighton’s Doug McDermott scoreless. This season, McDermott has had some great success in each game and is one of the nation’s leaders in scoring. What will the Hawks do to try and stop him again?
MN: St. Joseph’s likes to play a lot of man-to-man and I assume they will play him straight up. Yet where the Hawks are effective is weak side defense, with center C.J.. Aiken often going off his man and blocking shots. Aiken began the week leading the country in blocked shots (5.0 per game) and he added another five against Boston U. Also newcomer Halil Kanacevic, a 6-8 sophomore transfer from Hofstra, is a big body who has also blocked 12 shots. The Hawks do a good job coming from the weak side defensively.
WBR: Who is the player that Creighton will need to be aware of that has been a surprise for the Hawks this season?
MN: I don’t know if Aiken has been a surprise since he averaged 3.5 blocked shots last year, but he has turned the most heads so far. At 6-9, I would say he is among the best leapers in the country and what is impressive about him is that despite the fact that he blocks so many shots (45) he doesn’t foul much. He has committed just 14 personal fouls in nine games, rarely gets fooled on a pump fake and has great anticipation. He also is more effective as a medium ranger shooter than an inside threat.
WBR: If there were some weaknesses that the Bluejays could exploit, what would they be?
MN: American University did a great job of forcing a slower tempo in a 66-60 win over the Hawks. St. Joseph’s is really athletic and is dangerous on the break. When having to play a half-court game extensively, the Hawks have a tendency to wind down the shot clock and then take a forced shot. Another major weakness has been the free throw shooting of their frontcourt. Kanacevic is shooting .400, Aiken .600 and Ron Roberts, a 6-8 sophomore sixth man, .621.
WBR: The last time Creighton came to St. Joseph’s they played at The Palestra. How is the Hagan Arena different?
MN: The Palestra is one of the great arenas in the country from a tradition standpoint. Hagan Arena is much smaller (capacity 4,200) and the fans are right on top of the action. St. Joseph’s is truly enjoying a home court advantage because the arena can get awfully loud. It is a much more intimate setting than the Palestra.
WBR: What is the significance of the SJU Hawk and have you ever seen the Hawk actually not flapping his wings?
MN: The significance of the Hawks is the great tradition. I don’t know of any other mascot that does what the Hawk does all game. And no, this reporter has never seen the Hawk when he was not flapping his wings.
WBR: What is your final prediction? Will the Hawks knock off the ranked Bluejays?
MN: I’ll say yes, the Hawks will win, but it wouldn’t shock me if I were wrong. St. Joe is 6-3 and has been in every game. The losses – 78-70 against Seton Hall in the Charleston (SC) Tournament; 104-99 in double OT at Iona and 66-60 on Sunday at American U.
All three of those teams have a shot to be an NCAA Tournament team. The Hawks are also 3-0 at home although they haven’t played a team the caliber of Creighton. The whole key is how St. Joseph’s will operate in a half-court setting because it’s doubtful that Creighton will allow the Hawks to consistently get in transition. This is a major test and the type that St. Joseph’s needs if the Hawks indeed are as improved as many of us think.