Younger Version Of Hawks Look To Defend A-10 Title

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Last year, the St. Joseph's Hawks captured the Atlantic 10 championship, but many of the team's key contributors from a year ago have picked up their diplomas.

The 2014-15 Hawks will have several new faces and will be counting on many of their underclassmen to make an impact. After seeing the likes of Langston Galloway, Halil Kanacevic and Ronald Roberts, Jr. lost to graduation, Coach Phil Martelli has had to make adjustments as the team begins preparations for the season.

"They're such nice kids," said Martelli. "They're really good teammates. It has been easy to deal with them, but we're probably practicing a little longer than we did last year. We've gone a little bit slower."

Despite the graduation losses, there are still a host of talented players on the roster. Leading the way is sophomore co-captain DeAndre' Bembry, who was the Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Year last season. Bembry says playing with an experienced group a year ago will pay dividends this winter.

"That definitely helped a lot," Bembry said. "Chemistry was great, and that's probably the best thing for me. I do hear that I play a little older, but playing with the older guys also helped me."

One of those "older guys" is Chris Wilson, one of only two seniors on the Hawks' roster. The co-captain understands he will be looked upon even more as a leader this season, but plans to take the same approach to the court.

"It's definitely different just being the oldest," said Wilson. "But in a way, my role really hasn't changed too much. I'm still being that same point guard and leader that I was the last two or three years, so not much has changed in that sense."

One of the newer faces has more experience than most of the Hawks on the roster. Darby, PA native Aaron Brown is ready to help the Hawks after transferring from West Virginia. The junior guard played his high school ball at Penn Wood and is excited to be back in the Philadelphia area.

"It's going to be great," Brown said. "I'm very excited. I have a lot of family, a lot of friends and a lot of supporters around the area. It's just going to be great for them to come out and see me play."

Martelli knows there will be growing pains, but the longtime Hawks head coach is excited to see his young group develop as the season progresses.

"This has been different," said Martelli. "But it really has kind of been exhilarating in a way."

St. Joseph's will open its season on Friday, November 14th, at home against FDU.

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