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Hawks Prepare For A-10 Tournament

By Ed Benkin

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Last year, St. Joseph's captured the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Brooklyn.  Expectations have changed in 2015.

The Hawks were hit hard by graduation, and Phil Martell's squad struggled through a rebuilding season.  St. Joseph's finished at 13-17 overall and 7-11 in conference play.  The Hawks will be the tenth seed in the A-10 Tournament and will face St. Bonaventure on Thursday at 6:30pm.

Does the tournament represent a fresh start for the Hawks?

"I think that that's good coach-speak," said Martelli.  "You are what you are.  It's 100 days in.  We're not all of a sudden going to become a proficient three-point shooting team.  We have to continue to build on our strengths, which is game-plan defense.  We've been in a lot of close games, and hopefully, the experience of those close games, wins and losses, will carry us through Thursday."

St. Joseph's was swept by St. Bonaventure during the season, with the second game going into overtime on Hawk Hill.  The Hawks will have to cut down on their turnovers after committing 20 in their second loss to the Bonnies. Meanwhile, Martelli is expecting a defensive battle on Thursday.

"You know it's going to be a low-scoring game," Martelli said.  "We both scored 52 points in 40 minutes in the game here.  Up there, they scored about 60 before they made some foul shots.  We didn't have enough points to put any pressure on their offense."

While nearly all of the Hawks will return next season, Senior Chris Wilson will be suiting up for St. Joseph's for the final time.  Wilson said he is trying to focus on the opening game and not the reality of his college basketball tenure coming to an end.

"I've tried to not think about it too much," said Wilson.  "I'm trying to put most of my focus on St. Bonaventure, but it's definitely crossed my mind that there is no next year for me and that my time with this great group of guys could be coming to an end."

Few if any are picking the young Hawks to make a run in the conference tournament.  That means much of the pressure could fall on the favorites, but Martelli believes youth doesn't necessarily serve as an advantage in the Atlantic 10 tourney.

"It's a different environment," Martelli said.  "We're either game planning on Friday morning or collecting uniforms on Friday morning,  There's a different kind of pressure, and this young group will have to lean on Chris Wilson and DeAndre Bembry to get them through what will be a stomach-churning 40 minutes."

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