St. Joe's remains undefeated with win at Palestra

The media throng seems to burgeon with each successive win, but Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli holds court after the game, cool as ever, with an easy smile.

One reporter asks, "Is it important that you won the game by this margin, because this was a game that people have said was a potential problem?"

"People said that this was a potential problem?" asks Martelli, innocently.

"Sure."

"I had no idea," the coach deadpans, prompting laughter from the regulars on the St. Joe's beat. "I pay no attention to what those people say."

Indeed, the biggest hurdle on Saint Joseph's road to regular-season perfection may rest behind them. The No. 2-ranked Hawks cruised to their second consecutive Big 5 title Saturday afternoon before an overstuffed Palestra crowd, offing longtime rival Temple, 76-53.

Martelli has been quick to defend his team from "those people" throughout his team's 24-game win streak. Following Wednesday's victory at Fordham, the coach chided the "nonsensical talking heads" that credit St. Joe's success to an easy schedule -- even singling out ESPN's Digger Phelps, one of the Hawks' most outspoken detractors.

"I told the team that I wanted them to play with attitude," Martelli said. "And I want them to think of themselves as the best, and play like they're the best."

That they did.

Spurred by their celebrated starting backcourt -- Jameer Nelson and Delonte West combined for 38 points -- the Hawks (24-0, 4-0 Big 5) shot a blistering 52 percent from the field, emphatically ending Temple's upset hopes for the second time this season.

The Owls' David Hawkins, who tied a career high with 36 points when the teams first met on Jan. 31, was swarmed by St. Joe's defenders all afternoon. The senior captain finished with 13 points on 5-for-21 shooting for the Owls (12-11, 1-2), ending a streak of 17 consecutive games with 20 points or more.

"He likes to use his upper body frame to kind of move you out of the way without it being a charge," Martelli said. "And we closed all of those gaps."

Hawkins missed 10 of 12 shots in the first half. Only sophomore Mardy Collins, who scored nine of his 13 points before the break, could provide any sort of spark to a catatonic Temple offense.

"I think he has a macho mentality where he tries to put everybody on his back," said Temple coach John Chaney of Hawkins. "But every time he drives, the two big guys leave our big guys and go and double on him -- he's wriggling and waggling, just like a crab in a basket."

West tallied five first-half assists, while Nelson deposited all three shots he attempted from behind the arc, as the Hawks amassed a 41-23 halftime lead.

St. Joe's maintained its advantage in the second half with a steady diet of perimeter shooting. Hawkins was continually stymied by Martelli's restless pressure defense, forced into numerous turnovers and ill-advised shots.

Enjoying a healthy lead, several Hawks supplied crowd-pleasing pyrotechnics.

With 11:45 remaining in regulation, West faked Collins near the baseline, wheeled around and hit an arching 19-footer to put the Hawks up by 21 points.

Several possessions later, Nelson attacked the basket on a fast break, recklessly throwing his body into 7-foot-1 Keith Butler and -- he scored the basket and drew the foul, to the elation of the Hawks' considerable cheering section.

Said a sobered Chaney following the game, "We're a freight train with no passengers."

The Hall of Fame coach went on to bemoan his team's lack of shooting options.

"It's very frustrating when [Hawkins] gets tied up, he kicks it out to somebody who's got an ice-cream-and-cake shot and they can't put it down," Chaney said. "You run back and you play all this defense in the world -- and it means nothing."

When asked where the undefeated Hawks stack up in the pantheon of great teams in the city series, Chaney seemed certain.

"It's one of the best teams that we've had in this town," Chaney said. "Without question, it is a team that they have. It is a team that passes the ball extremely well, and that beats most teams."

"We might see them again in the [Atlantic 10 Tournament], but they should beat us again anyway. They're that good."

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