NCDS: Dave Duda, Asst. Coach - Saint Joseph's

February, although the shortest month, can have many different meanings for a college basketball team. Some are peaking, some are slumping, some improving, and some remain unchanged. The St. Joseph’s Hawks are looking forward to continuing to make positive strides in the latter part of the month. We are 2-1 in the month of February, and felt we have played well in each of the games. A winless January would leave many teams down and out, playing out the string, especially with a young group like ours.

This group has been unique in the fact that they keep coming back for more. There have been losses of many varieties: beatings, close losses, one bad stretch in a game. No matter what was dealt to this group, they just come back ready the next day. I feel that has finally paid off in a 2-1 start in February, and a 2-0 start in the second half of the A-10 season. It has been a credit to their resilience, and bodes well for a young group. Three freshmen: Langston Galloway, CJ Aiken, and Ron Roberts have each placed themselves among the leader/leaders in various A-10 statistical categories. CJ and Langston have made great cases for A-10 all rookie team, and CJ a candidate for the all defensive team, leading the A-10 in blocks.

With games against Xavier, Temple, and Richmond ahead, we should truly find out just how far this group has come. We are all anxious to see if this group can knock off one of the teams at the top of our league. All teams are putting the pedal down, as we go into the homestretch. We will be looking to do so in a little different manner, but we feel good as a staff that we know we will get everything that this team can give us. Hopefully for all the Hawk faithful the best is yet to come. The Hawk Will Never Die!