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Home > Blogs > Flyer Connection: University of Dayton sports > Archives > 2009 > January > 30 > Entry
Martelli believes Hawks have shaken funk
I always enjoy listening to Saint Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli, whose team plays at Dayton on Sunday.
I had a phone interview with him today, and he’s a sports writer’s dream: candid, quotable and accommodating.
When I suggested his team was playing well, having won seven in a row, Martelli countered: “I wouldn’t say ‘well.’ I would say ‘efficiently.’ I thnk we’re doing each time out something a little better, and the beauty of it is I think there’s still a whole lot of growth we can make.”
I suggested the Hawks’ rough start (they were 5-7 at one time) may have stemmed from having had to move its home games to the spacious Palestra this season while that pit known as Alumni Fieldhouse is being renovated, erasing the intimidation factor.
They probably don’t lose to Siena and Drexel at home if those games are played at the Fieldhouse.
But Martelli said he thought the November trip to Maui and then a last-second loss to crosstown rival Villanova left his team dragging.
“Some of the emotional (commitment) and even some of the fortitude was left a little bit behind,” he said. “It took us getting knocked down by Siena and Drexel to get it back.”
Martelli raved about the Flyers’ Chris Wright, who missed the Saint Joe’s game last year (and all but eight minutes of Atlantic 10 play) because of a fractured ankle.
“It’s really exciting to see him play and see what he’s all about,” Martelli said. “I think it’s great for the league to have a player that’s just bubbling nationally beneath the surface and will (emerge) in the next couple years. It’s exciting for the A-10 to have a freakish athlete like him.”
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Comments
By Marty
January 31, 2009 8:00 AM | Link to this
Our current Sag SoS is at 274, playing St Joes should help that some. St Joes is ranked #87 which is right about where Wright State is at #89. Good to see that we are finally upgrading to playing teams equal with WSU.By Jerseyflyer
January 31, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
Nice to hear a guy with keen basketball knowledge such as Martelli describe CWright as “freakish”. Let’s hope Flight get’s his “freak on” big time against St Joe’s on Sunday. Play him some big time mins too BG!This kid’s got game.Blocks,Dunks, Rips…he does it all. Just stay outta foul trouble and we be good to go the rest of the way. See you @ LaSalle on Weds…..By FaithfulFlyer65
January 31, 2009 10:18 AM | Link to this
St. Joe may not have a great record, but they’re probably the best team UD has played so far other than Marquette. This game will show whether the Flyers are indeed close to being a Top 25 team. I expect them to play well and hopefully they can pull out a win.By Joe Fan
January 31, 2009 12:11 PM | Link to this
So here we go. It’s St. Joe vs. UD. Let’s check out a few things. UD has a better record, they’re ranked higher in the polls, have a better RPI Rating, and have the home court advantage. So, I ask, who should win this game?By JMS
January 31, 2009 12:30 PM | Link to this
Wright State fans stop dreaming and stop hating you will never be what the Flyers are accept it.By Ed
January 31, 2009 12:36 PM | Link to this
I’ve seen a lot of comments this week questioning Coach Gregory’s coaching strategy and many responses arguing how can real UD fans talk negative about a 19-2 record. I don’t believe than anyone is unhappy about the excellent won-lost record. It seems to me that the negative comments are because some fans don’t believe that the team is playing up to it’s potential. Everyone agrees that they have great athletes. Much better than the teams they are playing against. But athletes have to be on the court to perform. They also need to be placed in a position on the court where they will benefit the team the most. They have won the majority of their games, but against a very weak schedule, but is the team really playing up to it’s potential? I can see where Coach Gregory’s decisions can be criticized. The next 10 games should tell whether the Coach’s strategy has worked. If they win 6 of the last 10, I’ll conceded the the Coach knew best.By CharlieO
January 31, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this
Let’s talk a little bit about the UD/St. Louis game. Everyone is raving that UD’s defense won the game. I submit that that was a terrible strategy to begin with. It doesn’t take suburb defense to beat St. Louis. Check out their scores. They can’t score points against anybody. As proven by other teams that have played them, a mediocre defense will easily beat them as long as their opponent can put some points on the board. Dayton should have had more offensive players on the floor for minutes against St. Louis. They gave too many minutes to their better defensive players and it almost cost them a game that they should have won easily. What’s it come down too? Coaching strategy!By Tommy
January 31, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this
Marty, I don’t know what your point is. St Joes is a very good team. Being ranked near WSU is very good. St Joe’s should be a tough challenge. WSU is damn good this year, they are 13-2 in their last 15 games.By Matt
January 31, 2009 1:00 PM | Link to this
The problem under Gregory that will never change is the team in no better now than they were game #1. Marcus Johnson, Chris Wright, and Lowery don’t improve their fundamentals at all. Beating the bottom half of the A-10 by 3 points or less is impressive I guess. It’s like this program strives to live on the bubble instead of bursting it.By Miami Grad Student
January 31, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this
FaithfulFlyer65, do you really believe that playing St Joes is going to tell you whether UD is worthy of being top 25? You must be jesting. Look at your first game of the season, that will tell you a lot. UD beat Wofford 52-49. Then, in their next game, Wofford played a top 25 team and lost 93-40. Even a UD fan should be able to understand that.By GregS
January 31, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this
MiamiGrad, who cares??? So we are probably not worthy of top 25, but at least we beat your team. UD is one of the top 10 mid-majors in the country and I’m proud of that!By amy katz
January 31, 2009 6:39 PM | Link to this
well miami grad studnet — using your logic of using one game to determine how good UD is, how about the Marquette game (a team that is undefeated in the best conference?)By Joe
January 31, 2009 11:25 PM | Link to this
I don’t really care to be ranked in the top 25. That is nothing but a distraction. But I do want to make the NCAA tourney. When I looked at the A-10 portion of the schedule I thought to secure a bid without being on the bubble they needed to win 3 of the first 4 games (3 road games in there), they needed to beat St. Bonny and St. Louis at home, win 3 of their next 4, and finish by winning 6 of the last 8. So far they have accomplished the first 2 tasks. Beating St. Joe then winning on the road at LaSalle (everyone seems to forget how hard it is to win on the road) would be huge. But so far, they have done everything they need to. A lot of people are hung up on how good they look doing it but if you forget about style points for a minute you have to agree they are on target to achieve the bid without being on the bubble.By George
February 1, 2009 8:52 AM | Link to this
Every year mid-majors get screwed by the NCAA selection committee. Our problem is that we played a very weak schedule and the A10 is not a BCS conference. We only have one quality win so we need to beat Xavier. If we don’t beat them, we probably are looking at the NIT square in the face. Hopefully we will not see a better NC schedule next year.By George
February 1, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this
I meant to say that I hope we play a more competitive NC schedule next year. As far as us beating St Joes, we should win. St Joes is ranked about as good as WSU in the power rankings so we should win.By Jim O'Hora
February 1, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this
Bottom line for me with this team is, come crunch time THEY WIN. That demonstrates poise, confidence and good coaching. Keep it Flyers ground the Hawks today. UD Class of 62By Glen
February 1, 2009 9:50 AM | Link to this
GregS, actually we are NOT in the mid-major top 10. Our weak as heck schedule is an embarrassment. Here is the link. rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-nonbigsix020109&prov=yhoo&type=lgnsBy Rick
February 1, 2009 10:59 AM | Link to this
Glen, I think he meant in the top 10 among mid majors getting votes in the poles. A win is a win, but their experience needs to start putting people away. Marcus Johnson needs to be a vocal leader on the court.