Hawks to the Big Dance?

I wouldn't have believed it to be possible just three or four weeks ago. Credit Martelli, who has cemented his status of one of the all-time great Hawk coaches (perhaps second only to Dr. Jack Ramsey), for getting this team, whose moribund season looked to be one of its worst a month ago, to pull it together and make a run.

I was down on the Hawks, having seen them play uninspired ball earlier this year. They didn't look like a team that was well-coached, or at least one that could do on the court what the coach was trying to get them to do. And while it might be premature to expect the Jameer-dividend to be kicking in, I thought for sure that they would have had a couple of underclassmen who were ready to step up. Not having seen them play recently, I am not sure who has made the difference, although Stachitas and Jalloh seem to be among the offensive leaders.

One more victory - over nemesis Xavier - and they are headed to the tournament. The Hawk will never die!