The remarkable 2003–04 Saint Joseph's Hawks, led by underdog stars Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, achieved a perfect season and captivated college basketball with their tenacity and team spirit.In the 2003–04 season, Saint Joseph’s became the most unlikely and most incredible story in college basketball. The underdog Hawks captivated the entire city of Philadelphia and much of the nation with a unique, guard-oriented style and team-first mentality featuring players who were not wanted by power conferences. Big-time programs passed over star point guard Jameer Nelson because of his height, but Nelson played an oversized, sensational game that dwarfed his 5 feet, 11 inches height. Nelson’s backcourt mate, Delonte West, was a lightly recruited prospect out of high school but transformed himself into an NBA first-round draft pick with a work ethic and competitive drive that never had been seen before or since on Hawk Hill.Outspoken head coach Phil Martelli—overlooked for the only job he had ever wanted until he was nearly 41 years old—surrounded Nelson and West with a perfect cast of complementary players. Individually, none of Nelson and West’s teammates would be mentioned as an All-American candidate. Put all of the Hawks together, however, and you had a practically unstoppable force. Not only did the players accept their roles, they relished them. And each one’s contribution, from Nelson and West all the way down to former cheerleader and walk-on Robert Hartshorn, was crucial to the entire team’s success.The Hawks, spurred on by a mascot who never stops flapping its wings and a never-quit school mantra—The Hawk Will Never Die—played their games in a gym that wasn’t even as modern as many high schools. Not much about the Hawks’ home felt big-time—not much, that is, except their team. It was this low-budget, mom-and-pop men’s basketball program that overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to complete a perfect regular season, rise to the unanimous No. 1 ranking in the country, and become the envy of the blue bloods of the sport. St. Joe’s provided hope then and today by reminding everyone that you don’t have to be the biggest to beat the biggest or have the best to be the best.
In the 2003–04 season, Saint Joseph’s became the most captivating story in college basketball. The underdog Hawks completed a perfect regular season, rose to the No. 1 ranking in the country, and reminded everyone that you don’t have to be the biggest to beat the biggest or have the best to be the best.
Bracy is a longtime sports journalist in Philadelphia with nearly 30 years of experience as a sportswriter and sports editor, beginning as an undergraduate at Saint Josephs (1998), where he wrote for the student newspaper and broadcast games on the student radio station. He then covered high school, college and pro sports for the Main Line Times, Trenton Times, Courier-Post and The Trentonian before leaving journalism full time for a career in education. _x000D_ _x000D_ Since 2008, Bracy has been a regular freelancer for the Associated Presss coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers, Flyers, Eagles, Phillies and college basketball. In 2010, he started a website devoted to covering Philadelphia Big 5 college basketball. After four seasons, he closed the website. However, in 2023, Bracy revived the idea with a 2.0 version, called Big5Hoops.com, and today is a leading voice for coverage of Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Josephs, Temple and Villanova, who comprise the Big 5. _x000D_ _x000D_ A lifelong Philadelphia-area resident, Bracy intimately understands the citys sports scene and is a well-known, well-respected and well-connected voice in Philadelphia sports. He also is extremely well-read, both in sports, history and fiction, and brings all of his knowledge, experience and passion for sports and writing into this project.
Lisainfo e-raamatute kohta