![[Image: phillydotcom-logo2.svg]](http://media.philly.com/binary/phillydotcom-logo2.svg)
A-10 champion Hawks get Cincinnati in Spokane
Updated: March 13, 2016 — 8:54 PM EDT
by
Mike Kern, STAFF WRITER. @mikekerndn
NEW YORK - Moments.
For Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli, that's what holds the most meaning.
On Sunday, his Hawks gave him some indelible snapshots. That's how it is when you cut down nets.
"The basketball, like that was special," he said in midafternoon, after his team won the Atlantic 10 championship at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, 87-74 over Virginia Commonwealth. "For these guys to go through that . . . it's forever."
Four hours later, back at their hotel, they learned who they're playing next, and where. But for him, the lasting memory already had happened.
"Sixty-eight names are going to get called," he said. "But only one is going as the 2016 Atlantic 10 champion. And they're going to take 68 next year.
"That feeling pales in comparison to the feeling (of hoisting a trophy)."
Especially when it's your second in three years, and it comes against the defending champ.
But then it was time to start looking ahead.
The Hawks (27-7), the eighth seed in the West Regional, drew ninth-seeded Cincinnati (22-10) in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night in Spokane, Wash. The winner will get either top seed Oregon (28-6) or the survivor of Wednesday's play-in game between Holy Cross (14-19) and Southern (22-12), on Sunday.
"I didn't spend any time looking at anything," said Martelli, after the pairing was revealed on CBS. "(ESPN bracketologist) Joe Lunardi was on the bus with us, and I asked him what he had. He said a seven in Brooklyn. Look, I have no say with what goes on in that (selection-committee) room. Nor does any other coach. They have all the analytics and all the numbers. That's what they chose.
"I'm disappointed for the (players') families. They're very, very loving. That'll be a tough trip (for them to make)."
There's been a lot to love. The Hawks went from 13 wins last season to the second-most wins in program history, behind only the 2003-04 group that, of course, went 30-2 and got to the Final Eight.
"To see the tears in DeAndre' Bembry's eyes on the floor (after the game), that was cool," Martelli said.
This is his seventh trip to the NCAAs. The Hawks were also a four seed in the A-10 Tournament when they beat VCU in the 2014 final. Then they nearly beat eventual national champ Connecticut in their four-letter opener as a 10 seed. They haven't won an NCAA Tournament game since 2004.
These guys were picked to finish seventh in their conference.
"We don't really care who we're playing," said Bembry, a junior forward and A-10 Player of the Year, who scored 30 on 13-for-16 shooting against VCU. "We're a confident team. We're coming off three straight wins (here). We've had a crazy year. Right now, we're not looking forward to having it end.
"The way I look at it, any team that's in is good enough (to beat anyone else). We feel we can win, literally, every game. We took the Atlantic 10 (tourney) one at a time. We beat three good teams. Now we're going to have to beat some more. We know we're good. We're not surprised we won the title."
Temple, which got in as a 10 seed in the South, beat AAC rival Cincy twice. Martelli is tight with Owl coach Fran Dunphy. That doesn't mean he's going to be asking for any scouting reports.
"I wouldn't put him in that position," Martelli said. "He might offer me a thing or two. There's league loyalty, and there's city loyalty. I'm not saying my relationship with Dunph trumps his obligation to the (American Conference).
"I know (the Bearcats) really play a fierce style. And I know they're good enough to be in this tournament."
The Hawks are at least familiar with going to Spokane, having played Gonzaga three times out there. The last two didn't go very well.
"(This time) we're going as champions," Martelli said. "Every kid on that team has a (potential) tattoo now. That's theirs."
Isaiah Miles, the A-10's Most Improved Player and the Most Outstanding Player of the tourney, knows how far this group has come in a short period. They want to make the most of this final part on their journey. They've earned it.
"All that work we put in finally paid off," said the senior forward, who scored 26 (11-for-16) to go with his 12 rebounds. "It's all hitting me now. We're excited to keep playing. The number next to the name doesn't matter. A lot of people were wrong about us. We want to make more memories. We're really like brothers. The bond is so strong. We're in this together.
"We know what we're capable of. We never hung our heads (after losing their last two regular-season games). We're always moving forward . . . Our fans have been great. If they can't be there, then we're all we've got. And all we need."
kernm@phillynews.com
@mikekerndn
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/coll...okane.html
/
A-10 champion Hawks get Cincinnati in Spokane
