**Upcoming coverage: Philahoops will be in attendance at two games Saturday, with Aaron Bracy (@Aaron_Bracy) covering the Penn-Villanova Big 5 showdown at the Pavilion, and Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) handling the Central Michigan-Temple matchup at the Liacouras Center. For coverage, follow on Twitter in-game and visit this site postgame.
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“I’m definitely going to bring plenty of heart night in and night out. That’s definitely coming.” — St. Joe’s Halil Kanacevic
Halil Kanacevic, shown against Drexel Wednesday night, is averaging 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds for St. Joe's this season. (Credit Josh Verlin)
Kanacevic, Wilson provide needed ingredient for Hawks
(**Related link: Aiken, St. Joe’s rout Drexel)
By AARON BRACY
Twitter: @Aaron_Bracy
Facebook: Philahoops
So, how does Saint Joseph’s go from an 11-22 campaign to a 5-2 start that has the Hawks, suddenly and surprisingly, being talked about as the best team in Philly?
Simply add Halil Kanacevic and Chris Wilson.
It’s not quite that simple, of course, but the value of Kanacevic and Wilson – the Hawks’ lone impact newcomers – cannot be overstated.
No doubt the maturation, both physically and mentally, of coach Phil Martelli’s talented sophomore class of Langston Galloway, Ronald Roberts, C.J. Aiken and Daryus Quarles, has been a leading reason for the Hawks’ sudden turnaround, which was on full display in Wednesday’s 62-49 dismantling of stunned Drexel.
But Kanacevic and Wilson are huge reasons for St. Joe’s early success, as well.
At 6-foot-8, 260 pounds, Kanacevic is exactly the type of physical interior presence the Hawks were missing a year ago.
WILSON
And Wilson, a stout 6-3, 209-pound freshman, is the true point guard the Hawks so desperately lacked in 2010-11.
To top it off, both are winners. A Fayetteville, N.C. native, Wilson led his high school to a 112-12 record in his career. Kanacevic, from Staten Island, N.Y., helped his school to the PSAL title in 2009.
“Whatever (the team) needs, rebounding, blocking shots, getting baskets, anything the team needs that’s what I’m going to try to bring night in and night out,” Kanacevic, a sophomore transfer from Hofstra, told Philahoops following the Drexel game. “Whatever the team needs, honestly, night in and night out (I’ll do).”
There’s one thing Kanacevic guarantees to display on the floor.
“I’m definitely going to bring plenty of heart night in and night out,” he said. “That’s definitely coming.”
You can see that watching Kanacevic fight, scratch and claw.
Aiken, who matched his career high with nine rejections against the Dragons, may block your shot. Kanacevic doesn’t settle for the ball – he’ll send you down to the floor, too.
In seven games, he’s amassed 28 fouls, something that’s been a bit disappointing. He’s also averaging 6.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1 block in 23.6 minutes.
“I can personally say it’s been a rough start to the season,” he said. “I’ve been in foul trouble and I’ve been disappointed, down on myself because I want to help the team so much.”
You can tell watching him and talking to him, how much team means to Kanacevic. Following last Saturday’s 65-47 win over Penn State, Kanacevic marched into SJU’s sports information office and demanded an investigation into the stat crew, which credited Aiken with just four blocks.
“Last game they had (Aiken) tallied on the box score for four blocks and I went crazy,” Kanacevic said. “I went to the p.r. and said there’s no way he had four blocked shots. You guys gotta fix that. He had about nine last game. They shorted him five.
“I got mad about that. He’s a quiet person but I take exception. I’m going to speak up for him.”
Kanacevic was laughing as he was speaking, but seemed to be only half-kidding. The bottom line is by watching and talking to him, you can see why Martelli was so high on his addition. He’s the type of role player every winning team needs.
And Wilson has played his role well, as well, spelling Jones or Galloway and giving the Hawks a guard who is most comfortable on the ball. That’s unlike the talented Galloway and Jones, who are better suited off the ball but were forced to handle the lead guard load last season.
Wilson is playing 26 minutes and, impressively for a first-year point guard, is averaging a 2-to-1 assists/turnovers ratio (27-to-13) while connecting for 4.3 points per game.
Unlike Kanacevic, who suffered through last season from the bench while being forced to sit out the year due to the NCAA’s transfer rule, Wilson didn’t experience the losing first-hand. But he paid close attention from afar, which is why the quick start feels so good.
“We were 0-6 last year in the city so to get this one was big,” Wilson told Philahoops after the Drexel game. “All the city games, from what I hear, have a little more intensity. You could definitely feel it out there on the court. It was fun to be a part of it.”
He senses what we all sense, that this Hawks team is recapturing the attention and interest of a passionate fan base that has been forced to sit on their hands in recent seasons.
“It was great,” Wilson said of the electric Hagan atmosphere. “Of course, we have a long way to go but you can feel like slowly we might be winning the fan enthusiasm back. I’m sure it takes time and we have to keep playing well but, definitely, it was an incredible atmosphere to play in.”
It’s an atmosphere that should only get better. And, while not the only reason, SJU fans can give big thanks to Kanacevic and Wilson for that.
