Junior Mike Bantom is nowhere near a seven footer (and he is not red-headed) but he leads the undersized frontcourt in it’s duals against the Hawks foes.  Bantom is a cool combination of silky smooth jump shooter and a tough inside player who could bang with the best of them.  He was second in the team in scoring (behind Senesky) and led the team in rebounding and was the main low post option for the Hawks all year.  Bantom is better suited possibly as a small forward but played primarily the power spot for the Hawks and sometimes even center.  That would not worked in any other big conference in the country but the A-10 does not have the biggest post players outside of that monster in St. Bonny.  Bantom was joined by a group of tough but very undersized or not offensive enough post players.  Senior Cliff Anderson did most of his work under the basket even if he was only six foot four.  Anderson is a relentless rebounder and a very effective offensive weapon.  Fellow senior Kurt Englebert is similar to Anderson in that he is undersized not necessarily in height but he is rail thin. The two forwards traded jabs with the other post players in the A-10 all year.  Even if they did give up more than a few inches and pounds, the two were consistently effective in containing their opponents.  Anderson was a primary option on the blocks but is better suited as a wing.  Mike Hauer at 6’4 220 loves to throw his girth around and does have some great low post moves.  If he was ever two or three inches taller he would have a real chance at being a superstar but 6’4 post players just don’t last in D-1 basketball for long.  Tom Wynne, Bob Clarke, Ray Radziszewski and Bill Lynch are a quartet of undersized senior post players who also got some time (though limited) on the court for the Hawks. This group is a little thicker and are tough on the boards but not one of these dudes is above 6’6 so you can see the problem on Rose Hill.  This group lost time as the season progressed as Ramsey looked for more size down low. 

The one thing the Hawks had a plethora of was wing players.  Ramsey took advantage of this and that fits his style of basketball.  Sure, he would love to have a Bill Walton to rotate his motion offense through but he can coach anybody.   Bantom isn’t exactly the Big Redhead down low he fit the scheme of an inside outside big man who can pass and hit an open shot.   None of these the previously mentioned players were adept shotblockers, the one quality Hawks team lacked especially with the pressure defense that Ramsey loves to run.  Enter sophomore Rodney Blake.  Blake who only goes 6’8 is a great shot blocker who Ramsey tried to get on the court as much as possible.  Blake has a problem staying in games due to foul trouble but his presence was huge in the middle for the Hawks. When Blake was on the court the Hawks could press ala UCLA and that made their engine go.  Blake also has some offense though right now he is more of a putback and dunk guy.  He was as important to the success of the Hawk as anyone.  Fellow Sophomore Tony Costner will battle for minutes behind Blake with the upperclassmen.  Costner is the most complete and  by far the biggest (6’10 250) of the group so he will play. 

George Senesky was a shy kid going into this season but the one thing he did not want to do was lose his position to some more aggressive underclassmen.  Ramsey litt some kind of fire under this kid and he did the rest.  Senesky became the go to guy and one of the offensive players in the league.  Not only was he aggressive, he was looking to score every time he touched the ball.  And he always had a knack for putting the ball in the hoop. Senesky was leading the team in scoring and had teamed with Nelson to give the Hawks one of the best backcourts in the country.  But with just a few games left injury struck and the Senior captain (and Valedictorian) was gone for the year.  Ramsey knew this kid knew basketball as well as anyone and quickly puy him next to him on the bench.  Senesky’s injury changed the season for the Hawks and opened the door for several players to get their shot. Matt Guokas was one of those guys.  Guokas was getting limited minutes nut soon was starting. Guokas was one of several players who came on strong when they got their shot though none of them really replaced Senesky. Guokas proved invaluable with his great defense and his passing on the wing. But Ramsey wanted more scoring from the two spot.  Senesky and Guokas were not the only up and down stories on a roster filled with players coming in and out.   Underclassmen such as sophomores Bryan Warrick and Maurice Martin plus upperclassmen Norman Black, Pat McFarland, Steve Courtin, Bob McNeil and Geroge’s brother Paul seemed intent on maintaining the Hawk tradition of great guard play once Senesky went down.  Warrick was Senesky’s backup most of the year and at six five is a matchup problem for most guards.  He threw his hat into the ring when Senesky went down but Ramsey liked him better coming in for McNeil.  Black may have been the most talented of the lot of guards Ramsey has collected but his off the court issues kept him off the court if you will pardon the pun. The kid has skills and can in the words of Ramsey really ‘throw it down’ if he can stay out of trouble should push hard to start next to Senesky next year.  McFarland is instant offense and had one of the best games of the year in the NIT game scoring 17 before fouling out 31 seconds to go and leaving to a standing ovation. Courtin and Paul Senesky platooned the first half of the year at the two before Ramsey let the dogs and brought the kids in to take over.  The competition and the depth on the perimeter is unreal but Senesky is the main man here but man it should be interesting to see who Dr. Jack goes with at the other spots.  You just never know with that dude.    

The St. Joseph Hawks played a style of basketball the way it should be played. Tough, aggressive, hard-nosed defense combines with unselfish, athletic, and sharp offense.  Coach Jack Ramsey has put together not only a good program in Philly but the attitude of how to play the game is contagious.   He is also not afraid to replace anyone on his team at any time and give guys that have earned it a chance to play.  This program may be more famous for it’s mascot and it’s great home court arena than anything but that is changing. These Hawks are this close to getting the kind of national attention they should have had all along.  Dr. Jack has the kind of roster he loves and this team will compete with the elite of the A-10 and for the Big 5 title.  Still, Ramsey (and every other coach on the planet) would love to have a little more talent especially up front to anchor this team.  Whether or not he is redhead or not is optional!