Those who measure the worth of a basketball player by the statistics alongside his name on a scoresheet may regard St. Joseph's loss of John Bryant as rather insignificant.
They would be wrong.
The 6-foot-7 senior forward averaged 3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds before his season likely came to an end last Tuesday when he suffered a fractured right arm, the result of a flagrant foul from a "goon" sent into the game by Temple coach John Chaney.
Chaney announced yesterday that he would not coach the team in the Atlantic Ten tournament as part of a self-imposed suspension. He already had been suspended by the school for the last three games of the regular season.
But to appreciate Bryant's value to St. Joe's, which plays at George Washington (18-6, 10-4) tonight in a duel between Atlantic Ten Conference division leaders, requires a glance at the opponent's scoresheet.
Largely because of Bryant, the Hawks (15-10, 12-2) lead the conference in scoring defense. Largely because of Bryant's defensive prowess, two of the league's top big men and leading scorers - La Salle's Steve Smith and Massachusetts' Rashaun Freeman - failed to reach double figures against St. Joe's this season.
Despite his modest numbers, Bryant, a cocaptain, was an invaluable asset to the Hawks because of his leadership, hustle and fearlessness. Bryant, a starter on last season's team that came within a tipped ball of advancing to the Final Four, is accustomed to winning.
He showed his character by not complaining when coach Phil Martelli decided early this season that the Hawks would be better served by bringing Bryant off the bench.
Bryant's impact was missed Saturday, when St. Joe's saw its seven-game conference winning streak broken, 65-60, at Rhode Island. The Rams (5-20, 3-11) have had their own problems losing players because of injuries, but they are a rough-and-tumble group that hurt the Hawks with their physical play in the lane.
It's not a stretch to believe that Bryant's loss has derailed a team that was playing in sync and has dealt a serious blow to its chance to win the conference tourney, apparently St. Joe's only hope of making the field of 65 in the NCAA tourney.
The Hawks certainly have their flaws. But for this team, the whole had been greater than the sum of its parts, and now one of those parts is broken.
Since Chaney sent Nehemiah Ingram into last Tuesday's game to wreak havoc on the Hawks, a tactic that ultimately cost Bryant the last few weeks of his college career, Martelli has declined to comment on the issue.
But anyone aware of Martelli's gift for gab knows his silence has sent a loud message concerning his feelings on the matter. The conference is queasy about the possibility of a St. Joe's-Temple matchup in its tourney - even with Chaney's suspension.
"I don't want anyone to think that psychologically or emotionally we weren't prepared for that [Rhode Island] game," Martelli said yesterday. "One factor was his [Bryant's] role was missing, which was as a defensive presence, a guy in and around the basket to defend. We didn't have that.
"We didn't have near enough toughness. They came after our manhood in the lane, and we didn't respond. I also think we had gotten comfortable playing in Philadelphia [for six straight games] and not having been on the road."
Bryant, second on the team in blocked shots (17) and fourth in steals (16), was with the team Saturday in Kingston.
"As a leader, he did the same for us he's always done and helped get the team prepared," Martelli said.
Asked how Bryant is holding up, Martelli said: "Outwardly, he's doing great. Inside, this is crushing him."
After tonight, St. Joe's will conclude the regular season Saturday at home against Fordham. Following tradition, the seniors will be honored before the game at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
Taking the court for that one last game is a precious moment for players who have spent four years sweating and straining to create memories that can last a lifetime. It's a moment that Bryant has been denied.
Ringing endorsement. George Washington coach Karl Hobbs received a three-year contract extension yesterday.
They would be wrong.
The 6-foot-7 senior forward averaged 3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds before his season likely came to an end last Tuesday when he suffered a fractured right arm, the result of a flagrant foul from a "goon" sent into the game by Temple coach John Chaney.
Chaney announced yesterday that he would not coach the team in the Atlantic Ten tournament as part of a self-imposed suspension. He already had been suspended by the school for the last three games of the regular season.
But to appreciate Bryant's value to St. Joe's, which plays at George Washington (18-6, 10-4) tonight in a duel between Atlantic Ten Conference division leaders, requires a glance at the opponent's scoresheet.
Largely because of Bryant, the Hawks (15-10, 12-2) lead the conference in scoring defense. Largely because of Bryant's defensive prowess, two of the league's top big men and leading scorers - La Salle's Steve Smith and Massachusetts' Rashaun Freeman - failed to reach double figures against St. Joe's this season.
Despite his modest numbers, Bryant, a cocaptain, was an invaluable asset to the Hawks because of his leadership, hustle and fearlessness. Bryant, a starter on last season's team that came within a tipped ball of advancing to the Final Four, is accustomed to winning.
He showed his character by not complaining when coach Phil Martelli decided early this season that the Hawks would be better served by bringing Bryant off the bench.
Bryant's impact was missed Saturday, when St. Joe's saw its seven-game conference winning streak broken, 65-60, at Rhode Island. The Rams (5-20, 3-11) have had their own problems losing players because of injuries, but they are a rough-and-tumble group that hurt the Hawks with their physical play in the lane.
It's not a stretch to believe that Bryant's loss has derailed a team that was playing in sync and has dealt a serious blow to its chance to win the conference tourney, apparently St. Joe's only hope of making the field of 65 in the NCAA tourney.
The Hawks certainly have their flaws. But for this team, the whole had been greater than the sum of its parts, and now one of those parts is broken.
Since Chaney sent Nehemiah Ingram into last Tuesday's game to wreak havoc on the Hawks, a tactic that ultimately cost Bryant the last few weeks of his college career, Martelli has declined to comment on the issue.
But anyone aware of Martelli's gift for gab knows his silence has sent a loud message concerning his feelings on the matter. The conference is queasy about the possibility of a St. Joe's-Temple matchup in its tourney - even with Chaney's suspension.
"I don't want anyone to think that psychologically or emotionally we weren't prepared for that [Rhode Island] game," Martelli said yesterday. "One factor was his [Bryant's] role was missing, which was as a defensive presence, a guy in and around the basket to defend. We didn't have that.
"We didn't have near enough toughness. They came after our manhood in the lane, and we didn't respond. I also think we had gotten comfortable playing in Philadelphia [for six straight games] and not having been on the road."
Bryant, second on the team in blocked shots (17) and fourth in steals (16), was with the team Saturday in Kingston.
"As a leader, he did the same for us he's always done and helped get the team prepared," Martelli said.
Asked how Bryant is holding up, Martelli said: "Outwardly, he's doing great. Inside, this is crushing him."
After tonight, St. Joe's will conclude the regular season Saturday at home against Fordham. Following tradition, the seniors will be honored before the game at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
Taking the court for that one last game is a precious moment for players who have spent four years sweating and straining to create memories that can last a lifetime. It's a moment that Bryant has been denied.
Ringing endorsement. George Washington coach Karl Hobbs received a three-year contract extension yesterday.
