St. Joe’s men’s basketball is aiming to finish their season on a high note after losing back-to-back games against George Mason University and Fordham University Feb. 7 and Feb. 10, respectively. These losses came after a four-game win streak.
Senior guard Derek Simpson, who was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 26 after averaging 23.5 points and 6.5 assists per game, said the success of the team comes from preparation in practice.
“Our team’s chemistry is getting better as the days go on, and the coaching staff has been doing really well, keeping our minds straight, not allowing us to think that we’re too good for anybody,” Simpson said. “Just keeping us humble and us being able to hold each other accountable in practices behind the scenes. When the lights come on, we’re able to focus a little bit more than what we’ve done in the past.”
The team is currently shooting 42.6% on field goals and 30.4% from the 3-point line. Simpson credited his teammates with helping him achieve being named A-10 Player of the Week.
“I don’t get this accolade without my team making shots, without our big men setting good screens for me and getting me open,” Simpson said. “It’s just about making the shots, and I’ve been doing that lately, and I plan [to] keep doing that. But from an overall perspective, [my] teammates have really helped me. They’ve allowed me to have a lot of confidence when it comes to shooting the ball and control on the team.”
Head coach Steve Donahue, who assumed the role in September after the departure of Billy Lange, said he thought Lange had established a culture that was “ready for winning.” Donahue said the transition was an adjustment for both him and the players, but the team has progressed to where they’re comfortable working together.
“I think with the transition, it was difficult, just because I’m new, and they’re obviously new to me,” Donahue said. “It took us a while, but [we’re] doing some things that I think they’re good at … I try to, obviously, rely on some of my past experiences over coaching, and hopefully the marriage is good.”
The Hawks are currently tied for fourth in the A-10 standings with six games to go in the regular season. Simpson said the team’s motto is “take one game at a time,” and right now is about focusing on preparation for the games ahead.
“Teams are getting tired and worn down as of right now, and us being able to keep that motivation and just keep staying hungry will allow us to finish this regular season off strong and go into the A-10 tournament with a lot of confidence and a lot of mojo,” Simpson said.
Colin Yost ’28, a member of 54th Airborne, the official student section of SJU Athletics, said that even after the past two losses, he believes the team can “get back to their game.”
“If they just keep the chemistry up like it was, I think they can really beat anybody in this league,” Yost said. “Just play the game, play loose and play together.”
Donahue said he thinks everything the team experiences is based on what they do in that moment.
“If you worry about those things and concern yourself with what you’re doing at that moment, I think that’s how you get better and grow as a team,” Donahue said. “I would hope we continue to grow as a team. I want to be way better February 28th than we are right now.”
