DICK'S TIDBITS | Feb. 11, 2004

I keep hearing people questioning coach Phil Martelli and his brilliant St. Joe's team. People keep saying that Saint Joseph's wouldn't be enjoying this success in a different conference.

The undefeated Hawks (20-0) are doing what they're supposed to do. These days, to go unbeaten during the regular season -- which last happened in 1991 with UNLV -- is an amazing feat. Would Saint Joseph's lose if it were in a power conference like the ACC or Big East? Probably. Will the Hawks win the national title? We'll have to wait and see.

	Jameer Nelson, Delonte West and the Hawks are beating everyone put in the front of them.

For now, give Martelli and Co. credit for what they've done. It isn't easy to win night in and night out, and they just defeated a good Gonzaga team on a neutral court. It's time to salute the Hawks' success.

Big East Deserves More Respect
I said it last year when I felt Boston College and Seton Hall belonged in the Big Dance, and I'm saying it again now. Commissioner Mike Tranghese's Big East has great balance and depth, as shown by the stunning league upsets on Monday night.

Unranked Seton Hall and Notre Dame stunned fourth- and fifth-ranked Pittsburgh and Connecticut.

Look at the quality in the Big East, baby! Connecticut and Pittsburgh are on top, while Providence has shown it can compete with the upper echelon with wins over Connecticut, Syracuse and Illinois. Barring a total collapse, coach Louis Orr's Pirates have to get an NCAA bid.

The Orangemen have hit a few bumps lately, but coach Jim Boeheim's squad remains dangerous. Notre Dame helped itself with the win over the Huskies, and Villanova, Rutgers and Boston College are capable of big wins.

At this rate, the Big East could get as many as six teams into the NCAA Tournament.

Rating The Best Backcourts
Having seen a lot of basketball this season, here's my list of the top backcourts in America:

1. Saint Joseph's -- Senior point guard Jameer Nelson and junior Delonte West form the best duo in America. They can score from anywhere on the court and play well on both ends of the court. I love their enthusiasm.

2. Duke -- Coach Mike Krzyzewski has the deepest backcourt in the nation, with tremendous depth of shooters on the perimeter. Combine that depth with senior point guard Chris Duhon's great leadership, and this is a tough team to stop.

3. Stanford -- Sophomore point guard Chris Hernandez and senior Matt Lottich play well together, with Hernandez giving the Cardinal great toughness, while Lottich is a solid shooter.

4. North Carolina -- Sophomores Raymond Felton (everybody loves Raymond, baby) and Rashad McCants are excitement personified every time they step on the court.

5. Pittsburgh -- Sophomore point guard Carl Krauser has stepped in and done a super job as Brandin Knight's replacement. Krauser is tough and never backs down from a challenge, while senior Julius Page provides the team with an experienced scorer. That combination should help in the postseason.

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