Saint Joseph’s, which is located in Philadelphia, has an enrollment of 3,950. University officials prefer the school be known as either Saint Joseph’s or St. Joe’s.
ESPN’s Dick Vitale will be in town as color announcer for tonight’s game. Dan Shulman will handle the play-by-play duties.
Kansas University leads the all-time series, 4-1. The two teams last met Dec. 18, 1970 at the Jayhawk Classic at Allen Fieldhouse. The 12th-ranked Jayhawks won, 80-65. Saint Joseph’s only win in the series was a 67-65 victory in 1958 in a game played in Manhattan. The first three games in the series were played in Philadelphia.
KU will return the game next season with the Jayhawks and Hawks meeting in the Jimmy V. Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Phil Martelli is 179-99 in nine years at Saint Joseph’s. He’s 91-53 in Atlantic 10 games. He has a 6-4 mark in the NCAA Tournament.
St. Joe’s Pat Carroll is questionable for the game because of a dislocated right shoulder. He’s a left-handed shooter. Dave Mallon, who has a stress fracture in his right foot, is out at least two weeks.
Saint Joseph’s last met the country’s No. 1 team Jan. 10, 1996 when the Hawks lost to UMass, 94-89, in Philadelphia. The Hawks also met Temple twice when it was No. 1 in 1987-88, losing both games in March. SJU’s lone win against a No. 1 team was a 49-48 victory over DePaul in an NCAA second round game on March 14, 1981 in Dayton, Ohio. KU had been ranked No. 1 until Monday’s polls were released.
St. Joe’s is 36-14 on the road over the last four seasons.
6Sports video: Simien receives Big 12 honors
Freshmen still trailing Moody on KU depth chart
X-Factor Game 2: KU 93, St. Joe’s 82