NCAA Tournament: St Joseph’s Head Coach Phil Martelli Clueless About Oregon Ducks

Phi Martelli has been Head Coach at St Joseph’s for over 20 years and he admitted to the media that he knows nothing about the Oregon Ducks, his teams next opponent on Sunday.

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The Oregon Ducks take on the St. Joseph’s Hawks on Sunday for a chance at getting to the Sweet 16. As a Head Coach you should know how to say the right thing even if you aren’t sure. You know how to phrase an answer, specifically when it is about your next opponent. In the case of Hawks Head Coach Phil Martelli the right thing is not what came out of his mouth when he as asked about their next opponent, the Oregon Ducks. Martelli didn’t even know that Oregon won the Pac-12 according to FoxSports.

I was somewhat surprised he made such a comment, but he was at least brutally honest. He gave some insight into the thoughts of the East Coast and the lateness of games. Many on the East Coast are asleep and simply have not watched. That makes sense. He knows the East coast teams, not the West. The perception of the ‘West Coast’ team is part of his answer. This has been an issue, not just for the Oregon Ducks but for ALL West Coast teams. He meant no disrespect in his statement to Oregon or what they have accomplished this season.

No idea. No zero. And that’s — this is my livelihood and I’m saying to you, until I heard on the broadcast that they had finished the season No. 5, I had no idea. I knew this: Dana Altman, when he was at Creighton, we played them one time in the Palestra, we still haven’t guarded them. They scored as many points as they wanted to. And I knew what a fabulous, fabulous coach he was. But if you said to our players, did Oregon win the PAC-12 or did Arizona? They would lean to Arizona. As would basketball people in Philadelphia. It’s not disrespectful, it’s just, at a certain point in time — all of you are fans — at a certain point in time, you have to be honest. You turn the TV off. You can’t watch any more games. So, Big Monday, at midnight, is no longer Big Monday, it’s Tuesday morning. So, they’re fabulous. They’re as good — up close and personal, I know what Villanova looks like and I know Villanova could end up in Houston and I know Oregon could end up in Houston. So to the fan in Philadelphia, or the East Coast, they have no idea.

St Joseph’s Head Coach Phil Martelli Response When He Was Asked About the Oregon Ducks(via FoxSports)

Martelli has been at St. Joseph’s for 31 years now. The first 10 seasons he spent as an Assistant before becoming Head Coach in 1995. If he doesn’t have the opportunity to look at a stat sheet before he talks about Oregon, that’s on him. He may not know anything about the Oregon Ducks, but he will find out all he needs to know later today.

Next: NCAA Tournament: Oregon Ducks Face St. Joseph's In Second Rond

The Oregon Ducks and St. Joseph’s Hawks tipoff at 6:40pm Pacific Time Sunday on TBS.