By PAUL GOTHAM
To call it a case of when less equals more seems like understatement and maybe even a little misleading, but the description fits.
Saint Joseph’s DeAndre’ Bembry is taking fewer shots and scoring less, but the Hawks overall scoring has increased dramatically, and they a seven-game winning streak to show for it.
This is not to suggest that Bembry is playing any less of role with Phil Martelli‘s club. The junior forward leads the Hawks in assists (4.2 per game), his 7.8 rebounds rank second on the club, and he has still taken more shots (171) than any of his teammates.
One year after leading the Hawks in every positive statistical category and garnering first team all-conference, Bembry has accepted taking fewer shots. In a day and age when entitlement has become a talking point, the Patrick School product has chosen to become part of something larger than himself.
“The extraordinary thing about him is the teammate that he is,” Martelli said during the Atlantic 10 weekly tele-conference. “He is an unbelievable captain. All the notoriety and the successes that he has have not changed .”
This much has changed. Bembry has gone from taking 28.5 percent of the Hawks shots (per KenPom) in 2014-15 to 23.8 percent through 13 games this year. As a result, his offensive efficiency rating has improved from 100.1 to 105.2. With that the Hawks score 74 points per game this in comparison to 62 a year ago. Truth be told, scoring is up across the country but not by a dozen points a game.
And the Hawks (11-2/1-0) won just 13 games all of last season.
“All his numbers are one thing, but the player that he is, the leader that he is, the teammate that he is those are the things that shine through for me,” Martelli added. “He is another guy that you root for that he’ll have tremendous success over this next stretch of time. Then whatever the future will bring for him.”
Saint Joseph’s will look to make it 2-0 in the Atlantic 10 when VCU visits Hagan Arena, Tuesday night. The Rams first-year coach Will Wade knows what to expect from Bembry.
“He’s a tremendous player. His efficiency numbers are very good. His assist to turnover ratio is tremendous. He gets others involved, sharing. He’s doing a good job of being really patient and letting the shots and letting the game come to him, not really forcing things.”
Wade pointed to his most recent game at Richmond when Bembry scored all 16 of his points in the second half as Saint Joseph’s erased a five-point halftime deficit for a victory on the road.
“He didn’t score in the first half and came back and made some critical plays for them down the stretch. He’s not rushing stuff as much. He’s getting into the flow of the game and letting it come to him. He’s playing much more efficiently, and their team is obviously playing really well.”
The game pits teams with contrasting styles. Per BBState VCU is fourth in the nation forcing 17.6 turnovers per game. Saint Joseph’s is 20th in the country committing just 10.2 miscues per contests.
A 7 p.m. tip off is scheduled in Philadelphia. The game will be covered on the American Sports Network.
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