"What we've gone through the past couple years has been humbling," Martelli said. "I know there are fans who are disappointed. I know there are students who aren't as engaged as they used to be. I have total awareness, and I take total responsibility.
"But I don't have any self doubt. The things that I believe are the foundations of this program - loyalty, honest communication, daily improvement - are still there. I feel pressure to make sure our players have an experience they'll want to repeat. I put internal pressure on myself to have our students reengaged, to have our fans proud and energized."
The pieces appear to be in place for a reemergence on Hawk Hill. The four freshmen who were so heavily relied upon are a year older and wiser in the ways of the college level.
One of them, guard Langston Galloway, has a chance to reach 2,000 career points. Carl Jones, the skinny guard who averaged 17.0 points a game, returns as a junior.
Halil Kanacevic, a 6-foot-8, 258-pound sophomore forward who transferred from Hofstra after an impressive freshman year, is quite capable of addressing the team's shortcomings in rebounding, muscle, and feistiness.
Also, the Hawks left themselves with something to build on by finishing last season on a high. A team that didn't win a game in January made a late charge to qualify for the Atlantic Ten tourney then upset both George Washington and Duquesne in overtime before scaring Dayton in the semifinals.
By winning four of its final six games, St. Joe's, which has no seniors and two juniors on a roster with 10 scholarship players, had reason to look forward.
