DAYTON, OH (3/9/04) -- Teamwork has been the watchword of the exceptionally selfless Hawks this season, but on Tuesday night the country's No. 1 squad took some time to accept individual congratulations.

At the Atlantic 10 Conference's annual awards banquet at the University of Dayton Arena, four Saint Joseph's players heard their names called, while head coach Phil Martelli was named the league's Coach of the Year for the third time.

In voting conducted among the conference's head coaches, senior point guard Jameer Nelson, to virtually no one's surprise, was named the A-10 Player of the Year. He and his backcourt mate,junior Delonte West, were All-Conference first-team selections. Nelson is a three-year first-team pick, while West was the sole non-senior on this season's first team.

Nelson, named last week as ESPN's Player of the Year, is the leading candidate for National Player of the Year honors. His 20.2 ppg is second best in the Atlantic 10, and he is just six points shy of breaking Saint Joseph's all-time scoring record and 20 points shy of 2,000 for his career. Nelson is third in the league in assists and second in steals, and his eight Player of the Week citations this season are an A-10 record.

"I think we have one of the best conferences," Nelson said, "and I want everyone to know how special it's been to play four years here."

Senior Tyrone Barley earned multiple nods, as the league's Sixth Man of the Year and as a member of the All-Defensive Team. Barley, a vastly improved long-range shooter and ballhandler, came off the bench for 26 of SJU's games this year, and his intensity at both ends of the floor provided an immediate lift in nearly every contest.

Joining Barley on the All-Defensive team were Nelson and sophomore center Dwayne Jones, the conference's leading shotblocker and a fierce rebounder.

Barley, who was inexplicably left off of last year's All-Defensive team, thanked the league's coaches for recognizing his achievements, then offered a wish to all of the gathered players. "Play hard and do the A-10 proud," he said.

Martelli has led this year's team to a 27-0 record and the nation's top ranking, both school firsts. He also earned conference Coach of the Year honors in 1997, when the Hawks advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, and 2001, when his overachieving squad took top-seeded Stanford to the final minute in a thrilling second-round game.

Typically, Martelli chose to use the occasion as a chance to honor his players and colleagues.

"This is an award that really goes to 15 guys who every single day have brought their level and love of basketball and allowed us to coach them," said Martelli, who also paid tribute to the conference's seniors and assistant coaches, as well as to his own assistants, Matt Brady, Monte Ross, and Mark Bass.

Saint Joseph's will begin play in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Thursday's quarterfinal round, when they tip off against the winner of Wednesday's opening round game between Xavier and St. Bonaventure. Game time Thursday is noon with the telecast in Philadelphia on Comcast SportsNet.