NEW YORK (2/11/04) - For the first time in school history and the only time in the 50-year history of the magazine, Saint Joseph's University is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Senior point guard Jameer Nelson, leader of the third-ranked and unbeaten Hawks, stands alone on the cover above text reading, "The little man from the little school that's beating everyone." The cover photo was taken by local Sports Illustrated photographer Al Tielemans and is his first SI cover.

A lengthy cover story, authored by Philadelphia-based S.I. senior writer Michael Bamberger, introduces the nation to Nelson, the leading candidate for 2004 Player of the Year, the rest of the storied Hawks men's basketball program. It also showcases a university community that has embraced the team's success as a way of highlighting its academic and co-curricular excellence.

This edition (cover date February 16, 2004) marks the greatest coverage of Saint Joseph's in Sports Illustrated. The 1965-66 men's basketball team was picked No. 1 in the country by the magazine prior to the start of that season, but was not featured on the cover. The current Hawks are 20-0, have been ranked No. 3 in the nation for four weeks and join only Stanford among NCAA Division I unbeaten teams.

Click here to see the cover.

"A Sports Illustrated cover brings a spotlight specifically on our basketball program. But more importantly to me, it's a spotlight on a great University. All human emotions overtake you - it's humbling, it's exciting, it's a sign of respect. Whatever word you can use to describe it, encompasses the feeling of everyone involved in our program seeing Jameer Nelson on that cover," said Hawk coach Phil Martelli.

"We celebrate for Jameer Nelson, the men's basketball team and the entire university," said SJU president Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. "This and all the national coverage we are receiving is a tribute to the coaches, student-athletes and staff who have worked so hard to make this such a special time on campus.

"The mission of Saint Joseph's University is one of excellence and of striving for more. We are blessed that our men's basketball program continues to represent that mission so positively to the nation."

The Hawks face perhaps their biggest regular season challenge tonight at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. Dayton (19-3 overall, 9-0 Atlantic 10) matches SJU's perfect conference record and has defeated Saint Joseph's in three straight meetings, the last time eliminating SJU from the 2003 Atlantic 10 championships. Another overflow crowd of spectators and media is expected for the 7 pm tip.