PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Saint Joseph’s was as easygoing this year as its coach, ripping off wins faster than a Phil Martelli one-liner. Pressure? That was for the other team.

It’s amazing what 27 straight wins will do for a team’s psyche.

It’s just as curious how quickly one loss and an opinionated analyst can reverse that attitude. So when the top-seeded Hawks swept their NCAA tournament subregional, they didn’t react with a shrug or satisfaction. They felt something else: Relief.

“I was surprised to hear and read and some of their comments about how relieved they were to get to the Sweet 16,” Martelli said Monday. “I didn’t sense they felt tighter. I will admit, I felt tighter.”

The Hawks knew if they were eliminated early like No. 1 seeds Kentucky and Stanford, the critics would have been on them faster than Jameer Nelson on a loose ball.

“It we lost to Texas Tech, we’d always have the naysayers say, ‘See, we told you this, we told you that,”‘ Martelli said. “I felt that the players’ reaction certainly showed tremendous relief and an outpouring of emotion I haven’t seen.”

And why not? The Hawks are back in the round of 16 for the first time since 1997. That year, they made it with wins over Pacific and Boston College before losing to Kentucky. The Hawks started feeling some heat after their loss in the Atlantic 10 tournament to Xavier, spoiling their chance to become the first team since UNLV in 1991 to enter the NCAA tournament undefeated.

Then, the Hawks’ selection as a No. 1 seed was criticized by CBS analyst Billy Packer, who rattled off eight or nine teams that he said deserved the spot instead. CBS studio analyst Clark Kellogg predicted that St. Joe’s would be the first No. 1 seed to lose. Now, while some of the teams Packer thought deserved the top spot are making spring break plans this week, Saint Joseph’s is getting ready for its regional semifinal game Thursday with fourth-seeded Wake Forest (21-9).

Packer played for Wake Forest when it beat Saint Joseph’s in the 1962 tournament and he’ll be broadcasting the games this weekend from the East Rutherford regional.

“I silently applauded CBS. They get it,” Martelli said. “It makes for a good story above and beyond the game.”

While Packer vs. Martelli may be the biggest story, it’s not necessarily the best. The game will feature one of the best point guard matchups of the tournament in Saint Joe’s Nelson against Wake Forest’s Chris Paul.

Plus, Martelli has been tooting the horn of the much-disparaged A-10, which took some heat for not providing the Hawks with much competition this year.

Xavier, the only team to beat the Hawks this year, reached the round of 16 giving the A-10 two teams in the regional semifinals for the first time since George Washington and Temple in 1993.

“The A-10 has always been maligned,” Martelli said. “It’s been in the shadow of the Big East for a long time. The league can hold their head high and their chest out right now.”

So will the Hawks, who have already proved worthy of their seed.

“The swagger, the attitude came back after the Liberty game,” Martelli said.

AP-ES-03-22-04 1823EST