Hawks coach takes shots at Big East, demands A-10 respect

St. Joe’s basketball entered the national conversation after head coach Steve Donahue publicly challenged the perceived gap between Atlantic 10 and Big East basketball. As selection week approaches and the NCAA Tournament begins to take shape, his comments sparked a broader debate about the conference’s value and approach to the postseason.

Donahue made the following remarks St. Joe’s 81–63 victory over George Mason on Wednesday night at Hagan Arena in Philadelphia. With the win, the Hawks improved to 18–10 overall and 10–5 in A-10 play, while George Mason fell to 21–7 and 9–6 in the conference. In his postgame comments, Donahue argued that A-10 basketball deserves significantly more national respect. He dismissed the idea that the league is just a single-contest conference, while suggesting that the perceived separation between the Big East and the Atlantic 10 is overstated.

Timing is important. The end of February often shapes the NCAA Tournament bubble and ultimately determines which teams secure final bids come tournament season. Conference strength often factors into selection committee discussions, and for St. Joe basketball fans, the Hawks’ coach projected confidence not only in his program but in the league’s overall talent.

Field 68 shared the clip on its official X account (formerly known as Twitter), quickly suppressing Donahue’s comments to the center college hoops chatter.

“We’re the 7th best league in the country and people only talk about one team going to the tournament. The numbers don’t make it look like that, but I’m telling you, there’s not that much of a difference between the Big East and the A-10.”

Steve Donahue 👀

“We’re the 7th best league in the country and there’s only talk of one team going to the tournament. The numbers don’t make it look that way, but I’m telling you, there’s not much of a difference between the Big East and the A-10.”pic.twitter.com/sfNEFp3Grc

— The Field 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 26, 2026

Donahue’s statement underscores the tension between advanced metrics and results on the ground. While the NET rankings shape the NCAA Tournament field, he argued they don’t fully capture the competitiveness of the A-10.

For St. Joe’s basketballremarks function as calculated public advocacy during a crucial part of the season. The Hawks are competing not just for wins, but for the conference’s broader credibility. As Selection Week creeps up, how the committee rates the Atlantic 10 could directly shape the postseason outlook for Saint Joseph’s and its conference peers.