Last season: 10-19, (3-13 Atlantic 10)
State of Program: Trying to rebuild in difficult and expanding A-10
Key Players Lost: Kervin Bristol, Marvin Dominique (St. Peter’s), Alberto Estwick, Lamount Samuell
Incoming Players: Travion Leonard (F), Nihad Musovic (G), Jermaine Myers (G), Ryan Rhoomes (F), Mandell Thomas (G)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: Devon McMillan
G: Branden Frazier
G: Bryan Smith
F: Ryan Canty
F: Chris Gaston
Key Reserves: Jeffrey Short (G), Ryan Rhoomes (F – if eligible), Travion Leonard (F), Mandell Thomas (G), Jermaine Myers (G)
Biggest Storylines:
1) Will Fordham escape the Atlantic 10 cellar? Make the conference tournament?
2) Can Chris Gaston be a First Team A-10 Player?
3) Will the offense improve? (It almost has to.)
Analysis: Fordham enters the 2012-13 season with some questions to answer, including if forward Ryan Rhoomes is eligible. If he is then Rhoomes could start in place of Ryan Canty and the Rams will have enough front court depth to get through the season. If not though then Travion Leonard will be pressed into service and Fordham might be overmatched against some of the A-10 front courts, even if Gaston does play like an all-conference player. The backcourt has more depth. Devon McMillan is a placeholder right now. If he struggles on offense as much as he did during his freshman campaign he’ll be replaced by Jermaine Myers or Jeffrey Short in the lineup. Short flashed some potential during his freshman season, but it was ended early by injury. Myers is a highly-rated recruit from Canada and Blair Academy. The offense though will go through Gaston and Branden Frazier the majority of the time. How they handle it will determine just how efficient the Rams are.
Final Prediction: Tom Pecora keeps bringing talent to Fordham, but the Rams still have a long way to go. Last season in the 14-team A-10 they had the worst offense and defense in conference. The offense has to improve this season and it should as players mature. There a few a programs that might slide beneath Fordham and thus the Rams have a chance to make it to the A-10 Tournament in Brooklyn. That would be a sign of a step forward.
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