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Tom Pecora wants Fordham to be known as “New York’s team.”
Considering the state contains perennial powerhouse Syracuse and a recently resurgent St. John’s team, it could be tough. But Pecora, in his second year with the program, inherited a 2-26 team which should compete for a spot in the Atlantic-10 tournament this year.
Baby steps.
Twelve of the 14 teams in the conference make the annual post-season tournament, and the Rams were 1-15 in conference play last season. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that they were picked by the AP to finish last in the conference this season.
“I’ve been involved in rebuilding programs before, so I understand the perceptions on the outside,” Pecora said. “That being said, I use it as a motivator. I always let them know where we are picked and I put it out there for them. I let them know people don’t think we are very good.”
Fordham had lost 41 conference games in a row dating to 2009 before beating UMass on the final day of last season to finish with a 7-21 (1-15) record. The Rams have one winning season over the past 20 years, and prior to last year, had been 5-51 over the previous two years.
“I think for the veterans, for [Chris] Gaston, [Alberto] Estwick, the young guys who had been here prior to me coming, they had gone through full seasons without winning games just about. I think [the win against Massachusetts] was bigger for them,” Pecora said.
And after last year’s seven-win campaign, things are only looking up for Fordham. The university has spent a lot of money on improving the basketball program, which Pecora discussed before taking the position.
“They’re putting in new scoreboards and stuff, and we have a brand new theater and coaches office and locker room,” junior forward Chris Gaston said. “You see they are putting a lot of money into our program, and all these new improvements show how committed we are to becoming a better basketball program.”
Rose Hill gym is the oldest Division I gym still being used for NCAA games, having opened in January of 1925. So it is understandable that it needs a makeover. And the Rams know winning at home will go a long way in restoring the pride of Fordham basketball.
“You can have a tremendous home-court advantage if you fill this place, and we did that last year, even though we had a rough season,” Pecora said. “Once we get things going here, I think the fan support will be through the roof.”
Gaston, the team’s leading scorer (15.9 ppg) and rebounder (11.3rpg) last year, leads the pack of eight returning players from last season’s squad, including four starters (the other three being Estwick, Branden Frazier and Kervin Bristol).
“We all know each other, basically. It makes it much better because we mesh better and we know each other’s game,” Gaston said, before adding that he has high expectations for this season.
“I feel like we can contend in the A-10,” Gaston said. “I think we’re in better shape this year. My teammates and I have been working really hard this year.”
And what better way to prove the Rams can contend than opening up their season tomorrow with a solid showing at No. 5 Syracuse?
“When I scheduled this game, I wanted it to be our first game because it could be a great point of reference for the rest of the year,” Pecora said. “Not only playing a top-five team, but the environment that we are going to play in. It’s homecoming
weekend, they’re gonna have 30,000 people at the game.
“So after you’ve been in that environment, you shouldn’t be getting rattled much the rest of the year, because you’ve been exposed to worse. It’s a great experience for any basketball player or any competitor.”