Takeaways from Fordham's Exhibition Win over UMBC

 

In celebration and in support of Able Athletics, a Westchester County based non-profit that provides inclusive sporting opportunities for all children, Fordham hosted UMBC in a charity exhibition on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Retrievers 79-75. 

New UMBC head coach Jim Ferry likes to push the tempo, as does Fordham head coach Keith Urgo, so once the opening-tip jitters and offseason rust began to shake off, both squads provided a glimpse to their upcoming seasons.

For the Rams, here are a few of my takeaways from the game:

Transition at Point Guard

Following the graduation of Atlantic 10 All-Conference second team selection Darius Quisenberry, UTSA transfer point guard Japhet Medor is now forced to take up the baton and he impressed in his debut after he received a waiver to immediately play earlier last week.

Scoring 23 points, grabbing 7 rebounds and also adding a pair of assists and steals, the similarities between the two lead guards are apparent: like his predecessor, Medor is an aggressive guard who can create his own offense and lead the attack with pace. 

Scoring nine points in the first half, Medor’s alpha mentality was necessitated midway through the second half when UMBC briefly took the lead. Consecutive dribble-drive makes followed by an additional four points scored from midrange floaters helped quell UMBC’s surge and flip the lead back to Fordham. 

Bottom line, with Medor leading the offense, Fordham’s pace was high. The three-level scorer will lead Fordham’s offense in a variety of ways.

In the eight minutes with Medor on the bench, fifth-year senior Antrell Charlton manned point guard. The versatile 6’5 205 veteran will continue to fill a variety of roles this upcoming season, one of which is backup point guard. Last night, the pace was noticeably more modest when Medor was on the bench, so it will be curious to see this becomes a trend throughout the season. 

The New-Look Frontcourt

A mix of fifth-year seniors and underclassmen make up Fordham’s retooled frontcourt following the graduation of starters Khalid Moore – last year’s Atlantic 10 All-Conference Third Team – selection and Rostyslav Novitskyi.

Like Quisenberry, Moore was an all-situations offensive weapon who last year averaged 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 three-pointer made (35.1 3P%) and 5.4 free-throw attempts (77.1 FT%) per game. A cornerstone of last year’s offense, Moore is not expected to be replaced by one player, rather a committee-based approach.

Last night, Lafayette sophomore transfer Josh Rivera started at power forward and a total of five different players manned the four: Rivera, sophomores Angel Montas, Elijah Gray and Romad Dean, as well as freshman Jahmere Tripp.

Rivera mightily struggled with his shot (1-for-13 from the field), but the 6’6 210 forward finished his freshman season with solid shooting efficiency: 48.5 2P% and 32.8 3P%, labeling last night as a likely aberration. More importantly, he shined on the boards – 14 rebounds – and finished with three assists, four steals and a block. His combination of strength and quick footwork was an asset on the full-court press and he showed the ability to navigate through traffic on both ends. Rivera showed he can also start a possession on his own with his handle looked comfortable following a handful of his defensive boards.

Gray also impressed. The 6’8 220 forward from Charlotte played minutes at both the power forward and center position, scoring ten points and making both three-point shot attempts.One particular play of note that did not reflect in the box score was an impressive no-look pass to Zach Riley from the perimeter, who then missed the shot attempt from under the basket. 

Gray still needs to work on his lower body strength, but against smaller teams, Gray should get most of the backup big minutes behind Tsimbila, allowing Urgo to utilize five-out offenses to open up space for Fordham’s slashing guards, wings and forwards. 

If Urgo needs a more “classic big” to spell Tsimbila, Binghamton grad transfer Ogheneyole Akuwovo will be summoned off the bench. In his six minutes against UMBC, Akuwovo looked understandably lost, but as he gets more reps, his athleticism, length and rim-running ability will be an asset off the bench.

Missing almost all of last season due to a knee injury, Montas looked healthy, mobile and assertive in last night’s tilt. Listed at 6’6 228, few in the Atlantic 10 match Montas’ combination of strength and athleticism, making it easy to see why Montas has one of the highest ceilings on the roster. Scoring eight points and converting two of his four three-pointers, Montas’ situational awareness was spotlighted when he forced a turnover by saving a ball from going out of bounds, deflecting the ball off a UMBC Retriever. 

Tripp and Dean combined for thirteen minutes. Tripp’s frame is similar to Montas and suggests his long-term versatility once he gets more reps, most of which are expected to come after this season.

The 6’7 210 Dean has gotten previous rave reviews for his motor and work under the boards, and his made three point attempt was a pleasant surprise with two of Dean’s three shot attempts from beyond the arc.

Speaking of three-point shooting, all of Fordham’s potential power forwards possess the three-point shot in their arsenal, so expect the Rams to continue to let it fly from three. In Urgo’s first season, 41.7% of Fordham’s field goal attempts were from three (70th in the nation; 4th in A-10), but shot only 31.8% from three (301st in nation) and 28.8% throughout conference play (last in A-10). It’s clear that improved perimeter efficiency is essential if Fordham wants to be a serious contender in the A-10.

In summary, Fordham’s committee approach to the power forward position is just a microcosm to how Urgo is expected to build his roster rotations by more readily incorporating his maturing sophomore class along with the team’s overall depth and versatility.

The Skinny on Fairfield's Shift to Small Ball

 Over the last two weeks, few teams in the nation have had to pivot as much as Fairfield. 

Jay Young’s resignation last Monday, on MAAC Basketball Media Day nonetheless, forced the program to promote assistant coach Chris Casey to the interim head coach position which then also forced administration to reshuffle the remainder of their coaching staff by adding former St. Francis College head coach and NYC area basketball lifer Glenn Braica along with former Stag longtime starter Taj Benning as assistant coaches. 

Coaching changes this late in the season – like Manhattan last year – typically result in a roster exodus, but so far, the Stags, who were picked to finish sixth in the MAAC preseason poll, have their entire roster intact. 

Intact, but not necessarily healthy, especially at center. 

In late September, Sam Federman reported that “Jay Young told me that Alexis Yetna will be ready for ‘November or December’. However, more conservative estimates from sources tell me that Fairfield was expecting back for the December 30th game against Le Moyne.”

When Fairfield signed Yetna in August, it was always fair to assume that he was arriving at Fairfield with a ton of talent and basketball acumen, but also with injury risks. 

The veteran grad transfer last played for Seton Hall in the 2021-22 season and also missed all of the 2019-20 season due to injury. However, whenever the 6’8 230 Parisian is cleared to play, he will be the Stags’ two-way physical force who will also bring a lot of dimension to the offense. 

While Yetna’s knee rehabs, Fairfield’s center depth was in good shape with New Mexico transfer Birima Seck expecting to start in Yetna’s absence. 

Geoff Grammer of the Albuquerque Journal writes of the 6’11 200 junior: “[Seck’s] a former soccer star that can run the floor, use his agility to create problems for defenders and has great footwork. He’s got some stretch-4 to him and I think he was at his best when playing a little farther from the rim than some might expect of a 6’11 guy,” which in turn, would allow the Stags to open up more space for cutters and penetrating guards.

Grammer adds: “defensively, he’s a good shot blocker and rebounder, but is foul prone. Gets too active at times, but also in playing limited minutes at UNM, played more with a reckless abandon than he likely will if his minutes are going to be consistently over the 20 minute mark. His length allows him to block and alter shots without him dropping his hands.”

However, with Pete Janny reporting today that Seck is expected to miss six weeks after sustaining a high ankle sprain, Fairfield’s remaining center is freshman Peyton Smith. 

Over the summer, sources shared with me that the 6’10 250 Smith is a “high IQ big man that is a good passer out of the post and from the middle. He is skilled, with strong post moves inside, but also can face up and drive or shoot a mid-range jump shot. He is also a good screener and ball reversal guy and is a threat on a pick and roll on a pop. Can catch-and-shoot, shoot threes and drive. Physical on defense and seeks out contact.”

Prior to Seck’s injury, the script for Smith could have looked like this: the presence of Seck and then eventually a healthy Yetna would have allowed Smith to develop at his own pace. 

Now, there’s a good bet that Smith will be asked to immediately start and play significant minutes. Smith, who played high school ball at Hudson Falls High School in New York, will be forced to make the sizable jump from Class A public high school basketball to Division 1.

Outside of Smith, size is limited. Second to Smith, the 6’6 205 Louis Bleechmore is the heaviest healthy Stag while redshirt freshman Michael Rogan, at 6’7 195, is the second tallest. 

Even if Smith plays a big role, someone else will have to play out of position as a small-ball 5.

Saint Joseph’s transfer Louis Bleechmore is one possibility. According to his profile on Fairfield’s website, Bleechmore “made an impact on the defensive end, where Saint Joseph's relied on the 6-foot-6 wing to defend both on the perimeter and in the post.” 

Rogan is another possibility. Speaking today to his high school coach, Raphael Chillious of South Kent School, when asked if Rogan can play the small-ball 5 in spells, Chillous replied “I think he can on offense. [Rogan] would create offensive mismatches.”

Earlier in the summer Chillious said of Rogan: “[he] will cause many teams problems because of his ability to hit trail threes, pick and pop 3s, run “ghost” action where he slips out of screens for threes, and he also has the ability to put the ball on the floor…He’s one of the guys that if he sees his first three-point shot go in, it can be a long night for the defense.” 

Chillious also raved about Rogan’s improved strength and ability to wrestle guys off the glass, so it is possible for Casey to run out frontcourt lineups with both Bleechmore and Rogan together, especially against teams with less than stellar shooting, which would then allow one of the two to put more focus on help defense if their man is a non-factor in the corner or on the perimeter. 

In addition to Smith, freshman wing Marouf Moumine, a Cameroonian who competed at the NBA Academy in Senegal before finishing his high school career as a post-grad at First Love Christian Academy, could earn more minutes during the veteran frontcourt’s absence. 

Touted for his versatility on both ends of the court, Moumine’s stretch ability, work on the glass and motor are his most notable assets as he continues to round out his game.

There is a common thread between Bleechmore, Rogan and Moumine, despite their lack of true size: rebounding. That alone could allow Casey to get creative with his rotations whenever Smith is on the bench, especially if breakout 6’6 185 sophomore James Johns could earn immediate minutes.

Fairfield’s injury woes are reminiscent of the tail end of SMU's 2021-22 season when the 6’5 215 Marcus Weathers was forced to play center for roughly thirty minutes-per-game while head coach Tim Jankovich relied heavily on high-paced, five-out offenses and a zone defense.

The start of year, it would not surprise if rotation sans Smith could look similarly: pace, space and a zone defense.

There’s no sugar-coating this: it will be tough for Fairfield early in the season, especially playing against some of the bigger teams in their early non-conference schedule. BC’s Quinten Post (7’0 240), Drexel’s Amari Williams (6’10 227), New Hampshire’s Clarence O. Daniels (6’6 225), Mervin James (6’7 215) and Iona’s Osborn Shema (7’0 220) are all mismatch nightmares within the team’s first eight games. It could get ugly.

The silver lining? There are plenty.

Most of the MAAC conference play starts in January. Players forced into new positions will increase their versatility and resilience. Struggle can breed camaraderie.

After first week underdog matchups against Boston College and Rhode Island, expect Casey to experiment more freely with his frontcourt rotations during their November 13th matchup against DIII opponent Mount Saint Mary. 

That being said, regardless of their record, the first few weeks at Fairfield will be very interesting.

How VCU Will Replace Sean Bairstow in Wake of Forward's Foot Injury

 Following his March Madness magic with UMBC and a strong tenure at Utah State, new VCU head coach Ryan Odom arrived at Richmond to a program that has reached the tournament in ten of the last thirteen seasons, gaining notoriety for its “Havoc” style defense. 

In his two years at Utah State, Odom gained experience leading a proud mid-major program, so the high expectations at VCU will not daunt Odom.

However, Odom faces the challenge of supplementing his offensive mentality that hummed efficiently at Utah State and pair it with VCU’s defensive roots. It’s a winning combination if the brew is stirred just right. 

The offseason has not gone smoothly, however.

Odom’s first offseason hurdle came when Oklahoma transfer Joe Bamisile’s waiver was denied. A rotational guard with the Sooners, Bamisile was formerly a star scorer at George Washington, averaging over sixteen points and two three-pointers made per game in the 2021-22 season. 

Considering VCU is Bamisile’s fourth school in four seasons, the denied waiver was expected, but the the Rams’ most recent blow could potentially tailspin VCU’s non-conference schedule when it was shared that Sean Bairstow is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after suffering a non-contact foot injury last weekend.

Last year’s captain at Utah State, the 6’8 205 Bairstow is a versatile, two-way forward who can shoot, dish, run point and even play back to the basket. Bairstow, along with fellow Utah State transfer Max Shulga, were expected to lead VCU’s new offense – the veteran duo combined to average 23.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.6 three-pointers made per game last season.

Without Bairstow, expect VCU to put the ball in the hands of Shulga more often, but also share the ball more freely amongst the team’s nine remaining healthy and eligible scholarship players.

When asked of his offensive philosophy, Odom has once been quoted that “the best man is an open man”, so even without Bairstow, expect VCU to spread the floor in the half-court and look for open shots. 

Shulga and Richmond transfer Jason Nelson, the team’s projected starting point guard, play well in the pick-and-roll, so it would not surprise if athletic forwards like Cal grad transfer Kuany Kuany and Toibu Lawal are more frequently utilized to have plays drawn up for them rolling off screens.  

Between the two, Kuany is the most likely to start at power forward in Bairstow’s absence. While he does not possess Bairstow’s distributing abilities, Kuany shoots well enough from three (career 30.0 3P%) to provide spacing and is also an asset on the defensive boards. 

Kuany is arguably most valuable using his athleticism to slash and attack the rim. According to KenPom, Kuany led Cal in free throw rate and converted a strong 82% of attempts from the charity stripe. 

Speaking of athleticism, sophomore forward Toibu Lawal is not only VCU’s best athlete, but Odom claims he is the best athlete he has ever coached. Playing most of his minutes last year at the 5, Lawal’s physicality and motor play best at the 4, especially as his skills and feel for the game develop. 

If Odom is looking to help replace Bairstow’s distribution at the 4, redshirt freshman Alphonzo Billups III could earn major minutes early on. A former top-100 recruit, Billups’ season ended early in December due to a fractured hand, but he has the size, handle and vision to slot in at either forward spot. During VCU’s offseason trip to Greece, Billups’ work on the boards opened the eyes of Odom and his staff. 

London import Michael Belle is the last candidate to earn minutes early in the season. Originally recruited by Odom during his time at Utah State, the 6’7 215 freshman averaged seventeen points, nine rebounds and three assists while playing high school ball in Strasbourg, France. 

Obviously, Bairstow’s loss will be felt, but there’s a silver lining: VCU might not have a lot of bodies, but power forward is arguably the team’s deepest position.

What to Look For in Fordham's Preseason Matchup Against UMBC

Announced last week, Fordham will host UMBC in a public charity exhibition on Sunday, October 29th at 4 PM in Rose Hill Gym. 

All proceeds will be donated to Able Athletics, a local charity that provides athletic opportunities to children with special needs.

Led by veteran head coach Jim Ferry, UMBC's team features a lot of new faces and are projected to finish in the middle of the pack in the America East.

In celebration of next week's exhibition, here are two matchups to look for as the Rams prepare for their tilt against UMBC: 

Fordham’s New Starters vs UMBC’s Size and Physicality 

The UMBC Retrievers’ roster added nine new pieces that switch up coach Jim Ferry’s lineup and rotations that will feature more size, versatility and diversity. 

No one on the roster is shorter than 6’3, which will force Fordham’s new starting point guard Japhet Medor (6’0 165) to match up with the 6’3 190 sophomore Dion Brown, who was an America East All-Rookie Selection and happens to be UMBC's smallest player.

One of the most exciting breakout candidates in the A-10, sophomore Will Richardson, will be likely matched up with former Chicago State guard Bryce Johnson, a 6’4 190 shooting guard who averaged nearly double-digit scorer last season and can create from all levels. 

UMBC’s grad transfer frontcourt pickups Max Lorca-Lloyd (6’8 220 from Penn) and Khydarius Smith (6’8 255 from USC-Upstate) will test Fordham's forwards and bigs, especially if or when Ferry decides to play the duo together.

A patient, low-post lefty, Smith finished the season averaging double-digits despite playing less than twenty minutes-per-game across the final ten games. Both Smith (second best block rate in the Big South) and Lorca-Lloyd (best block rate in the Ivy) will make UMBC one of the best rim-protecting teams in the America East, testing Tsimbila, new backup big Ogheneyole Akuwovo (Binghamton) and whichever Ram steps up to replace Khalid Moore at the PF spot. 

UMBC’s Pace and Space

Jim Ferry is an offensive-minded coach and if there were one word to describe his style, “pace” fits best. Throughout his nearly two decades as a head coach, Ferry-led teams have always ranked within the top-100 in average possession length, highlighted by a stretch between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons when his teams ranked within the top-25 in average possession length in all but one season.

Ferry-led teams also let it fly from deep. Each of his teams at Duquesne, Penn State and UMBC have attempted at least 35.3% of their field goal attempts from three, ranking these teams amongst the top-120 in all but one season. 

Last season, Fordham’s perimeter defense was a major strength. During A-10 play, opponents shot only 29% of their attempts from three (1st in the conference) and converted only 32% of those attempts (3rd in the conference). Kyle Rose and Antrell Charlton led the Rams’ pestering perimeter play, and it will be exciting to see which new and returning Rams bolster the perimeter D.