Following a 7-24 season that featured one of the hardest schedules in the nation, the wheels are in motion for Tom Pecora and Fordham to turn the corner and lead the Rams closer to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1992.
Several times last season, Pecora told us that he would have liked to get more home games at Rose Hill Gym after Fordham had just three home games before Atlantic 10 play last season. Fortunately for the fourth-year head man, the Rams have seven games in the Bronx before conference play begins in January, as well as a November 1st exhibition game against Northwood University, led by one of Pecora's mentors, Rollie Massimino.
The Rams officially christen their 111th campaign with a home game on November 8th against Saint Francis University before traveling to the Carrier Dome on November 12th to meet Jim Boeheim and Syracuse. Three days later, the Rams are back at Rose Hill to take on Lehigh, with Fordham remaining home to take on Sacred Heart on November 23rd. Following the two-game homestand, the Rams will make the trek to Draddy Gym on November 26th to meet Manhattan in the 105th Battle of the Bronx, and will look to avenge the last meeting in Riverdale, which resulted in an 81-47 Jasper win.
Fordham returns home on December 4th to take on Furman, with St. John's waiting in the wings three days later in the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden on December 7th. The matchup with the Red Storm will be the fifth in as many seasons between the two schools, and third consecutive at the "World's Most Famous Arena." Three days later, the Rams will travel to Colgate before returning to Rose Hill for a December 14th showdown with Howard.
The Rams will next take the court on December 21st, when they travel to New Jersey to play the third game of a four-year series with Monmouth, with Loyola (Illinois) coming to Rose Hill two days later. This will be the second straight season in which Fordham will play on the road December 21st and at home on the 23rd, as the Rams traveled to Hartford to play Connecticut before coming home to host Siena. Following the Loyola game, Fordham hosts Harvard on December 28th before hitting the road for their final nonconference game, a December 30th meeting with Jimmy Patsos and Siena.
2013-14 Fordham University Nonconference Schedule (all times TBA)
Friday, November 1st: Exhibition vs. Northwood University
Friday, November 8th: vs. Saint Francis University
Tuesday, November 12th: at Syracuse
Friday, November 15th: vs. Lehigh
Saturday, November 23rd: vs. Sacred Heart
Tuesday, November 26th: at Manhattan (Battle of the Bronx)
Wednesday, December 4th: vs. Furman
Saturday, December 7th: at St. John's (Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden)
Tuesday, December 10th: at Colgate
Saturday, December 14th: vs. Howard
Saturday, December 21st: at Monmouth
Monday, December 23rd: vs. Loyola (Illinois)
Saturday, December 28th: vs. Harvard
Monday, December 30th: at Siena
Believe this will be Furmans first visit to nyc since loss at Alumni Hall to 70/71 Fordham Rams. Remember Rams won opening tip, scored, pressed, stole the ball, scored again and never looked back.
ReplyDeleteExactly right, Paul. Also interested to see if Aaron O'Neill is still on the team as a walk-on...he's Paul O'Neill's oldest son.
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