Battle of the Bronx Preview: Fordham vs. Manhattan

Chuba Ohams and Fordham defend Rose Hill in Saturday’s Battle of the Bronx against Manhattan. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

With Thanksgiving now in the rearview mirror and the holiday season officially upon us, college basketball remains the gift that keeps on giving, and does so again Saturday afternoon in the form of a timeless classic that rarely, if ever, disappoints when it is played out on the hardwood.

Fordham and Manhattan lock horns again this weekend, squaring off against and matching wits with one another in the 112th Battle of the Bronx, this year’s iteration taking place in the form of a matinee inside historic Rose Hill Gymnasium, which plays host to the intra-borough collision for the second time in three years as the Rams seek to further their recent mastery of the Jaspers, with four victories in the last six seasons coming at the expense of the inhabitants of Riverdale.

Fordham, in line with most seasons under Jeff Neubauer as he now navigates his fifth season at the helm of the Rams, has started the 2019-20 campaign with a 5-2 record in preparation for what will be a grueling Atlantic 10 slate when conference play begins next month. One thing the Rams can hang their collective hat on through seven games, however, is a staunch defense that has yielded only 56 points per game to opposing teams. Neubauer has also mitigated the loss of Nick Honor with aplomb so far this young season, sliding Antwon Portley – who is no stranger to Manhattan from his two years at Saint Peter’s – to the point guard position while Jalen Cobb and DePaul transfer Erten Gazi solidify the backcourt. Inside the arc, Chuba Ohams is finally playing like the man Neubauer expected him to be, averaging 13 points and over eight rebounds per game in a junior season that, so far, is harkening back to the senior year Ryan Rhoomes enjoyed as a consistent post option for Fordham. Onyi Eyisi has also built off a solid rookie turn and become a reputable role player as a sophomore, one whom Neubauer praised last season as being the key to the Rams’ performance at various stages throughout the year.

Tykei Greene’s emergence has revitalized Manhattan through first month of season. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

In the northwest corner of the Bronx, Manhattan makes the short road trip with a record of 3-3 on its ledger, the most recent entry being an 18-point loss this past Monday at Stony Brook in which the Jaspers were an uncharacteristically cold-shooting outfit in Suffolk County. Nonetheless, head coach Steve Masiello, ever the optimist, remains confident in the ability of his team – which returns nearly everyone from last year’s rotation – to pull through and reinforce itself as a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference threat. A healthy Pauly Paulicap has helped matters for the Jaspers, as he and sophomore Tykei Greene have become the latest forward and guard to form a scoring tandem that has been consistent with the Manhattan basketball brand over Masiello’s eight-plus seasons. Samir Stewart’s clutch shot-making skills and deft point guard instincts have buoyed Manhattan’s front line and depth, which now includes Warren Williams and Tyler Reynolds – starters last season in Riverdale – off the bench for an extra spark on a roster that can burn an opponent from any given spot on any given night.

We have the background on both teams, and a general sense of how each of them has arrived to this point. With that now having been said and written about, we now set the stage for the latest tango between the Rams and Jaspers, complete with our annual tale of the tape, as a longstanding local rivalry is renewed one more time:

GAME AND MEDIA INFORMATION

Fordham (5-2) vs. Manhattan (3-3)

Date: Saturday, December 7, 2019

Site: Rose Hill Gymnasium; Bronx, N.Y.

Time: 2 p.m.

TV/Video: ESPN+ (Andrew Bogusch, Isis Young)

Radio: WFUV, 90.7 FM and wfuv.org (Emmanuel Berbari, Andrew Posadas)

All-Time Series: Manhattan leads, 57-54 (Fordham has won four of last six meetings)

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

December 1, 2018 at Manhattan: Fordham 57, Manhattan 56

Fordham saw a 10-point lead slip away in the first half as Manhattan tightened the screws on its defense enough to wrest a two-point cushion away going into halftime. The second half would be a close encounter for its entirety, with Pauly Paulicap regaining the lead for the Jaspers inside the game’s last minute and seemingly pulling out a victory. With one timeout still in his pocket, Neubauer trusted freshman guard Nick Honor, whose sole Battle of the Bronx experience was punctuated by his game-winning jumper with four seconds remaining in regulation, a blow from which Manhattan was unable to recover as time expired.

“I don’t usually think about the end-of-game situations a lot, but we know where the ball wants to be. We’re going to put the ball in Nick Honor’s hands. There’s absolutely no question about that.” – Jeff Neubauer on his strategy for Fordham’s game-winning possession

“When you talk about the alums of Manhattan, the alums at Fordham, this game really means something.” – Neubauer on the Battle of the Bronx and its significance

November 26, 2017 at Fordham: Fordham 70, Manhattan 57

Once again, defense was the order of the day, only this time, it was Fordham who dictated tempo on that side of the basketball. The Rams set the tone by registering 13 steals in the first half and vigorously pressuring Manhattan to the tune of an un-Jasper-like figure of 25 turnovers. Will Tavares led the Rams with 19 points, but the story of this affair was Fordham’s suffocating defense and premium for the basketball, effectively rendering Manhattan unable to get into a rhythm at any stage in the game.

“Thirteen steals in the first half, it tells a lot about our guys. We do guard the ball, we work on it. It’s something that’s very important to our program.” – Neubauer on Fordham’s defensive mindset

“I just thought we were throwing the ball all over the building like we’ve never seen a zone before, and that’s a little strange because we play against zone 80 percent of the day every day.” – Steve Masiello on Manhattan’s struggles against Fordham’s zone defense

December 10, 2016 at Manhattan: Manhattan 60, Fordham 53

Manhattan turned the clock back to its championship-caliber defense coming off a decisive loss to Fordham the year prior (more on that in our next recap) amid a near-capacity crowd at Draddy Gymnasium in this Saturday night affair. Much like the 2014 encounter between the two, Fordham fired the first salvo by connecting on nine field goal attempts in the game’s first eleven minutes, but the Jaspers’ matchup zone scheme turned in a performance for the ages by conceding just eight made baskets thereafter. Point guard Zavier Turner backed up the defense with an assertive second half, scoring all of his 15 points after the intermission and earning Doc Johnson Most Valuable Player recognition in the process.

“I thought we defended very well tonight. I thought our length and our depth really helped us down the stretch, and I thought we were able to sustain holding them, 6-for-29 in the second half. I thought we had fresh legs going into it, and I think it was a great win, especially to win ugly. I’m very proud of that.” – Masiello on Manhattan’s effort, particularly on the defensive end

“Their level of toughness in the second part of the second half, they were a very tough-minded team, and I did tell our team in the locker room after the game that defensively, our guys did what was asked of them. Our defense was good enough to win the game, but we certainly were having major struggles offensively.” – Neubauer on Manhattan’s defense and what went wrong for Fordham

November 28, 2015 at Fordham: Fordham 87, Manhattan 64

Playing shorthanded due to injuries, Manhattan dressed only seven scholarship players, and Fordham took full advantage of the Jaspers’ depth issues. Mandell Thomas led the way for the Rams, leading all scorers with 26 points en route to Mike Cohen Most Valuable Player honors, and Ryan Rhoomes supplemented the outburst with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. The 23-point win entered the record books as the third-largest margin of victory in Fordham history, giving Neubauer an authoritative debut in the showdown between the two crosstown rivals.

“I’ve been a part of this for four years. This has always been intense: Fordham-Manhattan, a rivalry game, this year another intense game, so it’s fun being out there. The crowd gets into it and it’s even better when we win, so it’s always a good time.” – Mandell Thomas on his Battle of the Bronx experience

“We might have had ten guys and Fordham still might have won tonight. I’m not going to take away from any team that’s beaten us, but I can’t worry about that. I’ve got to worry about Manhattan, and what I’ve got to worry about is getting my team healthy as best I can, but unfortunately it’s tough when things aren’t in your control.” – Masiello on mitigating Manhattan’s rash of injuries early in the 2015-16 season

December 22, 2014 at Barclays Center: Manhattan 71, Fordham 57

The Battle of the Bronx…in Brooklyn? A rare outlier among this long-standing rivalry, the home of the Brooklyn Nets housed the 107th edition of this clash, and Fordham opened the game on a 10-0 run, padding its lead to 16-4 several minutes later before Masiello employed the full-court press that guided Manhattan to its two MAAC championships under his watch. What followed was a stretch in which the Jaspers outscored the Rams by a commanding 48-17 tally to stomp the life out of the Rams and help stem the tide of a 2-7 beginning to Manhattan’s first title defense of the decade.

“There’s an amazing stat, and I have to check the number, but something like 70-something percent of teams that get a double-digit lead in the first four minutes actually lose the game. I was panicking, but they weren’t, so they kept me calm. We got our rhythm going and just kind of got back to doing what we do, and I thought they handled it well.” – Masiello on adjusting after Fordham’s 16-4 run to open the game

“Us being able to set up our pressure and dictate what we want, and you not being able to do what you practice, is what our program is based upon. We don’t want your A or your B to beat us. Your C or D has to, and when we do that, we can be successful.” – Masiello on Manhattan’s press defense establishing tempo

TALE OF THE TAPE

Guards: Antwon Portley (6-4 Sr., 10.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 41% FG, 79% FT, 41% 3-pt FG) vs. Samir Stewart (6-0 So., 9.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 35% FG, 64% FT, 30% 3-pt FG)

Portley has only enhanced the skills that Manhattan had come to know when the native Texan was patrolling the backcourt for John Dunne at Saint Peter’s, and has become an all-around threat during his time in the Bronx. His matchup with Stewart, a rising star who seems as though he were destined to play for Masiello given that his skill set is almost a perfect marriage to Manhattan's system, will go a long way in determining the victor, but the edge goes to the experienced hand.

Advantage: Fordham

Jalen Cobb (6-0 So., 10.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 35% FG, 67% FT, 44% 3-pt FG) vs. Tykei Greene (6-4 So., 11.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 32% FG, 65% FT)

Cobb has been more of a sixth man this season than in his rookie campaign, but the Georgia native is still a deceptive threat with the ball in his hands. On the other side of the floor, Greene has put up numbers no Masiello guard has approached since Rich Williams graduated, highlighting the significant growth he has made in his freshman-to-sophomore jump. Look for Greene, a cross between Williams and Michael Alvarado in most of his games this season, to exploit Fordham on every possession in which he gets a touch, and to possibly cement his star turn.

Advantage: Manhattan

Erten Gazi (6-3 Sr., 6.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 45% FG, 50% FT, 35% 3-pt FG) vs. Elijah Buchanan (6-5 So., 6.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 35% FG, 64% FT)

Gazi, the former Big East rotation piece at DePaul before transferring, is seeing his first real playing time now that he is eligible for the Rams, and he has been a serviceable role player for Neubauer. Across the court, Buchanan has made a tangible leap as well, and although it is not as profound as the one Tykei Greene has made, his development is clearly visible, especially as a facilitator on both sides of the floor, something Gazi is not. However, the Turkish import has more of a perimeter game, which will come into play early and often, along with his decided experience edge.

Advantage: Fordham

Forwards: Onyi Eyisi (6-9 So., 8.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 43% FG, 68% FT) vs. Christian Hinckson (6-7 So., 8.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 46% FG, 83% FT, 60% 3-pt FG)

Looking at Eyisi’s numbers, the sophomore bears a resemblance to Ryan Canty and the role he played under both Neubauer and Tom Pecora when not battling injuries. Matching up with Hinckson, a similar player with more of an all-around game, will be a challenge that will need to be solved on the perimeter. Look for Hinckson to stretch the floor and play further into the Jaspers’ hands.

Advantage: Manhattan

Chuba Ohams (6-9 Jr., 13.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 50% FG, 44% FT) vs. Pauly Paulicap (6-8 Sr., 7.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 42% FG, 55% FT)

Now healthy and able to show off his potential to its fullest, Ohams has been the biggest revelation for Fordham this season, turning into a formidable post player while simultaneously filling the scoring void left by Honor’s transfer. Paulicap is also back at 100 percent and remains a defensive X-factor, but if Fordham can pound the ball inside and employ its height advantage with Ohams and Eyisi, the Rams will be able to control the game in the paint, something the Jaspers have been unable to do consistently.

Advantage: Fordham

BENCHES

Fordham’s reserves are numerous, as Neubauer traditionally goes at least nine-deep. In fact, eleven Rams are averaging at least ten minutes per game. Ivan Raut is the most prolific among the substitutes, and he — along with Ty Perry, Josh Colon and freshman Joel Soriano — will be counted on to make sure Fordham can match Manhattan and its perpetually fresh legs. For the Jaspers, having Williams and Reynolds coming in as the seventh and eighth men behind Bud Mack, who will usually be first off the bench to spell one of the guards, gives Masiello the luxury of having multiple starters on the floor regardless of whose number is called. The Jasper bench may not be as long this season, but its early returns through November reflect quality over quantity, not to mention a greater scoring prowess than that of Fordham. Those two factors tip the scales with green paint colored over the Rams’ maroon.

Advantage: Manhattan

COACHING

Neubauer entered this rivalry with a massive deficit in coaching acumen when compared to Masiello, but with each passing year, the gap has narrowed. Fordham is often criticized for many things, but to the Rams’ credit, they are a fundamentally sound team that never sacrifices its principles on either end of the floor. As far as Masiello goes, just because his advantage in tactics may not be as profound as it was previously, that does not mean he or his team should be counted out. The Jaspers have routinely silenced doubters when the dissenting voices become heightened and more audible, and after a double-digit loss to Stony Brook, the skeptics may be ready to emerge from the woodwork again. With that said, Masiello still wins this matchup, but Neubauer will give him a run.

Advantage: Manhattan

PREDICTION

The magic number Saturday afternoon will be 60. In each of Fordham’s five wins this season, the Rams have surrendered less than 60 points. Of the three games Manhattan has won this year, each victory has been earned in different fashion. The Jaspers’ 85 points in their season-opening triumph over Delaware State remain a season high, but the 57-point gritty win over Albany and the double-digit comeback to defeat Elon have shown that Manhattan is a second-half team more than any point since the two championship years. However, the factor to watch here will be what happens should Fordham get an early lead. Manhattan has struggled to play from behind, and has not completely broken out of its shell in that arena, so if the Rams come out of the gates firing, the day could be over before it begins. Look for Manhattan to employ a businesslike tone on both ends of the basketball, though, one that will showcase a chip on the Jaspers’ collective shoulder on the heels of their largest defeat of the young season. Expect a vintage Jasper basketball performance Saturday, one in which field goal percentage defense will be a point of emphasis. This could be a defining moment for both teams heading into conference play, and it would not be surprising if it were to go down to the wire. That type of atmosphere favors Manhattan, who has been in more close games than Fordham this year, and who will use that to its advantage. Tom Pecora always said records were thrown out the window in this rivalry, and Fordham’s recent run of success will be halted at the hands of a hungry Jasper squad that will prove Monday night was an aberration, but not without a fight from the hosts first.

Manhattan 64, Fordham 60