CHARLES COSTELLO

I received an email the other day from a reader who had concerns about the direction of the Fordham men’s basketball program. I thought the email contained some legitimate comments and questions and I wanted to share them with you.

From Greg in Norwalk, CT:

“I graduated in ’85 and [it] appears the program is at the lowest point since it moved to the Patriot League. I wish you could do a story about whether or not Fordham belongs in the Atlantic 10.

I feel that we should go back to the MAAC. Our commitment to the A-10 is not where it needs to be and probably never will be. In the MAAC, we should be able to contend for the title and go to the NCAAs every 4-5 years or more. We have no shot at postseason play in the A-10. Our facilities, recruiting, coaching, and level of support from the administration, students and alumni is substandard.

I also miss the local rivalries playing Iona, Manhattan, Fairfield, and St. Peter’s in the MAAC. We hardly play those teams anymore.”

I told Greg that I would print his comments and offer my response. Here’s what I have to say:

First, a number of stories have recently been written about Fordham basketball, and some have focused on its membership in the Atlantic 10. Fordham SportsNet’s five-part exclusive series with Frank McLaughlin last April shed light on this topic and more. Knowing the vision of the administration, it’s clear that Fordham wants to be successful in the Atlantic 10, and it’s clear that the league wants Fordham to be successful, mainly due to the A-10′s desire to have a school from the New York market in its conference. Whether or not the university has done enough to convince the A-10, and its fans, that it has a plan in place for the long-term success of the program is another story. But remember, when the Rams went 18-12 in 2006-07, no one was questioning whether or not they belonged in the A-10.

Next – and I have to be honest here – I like the MAAC, and I think that’s where Fordham belongs. But when the school joined the A-10 in 1995, the conference had an opening and Fordham was looking to make a move out of the Patriot League. You can talk MAAC all you want, and even the Big East for that matter, but a conference has to be looking to expand and has to have an interest in including the school in order for a fit to be made. Remember, the Rams had their time in the MAAC before bolting for the Patriot League. Remember, too, that the A-10 is a step up from the MAAC.

Moving along, Fordham does have a shot at post-season play. I think most people felt the NIT was within reach entering the 2007-08 season. That would’ve been a good start. Don’t you think that the NIT would jump at the opportunity to include a New York City school in its tournament? A good start would be to win a few A-10 tournament games. It’s always possible to get on a roll in March and see where it takes you.

On we go. It’s hard for me to question those who question the facilities and administration, even though I disagree a lot of times with their criticism and tone. I support McLaughlin and Jeff Gray and Fr. McShane, but I can understand the fan frustration. They want a winner, and they’ve waited long enough. I’d argue that Fordham fans are too negative, but you can’t accuse them of being impatient.

As far as playing the local rivals, this can be done without a move to the MAAC. But I agree, I would love to see Fordham play Manhattan, Iona, St. John’s, Hofstra, Stony Brook, Fairfield, and Sacred Heart, etc. every year. Think about it, in the Atlantic 10, Fordham doesn’t have a geographic rival.

Good job by Greg raising some interesting arguments and asking legitimate questions. If you’d like me to address other topics or questions please email me at charlescostello@optonline.net and I’ll include your thoughts in future articles. Of course, you’re always welcome to simply leave a comment in the comments section of each story.

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

Fordham’s lack of success in the Atlantic 10 has been well documented. Since the Rams joined the conference for the 1995-96 basketball season, they’ve finished only two seasons at .500 or better. And only three times has Fordham been .500 or better in conference play. Perhaps most startling is the Rams’ poor non-conference record. In the past 15 seasons, Fordham is 71-115 in non-conference games (63-161 in conference play, 134-276 overall), including 2-10 the past two seasons. Here is a breakdown of Fordham’s non-conference record since the university became a member of the Atlantic 10:

1995-96: 2-9

1996-97: 5-6

1997-98: 4-7

1998-99: 7-4

1999-00: 7-6

2000-01: 8-5

2001-02: 4-8

2002-03: 1-11

2003-04: 3-9

2004-05: 5-8

2005-06: 7-9

2006-07: 8-6

2007-08: 6-7

2008-09: 2-10

2009-10: 2-10

Through this past Sunday’s games, Fordham’s non-conference opponents this year had a combined record of 85-70. Losses to Hampton (3-10) and Hartford (2-11) may hurt, but you have to consider that eight of Fordham’s non-conference opponents had .500 or better records, including St. John’s (10-4) and nationally-ranked Villanova (12-1). With that said, there are games on the schedule that you’d like to win regardless of your opponent’s record. Maine and Kennesaw State immediately come to mind.

Given the team’s struggles in November and December, it’s no wonder that Fordham has finished at .500 or better overall only twice since the 1991-92 season.

Brenton Butler (fordhamsports.com)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

As the Daily News’ Sean Brennan pointed out earlier this season, it’s hard to find a guy easier to root for than Fordham’s Brenton Butler. 

The senior guard, who missed most of last season with a high ankle injury, and who missed time before this season started due to the flu, finds himself in a leadership role with the Rams. As one of only four seniors, and the only one so far to receive significant minutes, Butler may be the most important player on this team when you consider that Jio Fontan is now gone and Chris Gaston – Fordham’s leading scorer and rebounder - is only a freshman.

“I’m ready and it’s time,” Butler declared before the season started.

He was referring to getting back out on the court, accepting his role, and helping Fordham basketball rebound from a difficult 3-25 season. In his words and actions, Butler embraced all the characterstics of a leader. 

“I have to [be a leader] and I like it because I feel that a young team needs somebody to look up to and help motivate and follow,” Butler said. “I’m a leader by example. I work hard on and off the court. I’m always there for the guys if they need somebody to talk to about any situation. Obviously, because I was injured last year, I had to be more of a spokesperson than a leader by example because I wasn’t able to be out there. You’ll see me be more vocal out there this year.” 

That hasn’t been the problem, though.So far this season, Butler is averaging 11.3 points per game, but he’s shooting only 28.2% from the floor and 22.5% from 3-point range. As a team, the Rams are shooting just 33.9% from the floor, 20.7% from 3-point range, and 61.9% from the free throw line.

Butler appeared to hit rock bottom in Saturday’s loss to Bowling Green. He shot 0-for-13 from the floor, 0-for-9 from beyond the arc, scoring zero points in 27 minutes. Fordham desperately needs more production out of Butler.

Rest assured, though, the senior is motivated. After all, he remembers what it was like having to watch from the sideline a year ago.

“It’s really hard to explain because it’s just such a helpless feeling,” Butler said about watching his teammates and coaches struggle through one of the toughest seasons in the program’s history. “There’s nothing you can do. To not go through it with them was really tough. We all learned a lot about ourselves, about our team. Even though that’s something you don’t want to go through, it made us closer and makes us want to fight for each other even that much more.”

Now, the Rams, including Butler, need to put the ball in the basket.

Jared Grasso makes his debut as Fordham's interim head basketball coach tonight at the Rose Hill Gym. (fordhamsports.com)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

The Jared Grasso Era officially gets underway tonight when the Rams host Bowling Green at the Rose Hill Gym. It will be the beginning of Grasso’s tryout. At the end of the season, perhaps before, Frank McLaughlin, Fr. McShane, the Board of Trustees, and whoever else has a say, will decide if Grasso stays or goes. That evaluation begins in earnest tonight. Here’s hoping Grasso ends up keeping this job for a long time.

Grasso was hired as an assistant coach by Dereck Whittenburg before the 2006-07 season. On Thursday, he was named interim head coach after Whittenburg was fired after six-plus seasons. Meanwhile, Fordham has begun a national coaching search that will include the 29-year-old Grasso.

We will hear from Grasso today when he has his first One on One interview as head coach (2:30 p.m., 90.7 FM). He is sure to say all the right things, both about Whittenburg and about his emotions as he takes over. Four and a half hours later, we’ll see him patrolling the sidelines for the first time. This has officially become his team.

Known mostly for his ability to recruit - somehow convincing high school stars to come play for a school that has not had much success - Grasso is highly respected throughout college basketball, and more importantly, in the Fordham community. In his new role, he’ll have to prove that he can coach these young players. And he’ll have to do it in uncertain times. An announcement on Jio Fontan, who for the second time this calendar year has expressed his desire to bolt Rose Hill, is expected in the next few days. Grasso is taking over a 1-4 team, a team that won three games all of last season, a team with its star point guard threatening to leave, and a team playing a schedule that includes the likes of St. John’s, Villanova, Dayton, and Xavier. It won’t be easy. This may be the toughest Division I coaching job out there.

Besides his ability to recruit, here’s what we know about Grasso: He is a basketball guy through and through, always has been. He played collegiately at Quinnipiac, served as an assistant there and before that at Hartford and before that he was a graduate assistant at Hofstra. His father was a coach. He is a true student of the game. Perhaps most importantly right now for Fordham, the players like and respect him. They will play hard for him. You can bet that if you asked those guys in that locker room who they wanted to replace Whittenburg, they’d all say Grasso.

Grasso deserves a shot. If he proves himself on this stage, Fordham should lock him up before the season ends. I understand Fordham’s motivation for beginning its search for a new coach. If it were me, though, I wouldn’t begin the search until the end of the season, if you even have to at that point. I would evaluate Grasso over the next couple of months and hope that he proves he’s up to the task. If I’m McLaughlin or McShane or any other decision-maker, I want Grasso to work out. He would be a great ambassador for the program and university. Better than bringing in someone from another program, or even a big name coach, let’s see what Grasso’s got. We could be looking at the next up-and-coming college coach. That would be huge for this program and school.

Twenty three games remain. It would be unfair to put a number on the games Grasso has to win in order to keep this job. It is not just about wins at this point. It is more about the pulse of the program, the environment in the locker room and on the court, and any enthusiasm Grasso can bring to the program.

Right now Grasso is like the backup quarterback on an NFL team. When the starter isn’t doing so well and the team is losing, the backup becomes the fan favorite, the most popular guy on the team. People cheer for the backup as he enters the game. The honeymoon doesn’t last very long.

Grasso will walk into the gym tonight to much applause and hope. Tonight, he becomes the starter.

Mike Moore (Photo courtesy of Joe DiBari)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

Mike Moore made it official last week with word that he’d be making the move from the Bronx out to Long Island. As Fordham SportsNet reported on April 2, Moore, Fordham’s No. 2 scorer this past season, previously made it known that he’d be leaving Rose Hill at the end of the academic year. Moore announced last week that his new home will be in Hempstead, joining the Hofstra Pride with two years of eligibility remaining.

There’s no question that Moore was a key player for the Rams in 2008-09. Injuries to Brenton Butler and Chris Bethel, a lack of experience and offensive threats, and inconsistent play, left Fordham relying on Moore, along with freshman Jio Fontan, to provide offense. That he did. In 28 games, 23 as a starter, Moore averaged 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds. Moore led the Rams with 42 three-pointers, and finished second with 126 field goals. The 6-5 sophomore guard averaged 27.7 minutes per game. Only Fontan played more minutes (34.6 per game), scored more points (15.3), and made more field goals (149) than Moore.

It’s important to remember how much the Rams relied on Moore this past season, how important he was to a team in need of scoring. But toward the end of the season, rumors began to circulate about the possibility of Moore leaving at the end of the year. Why? For starters, Moore may have seen the handwriting on the wall. With Chris Gaston, Lance Brown, and Brian Freeman highlighting an impressive recruiting class, and with the return of Brenton Butler, Moore was probably looking at a lesser role next year. That means fewer minutes, fewer shots, and fewer points. And remember, Moore didn’t win anybody over with his defense.

Truth be told, Moore is the type of player you typically find on a good college team. A guy who can come off the bench, or start if need be, and score. A player who, when on his game, has the potential to take over in spurts. Though his assists (1.0 per game) were low, his rebounding can’t be overlooked. Still, a game-by-game analysis of Moore’s season provides an intriguing look at a player whose statistics may only tell part of the story. Consider Moore’s season:

Game 1: Fordham vs Columbia; November 14, 2008

Fordham’s season gets off to a rough start with a disappointing 65-62 loss to the Lions. Moore scores four points, all in the first half. Only three field goal attempts for Moore, who fouls out with 8:03 to go and the Rams ahead, 51-46. At the time, Bethel and Butler are still in the lineup, and despite the fact that Fontan scores just two points in his college debut, Trey Blue scores 24 points and Fordham seems to have enough on offense even without Moore. But having the option to go to him down the stretch would have helped.

Game 2: Fordham at Villanova; November 17, 2008

Two points for Moore in Villanova’s 107-68 domination of the Rams. Hey, the Wildcats ended up in the Final Four. Moore only plays eight minutes, two in the second half, and shoots 1-for-6 from the floor. Not too much to say here about Moore, or the team for that matter.

Game 3: Fordham vs Manhattan; November 22, 2008

Before 2,592 at Rose Hill, Moore scores three points in 11 minutes. He plays just four minutes in the second half and doesn’t score. He also finds himself in foul trouble. The Jaspers top the Rams, 81-67.

Game 4: Fordham vs Princeton; November 26, 2008

Breakout game for Moore: 21 points, 6-of-14 shooting, nine made free throws in 10 attempts. The Rams lose 73-61 in an empty gym on the night before Thanksgiving, but Moore provides an early glimpse of what he’s capable of offensively.

Game 5: Fordham vs James Madison; November 30, 2008

Moore scores four points in 20 minutes in Fordham’s 73-53 loss to the Dukes.  Four missed 3-point attempts and 2-of-8 shooting from the floor mark an unimpressive night for Moore.

Game 6: Fordham at Hofstra; December 3, 2008

Fordham falls to the Pride, 60-40, though Moore scores 16 points, 11 in the second half. Three offensive rebounds and four 3-pointers for Moore in his second best game of the season to date. The Rams fall to 0-6 with the loss. Moore will eventually end up transferring to Hofstra.

Game 7: Fordham vs Lafayette; December 8, 2008

Moore scores 17 points, 12 coming in the final 14:03 with Fordham ahead by 20-plus points. Still, Moore shows additional signs of being a major offensive threat for the Rams, who win their first game of the season, 79-58.

Game 8: Fordham vs Fairfield; December 11, 2008

A heartbreaking loss to the Stags as Fairfield’s Lyndon Jordan knocks down a 3-pointer with :02 left for the 69-66 win. Moore scores 20, eight in the second half, but none in the game’s final 10:51.

Game 9: Fordham vs New Hampshire; December 23, 2008

With students home for Christmas break, the Rams win their second game of the year, a 60-56 victory over New Hampshire. Moore scores 19 points, 12 in the second half, hitting a big 3-pointer with 9:25 to play that gives Fordham a 49-44 lead. Later, with 4:06 to play, Moore pulls the Rams to within two, 53-51, with a layup. Moore plays 38 minutes and grabs six rebounds and four steals.

Game 10: Fordham vs Tennessee-Martin; December 28, 2008

Fordham trails the whole way, losing to the Skyhawks, 82-70. Moore scores 16 points, but 12 came in the second half with the Rams trailing by double digits for most of the half. Moore shoots just 3-of-16 from the floor, 2-of-9 from 3-point range.

Game 11: Fordham vs Florida International; December 29, 2008

Moore scores seven first-half points, but just two in the second half, and none in the game’s final 18:14. Fordham falls to 2-9 with the 63-55 loss to FIU. Moore takes eight shots in 25 minutes, and was a non-factor down the stretch, though the game was not as close as the final score may have indicated.

Game 12: Fordham at Bowling Green; January 3, 2009

In 15 minutes of second-half action, Moore does not score, and he finishes with six points for the game. Moore takes just one shot from the floor in the second half and misses a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left that would have cut the Falcons lead to three. Fordham loses to Bowling Green, 65-59.

Game 13: Fordham vs St. Bonaventure; January 7, 2009

Moore scores 17 points in Fordham’s 78-65 loss to the Bonnies. Moore has a strong game on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds, but fouls out late in the game after shooting 4-of-9 from the floor in the second half.

Game 14: Fordham vs Xavier; January 11, 2009

In a highly anticipated matchup with the nationally-ranked Musketeers, Moore scores just six points in 25 minutes. Moore’s 3-pointer with 15:25 to play caps a 20-4 run that cuts the Musketeers lead to one, though that’s as close as the Rams would get. That was also Moore’s last basket of the game. Moore takes just three shots from the floor in the second half. The Rams eventually fall to Xavier, 86-60.

Game 15: Fordham at Dayton; January 14, 2009

In a 72-71 loss to the Flyers, Moore scores 11 points, eight in the second half including a big 3-pointer with 9:37 left that gives the Rams a 55-53 lead. However, Moore would take just two more shots, missing on both, as the Rams lose at the buzzer on a Rob Lowery layup. This would have been a major upset. Dayton, after all, did win an NCAA tournament game. Moore, for the most part, is absent down the stretch when the Rams needed him most.

Game 16: Fordham at Rhode Island; January 18, 2009

Moore scores just two points in 22 minutes, shooting 1-of-9 from the floor and turning the ball over three times. His layup with 6:20 left in the game comes with the Rams down by 31. Rhode Island tops Fordham, 98-67.

Game 17:  Fordham vs Duquesne; January 25, 2009

Another blowout loss, 89-68, to the Dukes, despite an 18-point performance by Moore, who shoots just 1-of-7 from 3-point range and 5-of-14 from the floor.

Game 18: Fordham at St. Bonaventure; January 28, 2009

Best performance of the season by Fordham, on the road against a solid club. Where was Moore? Two points in 26 minutes. No points in 10 minutes of second-half action. Moore was a non-factor, shooting 1-of-6 from the floor in what turned out to be the Rams biggest win of the year, 67-65 over the Bonnies.

Game 19: Fordham vs Saint Louis; January 31, 2009

Moore plays 30 minutes and scores 14 points, 10 coming in the second half of Fordham’s 88-58 loss to the Billikens.

Game 20: Fordham at George Washington; February 7, 2009

Moore knocks down three 3-pointers in the second half and finishes with 15 points in the Rams 87-62 loss to the Colonials. Fordham trails by 33 at halftime and GW leads by as many as 41 in the second half. Not what you would call clutch 3′s by Moore.

Game 21: Fordham vs Massachusetts; February 11, 2009

Down by 25, Moore scores six points in the game’s final 1:51 as the Rams fall to UMass, 91-68. Moore finishes with 21 points, 13 in the second half. Fordham trails by 29 at halftime. Moore shoots 1-of-7 from 3-point range and 8-of-19 from the floor.

Game 22: Fordham at Xavier; February 14, 2009

Against the nationally-ranked Musketeers, Moore scores 24 points, 13 in the second half, and eight in the final 11:03 with Fordham trailing by as many as 37. The Rams fall to Xavier, 88-53.

Game 23: Fordham at Temple; February 18, 2009

Eight points in 30 minutes for Moore, who shoots 3-of-16 from the floor, as Fordham loses for the 20th time on the year, a 72-45 beating at Temple. Down 67-43 with 4:11 to go, Moore hits a 3-pointer, his only points of the second half.

Game 24: Fordham vs Rhode Island; February 21, 2009

Moore scores 28 points, 19 in the second half, 10 coming in the game’s final 10 minutes with Fordham trailing by 20 or more points. Moore shoots 9-of-20 from the floor and his 28 points are a career-high. Fordham falls to URI, 77-58.

Game 25: Fordham vs Richmond; February 25, 2009

Moore fouls out after scoring 25 points, 14 in the second half. He makes 9-of-9 free throws and shoots 7-of-11 from the floor. With his team trailing by double digits, Moore scores nine consecutive Ram points, but Richmond maintains their double-digit lead and eventually wins, 78-68.

Game 26: Fordham at Charlotte; February 28, 2009

The season is winding down and, as it turns out, so is Moore’s Fordham career. Twenty points in 35 minutes for Moore, five coming late in the game with Fordham trailing by by as many as 21. Fordham trails by only nine at the half, thanks in large part to Moore who scores a team-high 10 points. Charlotte tops the Rams, 73-53.

Game 27: Fordham at La Salle; March 4, 2009

Eleven points for Moore, but only four in the second half as the Explorers turn a seven-point halftime lead into a 79-59 win.

Game 28: Fordham vs Saint Joseph’s; March 7, 2009

What a way to go out. Moore doesn’t score and doesn’t play at all in the second half. In 14 minutes of action in the first half, he shoots 0-of-5 from the floor. Fordham loses, 71-54, and finishes the year 3-25, 1-15 in the A-10.

Season Totals

Moore averages 27.7 minutes, 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. He shoots 126-of-326 (38 percent) from the floor, 42-of-139 (30 percent) from 3-point range, and 65-of-83 (78 percent) from the free-throw line. He finishes with 27 steals and 12 blocks. The sophomore starts 23 of 28 games.

Final Analysis

Moore can be a productive offensive player, one who showed he could hold his own offensively in the Atlantic 10. Having said that, a lot of his scoring came with his team trailing by what appeared to be insurmountable leads. Not all his fault of course, but how he fits into the system of a winning team is still a question. Moore may be best suited to come off the bench for a good team, and there’s no shame in that. His defense leaves a lot to be desired, and he was most likely looking at diminished minutes next season with a strong recruiting class coming in. It’ll be interesting to see how Tom Pecora uses him at Hofstra, and how his career unfolds on a team that went 21-11 last season, a team that’s been far more successful than Fordham’s been of late.

(Charles Costello can be reached via email at charlescostello@optonline.net)

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