Fordham Basketball: Top 5 Nonconference Games in 2014
Fordham basketball once again enters a season in rebuilding mode—this time, however, with a young team that could finally end the Rams' two-decade struggle in the Atlantic 10.
Much has been made of how difficult Fordham's schedule is, given the fact that the Rams will have to play 18 games against Atlantic 10 opponents. After all, this is a conference that's never been better, one coming off a season in which it sent six teams to the NCAA tournament.
But before jumping ahead to Jan. 4 when Fordham will open A-10 play against VCU, the Rams will first play 11 games against nonconference opponents.
Factoring in timing, strength of opponent and venue, here are Fordham's top five nonconference games.
Nov. 14 vs. New York Institute of Technology
Opening night is always a big deal. Opening night in your home arena with a new team and high hopes is extra special.
This is a must-win for the Rams. No disrespect to the New York Institute of Technology, but if the Rams don't win this one, who will they beat?
It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Remarkably, Fordham might be the toughest game on the Bears' schedule. This is a Division II school that went 10-16 last year.
The game shouldn't be close, but it will be exciting nonetheless, as seven freshmen will make their debuts, including Eric Paschall, who this week was named by CBSSports.com's Jon Rothstein as one of the nation's 20 under-the-radar freshmen.
Nov. 16 at Penn State
Just what a team with seven freshmen needs: a road game against a Big Ten opponent in the second game of the season.
Two days after their opener, the Rams will be in State College where the Nittany Lions will be waiting. Penn State was 16-18 last year (6-12 in conference play). While the Nittany Lions are never one of the top teams in the Big Ten, Fordham would be an underdog against any Big Ten opponent on the road.
Penn State has five seniors and four juniors on its roster. This will be the first of many times this season that the Rams will face a team with far more experience. It will be a huge test, and they don't have to necessarily win to pass.
They do have to play well, however. That would be progress.
Nov. 20 at Maryland
Four days after its stop in Happy Valley, Fordham will be at Maryland's Xfinity Center, one of the toughest places for a road team in college basketball.
The last time Fordham went to College Park was in 2006. The Rams lost by 20 in a season where they'd go 18-12, the last time they finished over .500.
The Terrapins are now in the Big Ten, a power conference, having moved from the ACC, a power conference. They open with 10 straight home games (Fordham will be their third) and will certainly look to get off to a quick start, hoping to pick up some wins early before their schedule gets more challenging.
Maryland hasn't won a national championship since 2002. It's not at that level right now. But that doesn't matter for Fordham, who will return home for four games following this one, but who will have to survive 40 minutes of basketball in a hostile environment against another Big Ten team.
Dec. 14 at St. John's
This will be the 117th time that Fordham will play at Madison Square Garden and the fourth straight year that it'll be there for the Holiday Festival.
Fordham lost to St. John's last year, 104-58, but who can forget what happened four years ago?
On Dec. 11, 2010, the Rams topped the Red Storm, 84-81, at a sold-out Rose Hill Gym. A win this year against their rival would be even bigger—in front of a larger crowd and at the beginning of what is a new era of basketball in the Bronx.
Dec. 22 vs. Manhattan
Fordham athletic director David Roach told Bleacher Report that the Barclays Center in Brooklyn could become the Rams' home away from home.
It's the site of the A-10 tournament (in 2017 and 2018 the ACC will hold its tournament there, forcing the A-10 to move elsewhere before returning in 2019), and while it's not the Garden, with a capacity of over 18,000 in a popular borough, it's a good place to be.
Two weeks after this game, the 107th meeting between the schools, Fordham will begin conference play.
No matter where this one is played, it's a rivalry game. Manhattan won the MAAC championship last year, then lost to Louisville in the NCAA tournament.
Fordham beat Manhattan last year. Both teams will be ready.
Charles Costello covers the Fordham Rams for Bleacher Report. A full archive of his articles can be found here. Twitter: @CFCostello