Fordham senior Ryan Rhoomes isn’t afraid of falling into the Spiders’ web during the eighth-seeded Rams’ Atlantic 10 Tournament second-round game Thursday at Barclays Center against ninth-seeded Richmond.
He’s already overcome bigger fears — like not accomplishing his goal of playing college basketball. Everything that has come after it — leading the Rams in scoring (14.6), rebounding (9.4) and helping them to their second winning season since 1991 — is only a bonus.
“You know those commercials that air on TV that make you feel bad about yourself and make you feel like you’re not doing anything? That’s what kept coming up,” Rhoomes said of the time he was ruled ineligible to play at TCU and would watch TV from his mom’s couch in Queens. “I would sit there and see those commercials and players I played against like [St. John’s] Maurice Harkless and [Louisville’s] Russ Smith doing big things.
“I just felt like a regular guy who wasn’t going to get another chance.”
His second chance came when then Fordham assistant coach David Duke visited Rhoomes while Rhoomes worked retail at Calvin Klein in 2012.
Duke had watched as the NCAA did not accept three classes Rhoomes had taken at the NIA Preparatory School in New Jersey and Rhoomes was ruled ineligible in 2010. Duke asked the 6-foot-8 forward if he’d want to enroll at Fordham.
Rhoomes committed immediately and retook the three classes he needed to qualify.
But more struggles awaited.
The Rams bottomed out in his first three seasons, winning just 27 of 93 games, and Rhoomes failed to impress as a role-player, averaging 5.4 points per contest.
“People think I wasn’t playing up to my capabilities,” Rhoomes said. “But I was only doing my job within the offense.”
But Rhoomes’ and the Rams’ fortunes took an abrupt turn with the hiring of former Eastern Kentucky head coach Jeff Neubauer. Neubauer brought with him established success — 188-134 record with the Colonels — combined with five 20-win seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Immediately, the culture changed.
Fordham seniors Mandell Thomas, Ryan Canty and Rhoomes took charge for Neubauer and put in the effort needed for a quick turnaround.
“They wanted to show people they are winners,” Neubauer said. “Led by our seniors, our guys have been receptive to coaching and that is so important.”
None more so than Rhoomes.
“[Neubauer] put trust in me,” Rhoomes said. “I don’t want to say I came out of nowhere because I didn’t. Coach told me he needed more from me.”
“In the last 11 months, no one has improved more than Ryan Rhoomes,” Neubauer added of the player who ranks seventh in the country in field-goal percentage at 64.9 percent.
The improvement was on display in the Rams’ final regular-season game against Rhode Island.
Trailing by three at the half and needing a spark, the third-team All-A-10 player took over, scoring 15 of his career-high 27 points in the second half en route to his 11th double-double of the season.
“He’s really been determined this season and when we were losing at halftime, he had a different look about him,” Neubauer said. “His teammates noticed it, got him the ball and he was difficult to guard.”
Losing hasn’t occurred often for the Rams this season, capturing 17 wins — their most since the 2006-07 team won 18 — and setting a program record with 14 home victories.
Their offense, which looked disjointed in the past, is fluid in its attack. Rhoomes credits Neubauer for the change in the team and in his own production.
“Coach Neubauer’s offense is ridiculous,” Rhoomes said. “It doesn’t matter what defense a team is in or adjustment they make, he has an answer for everything.”
So too does Rhoomes, who has answered every challenge thrown his way.
