Jan. 27, 2010
By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
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A.J. Rompza still scurries around the court much like a water bug, zipping here and there, battling players sometimes a foot-and-a-half taller and diving for loose balls as if he's been shot out of a cannon. But this season, Rompza said, his activity is more of a controlled chaos than before.
The sophomore point guard enters UCF's game at SMU Wednesday night ranked fourth in the nation in steals at 2.9 a game. His 56 steals in 19 games are already 10 more than he had all of last season in 29 games.
The difference? Rompza is smarter about his positioning and knows now after a year of seasoning in college basketball better when to take chances and when to shoot the gaps.
``I've always been kind of crazy and running around everywhere, but this year I'm doing it a lot smarter,'' Rompza said. ``I'm not just running around. Now, I'm hitting the gaps when guys are trying to penetrate and I'm there to help. I'd say my basketball IQ is much better now.''
Rompza was one of the few bright spots in UCF's lopsided loss to UTEP last Saturday and he knows that it is of utmost importance for the Knights (10-9 overall and 2-3 in Conference USA play) to turn it around Wednesday night against SMU (8-10, 1-3).
``We've got to win every game here on out. This game is huge,'' Rompza said. ``We're coming off one of the worst losses in UCF history and we're all itching to get back on the court. We were flat and we want to show people that that's not how we play here. We'll come out strong.''
The game will also be significant because it is Kirk Speraw's 500th game as UCF's head coach. Speraw, one of just 14 coaches nationally to spend at least 16 consecutive years at one school, also can become the school's all-time winningest coach with a victory against SMU. Speraw's 274 wins are tied with UCF legend Torchy Clark, who coached the Knights from 1969-83.
Speraw said the milestones pale in comparison to getting UCF back on track following last Saturday's disappointing 96-59 loss to UTEP. UCF led that game late in the first half, but fell apart offensively in the second half.
``All I'm focused on is the next game and the next challenge,'' Speraw said. ``I just want our team make progress and get better every day. (The 500th game milestone) has never been a thought in my mind.''
Rompza, all 5-foot-9 of him, has been on the minds of opposing point guards this season with his ability to disrupt offenses by swiping balls and stepping in passing lanes. He's had at least one steal in every game this season and he's had at least three steals nine times. During one incredible stretch of the season, Rompza had five steals in three consecutive games against Newberry, Notre Dame and Bethune-Cookman.
``He's got so much energy, he's quick and he's good with his hands, so that leads to a lot of steals and transition points for us,'' teammate A.J. Tyler marveled. ``He's a big key for us.''
Rompza has been at his best against C-USA foes, averaging a league-best 3.2 swipes in conference games. The six steals against UTEP tied the school record on the Division I level, equaling the six that Marius Boyd had against Jacksonville in 2003. And Rompza is seemingly well on his way to shattering the school record on the Division I level of 71 set by Gary Johnson in 2004-05.
Rompza takes great pride in the impact that he's had defensively because it is a more of an area that contributes to the team's success.
``I pride myself more on my defense than anything else,'' he said. ``If I dive for a loose ball or get a steal, then we're going the other way and it's a dunk for Dave (Diakite) or a layup for someone else and that really helps our team. If I'm bringing that pressure that helps my team more than anything else I could do.''
Rompza, who is also averaging 9.9 points and 4.1 assists a game, looks at his national and conference rankings in the steals department and views it as justification for all of those who said he's never make it in Division I basketball. Those doubts, Rompza said, have just fueled his fire to defend better than ever.
``Personally, it's great because this is what you work so hard for,'' he said. ``And for me, people are always telling me that I can't compete at this level, that I'm too small and I can't do this or that, but to me it's all motivation.
``A lot of people pride themselves on leading the country or leading their team in scoring, but why not do it differently?'' he continued. ``Why not do it on the defensive end where it will help your team more? Defense is what wins basketball games.''
John Denton's Knights Insider appears several times per week on UCFAthletics.com. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.