Pumroy appeared in the final 26 games of his freshman season. He saw action in all 30 games in his sophomore season, making 22 starts. He missed one game last season but started the 29 other games. This season, as a senior, he has started all 28 games for the ninth-ranked Tigers (26-2), who play La Roche at 6 p.m. Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Pam Evans Smith Arena.
“He’s just the king of intangibles and making things happen for our team,” Wittenberg coach Matt Croci said. “We would not be where we are without him. Some of the stuff he does on the court is unorthodox. We’ve had to learn how to coach him and let him be himself. His teammates love being on the court with him. I love him doing what he does.”
Pumroy, a Fairborn High School graduate, averages 6.0 points and 2.2 assists per game. He has scored 682 points in his career. He’s part of a senior class that owns two North Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championships and two NCAC tournament titles and has made three NCAA tournament appearances.
“I couldn’t be happier with my experience here and the career I’ve had,” Pumroy said. “Just amazing friendships and a brotherhood with so many different guys, awesome guys. It goes back to the coaching staff and the team chemistry. It’s hard to beat.”
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Wittenberg has won 95 games in the last four seasons. Pumroy would like to add to that total this month. The Tigers will try to advance to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012.
“That would be the plan and the goal,” Pumroy said.
Pumroy ended up at Wittenberg in part because of the job former Wittenberg assistant coach Alan Watson did in recruiting. He went the extra step one day and took his wife Lisa to see Pumroy play in Springboro on Lisa’s birthday. Pumroy still can’t believe that happened when he tells the story years later.
“I was like, ‘Woah, coach Watson drug you all the way here on your birthday,’” he said. “I’m like, ‘Take her to dinner or something.’ But that’s the coaching staff right there. That’s just something different, relationship wise.”
Croci said the whole staff spent a lot of time recruiting Pumroy. They knew he could score but liked his leadership qualities just as much.
“It’s been fun to see him grow and develop those skills,” Croci said.
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