For about two years, University of Tampa basketball fans had been hearing about how much of an impact Rod Brooks would make. Everyone expected Brooks to make a splash. Seeing is believing. After sitting out almost one and a half seasons establishing academic eligibility, Brooks burst onto the UT scene last week. After missing the team's first nine games this season, the 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman forward from Rubonia started in his debut against Alabama-Huntsville on New Year's Day. Brooks scored 26 points and collected eight rebounds and five steals in a 128-82 UT win. His encore in a 94-80 victory over St. Ambrose was equally impressive. Brooks hit 9 of 13 shots from the field, scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. After three games, Brooks is averaging 20.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. His two-game college debut was good enough to earn him small college player of the week honors from Sports Illustrated. "When I saw that, it was very scary for me," said Brooks, who had practiced less than a week before his debut. "I just wanted to burst out and cry." Now that he's finally playing college basketball, Brooks said his small-town upbringing in rural Manatee County is on his mind. "Coming from Rubonia (population 200), where everybody knows everybody, it was hard to tell the kids from town why I wasn't playing. I had the grades. I just didn't have a good enough score on the (entrance exam). But I'd tell them to do good in school or they would lose some privileges." Brooks, a communications major, has labored diligently to establish his eligibility. While he has demonstrated a strong work ethic both on and off the court, he said he displays two different attitudes. "On the court, I try to stress the fundamentals," he said. "I don't do finger rolls or fancy passes behind the back. I just try to be nasty. I don't mean I'm going to knock someone out, but I just get so uptight about a basketball game." He feels his rugged style of play comes from his days as a linebacker on the Palmetto High football team, where he was named a Parade top 100 prospect. He was an all-state selection in both football and basketball. "I don't think we could have hoped for a better two games from Rod," said Schmidt. "Basically, I don't think he's going to score as many points all year with the system we have where everybody contributes. But to me, scoring is secondary to everything else he does. "He's smart, he understands the game, he's good defensively on the inside, he's a good rebounder and passer and makes our other scorers like Bryan (Williams) and Drexel (Deveaux) better." Brooks will remain in the starting lineup for the time being, Schmidt said. "Playing well was a confidence booster," Brooks said. "It's going to make me work harder. I think I still have a lot of work to get done. This time all I got was a small mention. Next time I'd like to get a whole page or get on the front cover." Tampa (10-2) has won nine games in a row, including three wins last week, entering tonight's game against Florida Memorial (3-3). The Spartans play host to Quincy College of Illinois (5-8 prior to Thursday's game against Barry) Saturday, before beginning the Sunshine State Conference schedule against Florida Southern at home Wednesday. The Mocs (14-0 before Thursday's game against Columbia, Mo., College) are ranked No. 5 in Division II. College basketball tonight Florida Memorial at University of Tampa Who: Florida Memorial College Lions (3-3) vs. University of Tampa Spartans (10-2) Where: Bob Martinez Sports Center When: 7:30 p.m. Radio: WEND-760 AM Clearwater-Tampa-St. Petersburg. Coverage starts with pregame show at 7:10 p.m. Coaches: Florida Memorial _ Alfred Parker (16th season, 167-126); Tampa _ Richard Schmidt (eighth season, 175-55). Key players: Florida Memorial _ Jason Glasford, G, 6-0 Fr. (16 points per game); Derrick Hartley, C, 6-6 Fr. (12 ppg, 6 rebounds per game); Lawrence Scott, G, 6-3 Sr. (9 ppg, 10 rpg); Ronaldo Brown, G, 6-0 Fr. (8 ppg); Anson Robinson, F, 6-3 Fr. (6 ppg, 8 rpg); Tampa _ Matt Streff, C, 6-8 So. (11.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Drexel Deveaux, G, 6-3 Sr. (26.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Bryan Williams, F, 6-5 Sr. (19.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg); Rod Brooks, F, 6-4 Fr. (20.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg); Mike Rouse, G, 6-1 So. (7.7 ppg, 4.3 assists per game); DeCarlo Deveaux, F, 6-5 Fr. (8.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg). Notes: Tampa is looking at tonight's game and and tomorrow's against Quincy College as tune-ups for Wednesday's Sunshine State Conference opener against Florida Southern, currently ranked No. 5 in Division II. The Spartans have won nine in a row, all at home, but are not ranked. Florida Memorial, an NAIA school in Miami, has never defeated the Spartans in eight tries, including losses of 109-74 at Miami and 113-72 at Tampa last season. Nine of 12 players on the Lions' roster are freshman, including four starters. Tampa counters with six seniors on its 14-man roster. The Lady Spartans (5-6 prior to Thursday's game against 13-3 West Florida) will host California University of Pennsylvania (10-2) at 5:30 p.m. _ DAVID BRACKMAN