Aerosmith’s “Dream On” blaring on the sound system at Allen Fieldhouse as the Kansas intro video played displaying the history of the Jayhawks: 32 all-Americans, 63 conference titles, 15 Final Fours, six national championships.
Chills.
And the accomplishments of former players in the NBA and in international competition is countless too.
But looking at the current KU men’s roster and comparing it to that of Fordham, its opening-night opponent,
there’s one noticeable difference pointed in the Rams’ favor. A current Olympian.
Fordham senior forward Akira Jacobs represented his home country, Japan, at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
So, when the second-year Ram poured in a career-high 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc Monday night in a 95-65 loss, it was no surprise.
“He’s had a consistent approach, and he’s played in an Olympics,” Fordham head coach Mike Magpayo told Mid-Major Madness. “So, perhaps these bright lights didn’t faze him as much as some of the others. And I’m really happy for him. He had a great game.”
Jacobs served as a major catalyst as the Rams fought hard through the first half and trailed by just a dozen at the break. He was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes and was one of two players in double figures in the half.
The transfer from Hawaii started 30 of 32 games for the Rams last season and averaged 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds across 28.4 minutes a game.
“I have this inkling that he was going to get more comfortable in our program and getting coached by us in year two,” Magpayo said. “He really embodies everything that we’re about as far as being a great attitude, great work ethic, and really wanting to be at Fordham.”
Jacobs’ numbers have improved throughout his college career. He averaged 2.6 points in just 7.2 minutes per game as a freshman with the Rainbow Warriors. He notched 6.9 points a game as a sophomore before making the move to Rose Hill.
The Yokohama, Japan, native’s improvement demonstrates the work ethic that helped land him at the Olympics. He played in all three of Japan’s games in Paris.
“We can really rely on his consistency, just like his approach,” Magpayo said in the postgame press conference. “He’s an everyday guy. And that’s what we’re trying to create, everyday guys, every possession guys.”
Lateef Patrick Jr.’s Debut
Lateef Patrick Jr. was the team’s second-leading scorer in the opening night loss to Kansas with 13 points.
The transfer from Stephen F. Austin, who was the Southland Newcomer of the Year last season, sparked the Rams as they made a push early in the second half.
Trailing by 14 four minutes into the period, Patrick scored seven of his 13 points over the next 2:30 to cut the deficit to six on two occasions.
“You see that little spurt where he can go through a little dynamic stretch where he’s unguardable and can get a shot off very quickly,” Magpayo said. “He can do it in different ways at three different levels. And I love that.”
Patrick played 19.5 minutes, the second most of any player off the Ram bench. He started all 34 games last season for the Lumberjacks and continues to get more comfortable in the Fordham system.
“That was kind of the idea, at least [Monday], to bring him on the bench,” Magpayo said. “He’s been coming off the bench in the three exhibitions/scrimmage. And he’s been kind of doing the same thing, just a little microwave who plays really hard too. Just more consistency out of him, and I think that his role will continue to grow and he’ll start to figure it out and we’ll start to call more stuff for him too.”
Schedule ahead
Fordham plays nine of its 13 non-conference games at Rose Hill with just trips to cross-borough rival Manhattan and two games at the Acrisure Series in Palm Springs, Calif., away from home before A-10 play starts.
The Rams are home for the entire month of December, but before that, they will host Stonehill Thursday night.
