By Joe Budzelek
Between injuries and multiple players leaving the team since the offseason, it hasn’t been easy for Fordham coach Mikey Magpayo to find a rhythm while settling on a consistent starting lineup and rotation.
However, big performances all season long from Dae Dae Reeves, who scored 19 points on an efficient 9-for-13 shooting night, and Rikus Schulte, who added nine points—including his first three-pointer of the season—while securing 13 rebounds and pilfering four steals, along with the team’s strengths in rebounding and two-point defense, helped the Rams earn their ninth win of the season with a 65–47 victory over the New Haven Chargers.
Including the final three minutes of the first half, which ended with an 11–0 Rams run, Fordham outscored New Haven 47–24 over the final 23 minutes of the game.
Although second-leading scorer Christian Henry exited late in the first half due to a concussion—Henry remained on the bench throughout the game, will have to go through protocol, but will hopefully be back soon— the Rams received encouraging news as UC Riverside transfer center Jack Whitbourn made his season debut, scoring seven points in 10 minutes off the bench.
“Getting Jack Whitbourn back in the rotation showed a different style we can play—more smash-mouth,” Magpayo said. “We saw what he can do inside and out.”
With Henry out in the second half, sophomore guard Kingston Price stepped up by scoring a career-high seven points on 3-for-4 shooting from the field, all of which came after halftime.
With Whitbourn’s return and just three scholarship guards healthy to begin the second half, Fordham leaned into the team’s debut of three-big lineups, using floor-spacing forward Akira Jacobs at the three while pairing him with two of the three bigs who transferred from UC Riverside alongside Magpayo to form an ultra-big lineup.
 |
| A first look of Fordham's triple-big lineup thanks to Jack Whitbourn's season debut. Here, we see Whitbourn jockeying for space while Abass Bodija battles down low and Akira Jacobs on the perimeter. |
“Having more length gives us a clear identity,” Magpayo said. “You’ve got Dae Dae up top, then Roor Akhuar at 6’8”, pushing 6’9”, Rikus and Akira at 6’10”, Abass Bodija at 6’10” with a 7’6” wingspan, and Jack Whitbourn at 6’11”. It gives us a style we can lean on offensively and defensively, plus rim protection. These guys fly around and get deflections. Dae Dae is great at getting steals, as is Christian. Now we can really protect the paint.”
Last season at UC Riverside, both Schulte and Whitbourn posted nationally ranked two-way rebounding rates, while Bodija is currently posting top-150 offensive rebounding and top-350 defensive rebounding rates at the national level.
The added size has also increased Fordham’s defensive versatility, particularly in its zone looks, which played a major role in New Haven’s struggles after taking an early first-half lead. “The zone has really become a factor for us,” Magpayo said. “New Haven was another team that couldn’t really find a rhythm against us defensively.”
Fordham can continue to deploy three-big lineups thanks to the frontcourt’s versatility, which was on full display with Schulte’s first three-pointer of the season and his four steals—just three games after a career-high five-steal performance against Holy Cross. “In high school, when I was smaller and played man defense, I had to get steals because I was too weak,” Schulte said. “Now that I’m stronger, I still think the same way defensively.”
After winning five of its last seven games against Division I opponents, Fordham has completed non-conference play and has already established several statistical strengths that align with the analytical mindset of Magpayo and his staff. Rebounding has been a major advantage, with both offensive and defensive rebounding rates ranking in at least the 80th percentile nationally, while offensive and defensive two-point field goal percentages are ranked similarly. On the defensive end specifically, both metrics sit within the 94th percentile. The Rams are also defending effectively without fouling, aided in part by their increased use of zone defense.
Still, Magpayo understands that opening Atlantic 10 play—especially against a juggernaut like Dayton—will present a significant jump in competition and a major defensive test.
“We know what’s coming—it’ll be physical. Every competition brings something different,” Magpayo said. “We’re starting to form a gritty identity. Once we start diving on the floor and winning loose balls, everything else follows. That’s the brand of basketball we want.”
Comments
Post a Comment