Bronx Grit vs. Blue-Blood Pedigree: Fordham Set to Clash with No. 17 Kansas
AI-generated image · US National Wire
As the Jayhawks open their season at Allen Fieldhouse, a resilient Fordham squad looks to play the spoiler against Bill Self's squad.
*(Opinion: As a columnist with a penchant for mid-major upsets, I see Fordham as the exact kind of sleeper that can make a blue-blood look mortal if Kansas underestimates the grit of the Bronx.)*
As Sports Illustrated first reported, the No. 17 Kansas Jayhawks are set to open their regular season on Monday, November 2, hosting the Fordham Rams at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. The matchup, scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, marks the first official game for Kansas in over seven months.
While the Jayhawks enter the contest as favorites, their preseason exhibition slate provided a mixed bag of results. Sports Illustrated reports that Kansas went 1-2 in three exhibition games held at Allen Fieldhouse, securing a win over Division II Pittsburg State but suffering losses to Duke and Louisville. In contrast, Fordham enters the opener with momentum, having gone 2-0 in scrimmages against Fairfield and UMBC.
Historically, the Rams have proven they can take down the Jayhawks. Sports Illustrated notes that Fordham defeated Kansas in a 1940 meeting at Madison Square Garden, though Kansas currently leads the all-time series 4-1. The two programs have not faced one another since 1977.
On the sidelines, the game features a clash of coaching tenures. Bill Self is entering his 24th season at the helm in Lawrence; notably, Sports Illustrated reports that Self has never coached against Fordham in his 30-plus year career. Fordham is led by Mike Magpayo, who joined the program last year following a five-season run at UC Riverside. In his debut year in the Bronx, Magpayo led the Rams to a 17-15 record before an exit in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
For fans looking to tune in, Sports Illustrated reports the game will be available via ESPN+, as it will not be broadcast on national television. Radio coverage will be provided by the Jayhawk Radio Network, featuring play-by-play announcer Brian Hanni.