'Roos Head South To Take On Wichita State
11/28/2010 9:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
THE SETTING
The UMKC men's basketball team (4-0) will look to continue its undefeated start to the 2010-11 season when it heads to Wichita, Kan., to take on the Wichita State Shockers (3-1) at the Charles Koch Arena at 7:05 p.m. on Monday.
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LAST TIME OUT
The UMKC men's basketball team picked up an 82-64 win on Wednesday night over SIU Edwardsville at the Swinney Recreation Center, giving them their first 4-0 start since 2001 when they began the season 5-0.
Senior Jay Couisnard led the team in the contest, finishing with a career-high 26 points on 9-12 shooting from the field and 7-7 at the line. Fellow senior Spencer Johnson, meanwhile, added 11 points and a career-high tying 14 rebounds for his second double-double in the past three games.
In the game, Trinity Hall finished with a career-high 12 points, while Reggie Chamberlain was the fourth 'Roo in double figures, finishing with 10. On the glass, the 'Roos out-rebounded the Cougars, 42-30, while getting to the line 14 more times.
SCOUTING WICHITA STATE
The Shockers come into the contest with a 3-1 record, including wins over Chaminade and Virginia in the Maui Invitational last week. On the season, junior guard David Kyles (15.5 points per game), senior forward J.T. Durley (13.8 ppg) and junior guard Toure Murry (13.3 ppg) are all scoring in double figures, while senior forward Gabe Blair (5.5 rebounds per game), Murry (4.5 rpg), senior guard Graham Hatch (4.3 rpg) and junior center Garrett Stutz (4.0 rpg) are all getting over four rebounds per game.
THE SERIES
Wichita State leads the all-time series with the 'Roos 5-3 including a 73-52 win last season in Kansas City. Last season, the 'Roos lost its 2009-10 debut at Municipal Auditorium to visiting Wichita State. Three Kangaroo players scored in double digits in the defeat with senior Jay Couisnard pacing the squad with 13 points.
Couisnard, whose brother P.J. played for the Shockers from 2004-08, connected on 5-of-9 shot attempts en route to his final point total. Senior Bakari Lewis added 10 to go along with a career-high seven boards.
THE COACHES
UMKC head coach Matt Brown is in his fourth season with the UMKC men's basketball program, where he has compiled an 29-63 overall record and has coached four players to all-Summit League recognition. Former forward Dane Brumagin was a second team all-league honoree and Reggie Hamilton was an all-newcomer team selection in 2007-08, before Brumagin and Jay Couisnard were honorable mention all-league honorees in 2008-09 and 2009-10, respectively. Couisnard was also chosen to The Summit League all-Newcomer team.
Gregg Marshall, whose teams have gone to the NCAA tournament seven of the last 12 seasons, was named the 25th head men's basketball coach at Wichita State on April 14, 2007. With three seasons behind him at WSU, the enthusiastic and energetic coach has the Shockers on the brink of making noise on the national scene after taking WSU back to the postseason for the first time since 2006.
The veteran coach, who brought WSU from 11 wins his first season to 25 wins in 2010, returns all but one starter off a team that played in the postseason NIT, received votes in the AP poll and advanced to the MVC Tournament title game
WELCOME BACK REGGIE
Junior guard Reggie Chamberlain will be facing a familiar foe, as just two seasons ago the Kansas City native was a member of the Shocker basketball team. As a sophomore, the 6-0 guard played in 33 games, averaging 3.4 points per game in just under 12 minutes of action for Wichita State.
BROTHERLY LOVE
Senior forward Jay Couisnard will be squaring off with the alma mater of his brother, P.J. when the 'Roos visit the Shockers. P.J., a guard for WSU from 2003-2008, was named an All-Valley honoree and to the Valley All-Defensive team during his tenure as a Shocker, as well as being recognized as the Pontiac Game-Changing Performance in the first and second rounds of the Greensboro regional as a sophomore.
CAREER NIGHTS
In the Nov. 24 game against SIU Edwardsville, three 'Roos had career nights, highlighted by senior Jay Couisnard. Couisnard, who posted a new career-high of 26 points, pushed his Summit League leading average to 20.3 points per game. Spencer Johnson meanwhile, collected 14 rebounds to tie his career-high and is averaging 9.8 rebounds per game for the season, the second best mark in The Summit League. Freshman Trinity Hall also reached a new career-high in points with 12 in his fourth career game.
PERFECT START TO THE SEASON
For the first time since 2001, the UMKC men's basketball team is off to a 4-0 start. Last season, the 'Roos opened up with three straight wins over Truman State, Lincoln and North Dakota, before falling to the Big 12's Nebraska. In 2001, they began the season with five consecutive wins before falling to Kansas.
MICROWAVE LEWIS
In the Nov. 20 game against Southeast Missouri State, senior guard Bakari Lewis did his best Vinnie "Microwave" Johnson impression, scoring nine points, on 3-3 shooting from three-point range, in a 1:15 stretch off the bench in the first half. Lewis nailed his first three with the 'Roos down 11-5 and his second down 13-8, while his third gave the 'Roos their first lead of the game at 14-13.
CLUTCH DOWN THE STRETCH
Junior Reggie Chamberlain came up huge for the 'Roos down the stretch in the Nov. 16 game with Central Arkansas. In just his second game as a 'Roo, Chamberlain scored eight points in the final 1:42 to help UMKC to the victory. Among his eight points were a pair of three pointers that each gave the 'Roos the lead in the contest.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MAN
In one of his best outings in the Blue and Gold, junior Spencer Johnson posted his ninth career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds against Central Arkansas. Two games later, the Champaign, Ill., native added his 10th, moving into a tie for fourth place all-time on the UMKC career double-double list.
STINGY ON D
The 'Roos have gotten off to a solid start on the defensive end of the court, as the squad is averaging seven steals per contest over its first three games, while limiting its two opponents to a combined 41.6 shooting percentage. Leading the 'Roos defensive effort are seniors Spencer Johnson and Jay Couisnard, as the duo has recorded seven and six steals, respectively.
SUCCESSFUL DEBUTS
Three 'Roos made their debuts in the Blue & Gold against Truman State on Nov. 12, and the results were all positive. Freshman Trinity Hall finished second on the team in both points (10) and rebounds (six), while junior transfer Reggie Chamberlain started and recorded six points, three assists and two rebounds. Junior Bernard Kamwa, meanwhile, started at center for the 'Roos and pulled down five boards and chipped in two points on a dunk.
FRESH OFF THE SIGNING BLOCK
On Wednesday, UMKC Head Coach Matt Brown announced that Estan Tyler has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his education and playing career with the UMKC men's basketball program starting with the 2011-12 season. The 6-1, 175-lb. guard joins the 'Roos out of St. Paul Johnson where he was ranked as the top point guard in Minnesota's senior class of 2011 by MinnesotaPrep.com. As a junior, Tyler led St. Paul Johnson to a perfect 32-0 record and the state championship, while leading the Governors in scoring (14 ppg), assists (4.1 apg) and free throw percentage (78.9). Tyler is the first player to join the 'Roos' 2011 recruiting class, as well as the first player to sign in the early signing period and the first to sign from Minnesota during Brown's tenure as head coach of the squad.
COUISNARD NAMED SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UMKC senior forward Jay Couisnard was named The Summit League Player of the Week on Nov. 22. The Houston, Texas, native earned the honor after averaging 18.5 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game, along with five blocks and four steals in wins over Central Arkansas and Southeast Missouri State.
LAST SEASON
The UMKC men's basketball team made strides forward during the 2009-10 season, as the squad posted a 12-20 record, which were the most victories for the program during the Matt Brown era. The 'Roos also returned to the post season for the 14th time in school history, playing in The Summit League Championship in Sioux Falls as the No. 8 seed. Junior Jay Couisnard was named to The Summit League all-Newcomer and Honorable Mention all-Summit League squads after pacing the squad with 14.0 points per game, while fellow junior Spencer Johnson led the squad on the boards for the second straight season, finishing with 175 rebounds (5.8 rpg.) in 30 games. The Illinois native was the first player since Jimmy Keller (1997-99) to pace the team on the glass in consecutive seasons. Johnson now has 427 career rebounds, which rank seventh in school history. Kirk Korver, meanwhile, placed his name in the UMKC freshmen records, finishing fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.386 (27-70)), ninth in three-point field goals (27), tied for ninth in three-point attempts (70) and 10th in field goal percentage (.413 (45-109)).
SWINNEY GETS A FACE LIFT
The new home of the 'Roos, the Swinney Recreation Center, underwent a major face lift this off-season in time for the 2010-11 season. New chairback-style seating was installed, giving all fans a comfortable environment with a defined seat - no more general admission, and no more bleachers without backs. Parking on campus will continue to be free. All season ticket holders will receive a special pass for the parking lot on the east side of Swinney (bordered by Rockhill Road) and a golf-cart shuttle will run between the parking lots and Swinney to assist any fans in need. Lastly, a new and improved concessions stand will feature an improved selection along with additional staffing.
BACK HOME IN THE HEART OF CAMPUS
The UMKC men's basketball team is making a move back to campus, as 14 of the 15 home games will be played at the newly renovated Swinney Recreation Center. In past seasons, the 'Roos have played their home games at Municipal Auditorium, where they posted a 152-108 record and Kemper Arena, where they posted a 15-15 mark. This season however, only the Jan. 8 contest with Southern Utah will take place at Municipal, while all other games will be held in the heart of campus at the Swinney Recreation Center. The 'Roos posted a 3-3 mark at the SRC last season.
SENIOR CAPTAINS
The three 'Roo seniors, Jay Couisnard, Spencer Johnson and Bakari Lewis, will serve as tri-captains on this season's squad. Last season, the trio combined 30.8 ppg and 13.2 rpg and are the top-three leading scores returning to the 2010-11 team. Couisnard and Johnson return for their second season as captains, while Lewis will be entering his first season as captain.
2010-11 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
The UMKC men's basketball team has been picked eighth, tallying 177 points, in The Summit League Preseason Poll, which was voted on by the league coaches, SIDs and media. Defending regular season and tournament champion Oakland garnered 29-of-34 first-place votes and was tabbed as the favorite to win the 2010-11 Summit League Men's Basketball Championship. Oral Roberts was chosen second, followed by IUPUI, NDSU, SDSU, IPFW, Western Illinois, UMKC, Southern Utah and Centenary.
COUISNARD NAMED PRESEASON SECOND TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
Senior Jay Couisnard was selected as a preseason second team all-league honoree by a vote of the league's coaches, SIDs and media. Couisnard joins Eric Carlson (NDSU), Leroy Nobles (IUPUI), Clint Sargent (SDSU) and Larry Wright (Oakland) on the second team, while Preseason Player of the Year selection Keith Benson (Oakland) leads the first team that features Ceola Clark (WIU), Michael Craion and Dominique Morrison (ORU), Michael Tveidt (NDSU) and Alex Young (IUPUI).
DEPTH IN THE BACKCOURT
The Kangaroos will look to senior Bakari Lewis to guide the guard position in 2010-11, as he is one of three returnees to the backcourt. Juniors Michael Gholston, Jr. and Dustin Dibble also return in the backcourt to go along with redshirt junior Reggie Chamberlain and walk-on Trevor Mason.
SCORING FROM THE WINGS
The 'Roos will return the most experience on its roster at the forward position where seniors Jay Couisnard and Spencer Johnson return to the fold. UMKC will also benefit from having sophomore Max Rockmann at its disposal for the entire season, while also welcoming talented freshman Trinity Hall.
SIZE UP FRONT
For the first time in Coach Brown's tenure, the Kangaroos will have depth and experience in the post position heading into the season. UMKC returns two sophomores - Kirk
Korver and Fred Chatmon - to go along with junior college transfer Bernard Kamwa to give the team a wide array of options at the five position.
KC METRO 'ROOS
The 2010-11 roster will feature five players from the Kansas City metro area, including Kansas City, Mo., native and first-year 'Roo Reggie Chamberlain (Kansas City, Mo./Raytown HS). Joining Chamberlain on the squad are juniors Michael Gholston, Jr. (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South HS) and Trevor Mason (Overland Park, Kan./Bishop Miege HS) and freshman Trinity Hall (Kansas City, Kan./Wyandotte HS).
STAFF RETURNS INTACT
The UMKC coaching staff will look familiar this season, as all three assistant coaches, as well as the Director of Basketball Operations return to help guide the team.
Martin Unger is in his fourth season as an assistant coach with the UMKC men's basketball program after serving with Coach Brown on the coaching staff at the University of Richmond from 1997-2001.
Wendell Moore is entering his third season as an assistant coach with the UMKC men's basketball program. Prior to joining the 'Roos, Moore served as an assistant coach under Rex Walters at Florida Atlantic University from 2006-08.
Stephen Brough is entering his second season as an assistant coach with the UMKC men's basketball program. Brough joined the 'Roos after serving as the Director of Basketball Operations at Baylor University from 2003-09.
Doug Hall is entering his second season as the Director of Basketball Operations with the UMKC men's basketball program. Hall joined the Kangaroos in June 2009 after serving as the head basketball coach at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., from 2001-09.
Ruben Reyna is entering his first season as a graduate assistant coach with the UMKC men's basketball program, as he was named to the post in July 2010. Reyna previously served as a manager with the 'Roos for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.
COMING FROM CAMEROON
Cameroon native Bernard Kamwa enters his first season in the Blue and Gold after spending his sophomore year at the College of the Sequoia in California. As a freshman, Kamwa was a member of the Cowley County Community College roster, helping the Tigers to a 29-5 record overall. As a prep, the 6-8 forward/center spent time in both Mississippi and California. Kamwa joins Max Rockmann as the only two foreign born players on the UMKC roster.
FRESH FACES ON THE ROSTER
This year's line-up will feature five new 'Roos, made-up of two juniors, one sophomore and a freshman. Junior Reggie Chamberlain will make his UMKC debut after sitting out last season due to transfer rules, while classmate Bernard Kamwa is also new to the squad. Trinity Hall represents the only freshman on this year's team, while sophomore Nate Rogers will redshirt this season after transferring from DePaul.
NEW TV HOME
UMKC basketball will have a new television home during the 2010-11 season, as KSMO will serve as the television home of the 'Roos. A total of nine UMKC home basketball games will be televised in Kansas City during the upcoming 2010-11 season, including games against Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 20), Utah Valley (Dec. 8), Southern Utah (Jan. 8-DH), IUPUI (Jan. 20), Western Illinois (Jan. 22-DH), Oral Roberts (Feb. 10), Centenary (Feb. 12-DH), Oakland (Feb. 24) and IPFW (Feb. 26). Road contest at Kansas State on Dec. 23 (Fox Sports KC), Kansas on Jan. 5 (Jayhawk TV) and Oral Roberts on Jan. 15 (Fox College Sports), meanwhile, will also be televised.
ROGERS TO SIT OUT DUE TO NCAA RULES
Former DePaul player and Maywood, Ill., native Nate Rogers transferred to UMKC in the offseason. The 6-1 guard, who averaged 2.5 points per game for the Blue Demons, will have to sit out the 2010-11 season due to NCAA Division I transfer regulations.
COUISNARD EARNS POST SEASON RECOGNITION
Junior Jay Couisnard was named to The Summit League all-Newcomer and Honorable Mention all-League teams after leading the 'Roos and ranking ninth in the league with a 14.0 scoring average in 2009-10. The forward was the second straight UMKC student-athlete to earn honorable mention all-league honors, as Dane Brumagin received the accolade at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season. He was also the ninth 'Roo to be selected to the all-newcomer squad and the second honoree in the Matt Brown era (Reggie Hamilton - 2007-08).
OLD SWINNEY NEW AGAIN
The renovation transformed the Old Swinney Gymnasium into a modern, collegiate practice facility that provides outstanding training opportunities for 'Roo student-athletes The $500,000 renovation plan included new basketball/volleyball court flooring and basketball standards and volleyball nets to be installed in the existing facility. The skylights in the building were altered, allowing for modified lighting to be put into place. The entire Old Swinney interior was updated and scoreboards were installed.
VOICES OF THE 'ROOS
Steven Davis is entering his third season as the radio voice of UMKC men's basketball program and will be joined by third-year color commentator Steven St. John of 810 AM WHB's "The Border Patrol", as well as Nick McCabe.
Neil Harwell is entering his 16th season as the TV play-by-play voice of the Kangaroos. Harwell began calling UMKC games during the 1995-96 season and will call all the games broadcast on KCMO.
ROBINSON TO THE HALL
Former men's basketball student-athlete David Robinson was announced as a member of the 2010 Hall of Fame class to be inducted on Jan. 22. Robinson, who was the first four-year letterwinner in the Division I era, posted 20 20-point games and three 30-point contests during his 'Roo career. The seven footer, who led UMKC to wins over the likes of Cincinnati, Creighton and Texas A&M during his playing career, is the school record holder in career field goal percentage (.584), while ranking second in blocks (126) and third in double-doubles (11). Robinson joins former UMKC basketball players Bill Frerking, Ronnie Schmitz and Michael Jackson, as well as former 'Roos coaches Lee Hunt and Bill Ross in the UMKC Hall of Fame.
2009-10 'ROO TIDBITS
- Reggie Chamberlain's five assists against UCA were a new career-high.
- Jay Cousinard's 181 free throw attempts last season rank sixth all-time at UMKC.
- Jay Cousinard's four blocks against SEMO were a new career-high.
- The 38 made free throws at Houston Baptist on Dec. 12 were the most in UMKC history.
- Junior Spencer Johnson reached double digits in each of the final three games of last season, averaging 13.7 points per outing. It was the forward's 14th game in double figures. UMKC was 9-5 when Johnson reaches double figures on the year.
- Jay Couisnard's junior class ranks include seventh in scoring (420), second in made free throws (130), third in free throws attempted (181), sixth in field goals attempted (333).
- Spencer Johnson's junior class ranks include tied for the third most starts (29) and his 175 rebounds rank eighth.
- Spencer Johnson's 13 double figure rebound games are third best all-time at UMKC.
- The 'Roos were 8-4 last season when Jay Couisnard attempted eight or more free throws in a game. Overall, UMKC is 9-2 when it attempts more free throws than its opposition.
- Senior Spencer Johnson moved into seventh place in school history in career rebounding with his seven board outing vs. Centenary and now has a total of 466 caroms. The forward also ranks 18th in career scoring with 675 points.
- Bakari Lewis ranks tied for 33rd with 494 career points, while Jay Couisnard is tied for 32nd with 501.
- Sophomore Kirk Korver made two or more three pointers in nine games on the season and tied for third on the squad with 26 long balls. The total is the ninth most by a freshman in school history. His .386 three-point percentage, meanwhile, was the fourth best mark by a freshman in the annals.
- In wins, UMKC averaged 72.9 points on .449 shooting from the floor and .355 from long range. The squad also shot 85 more free throws than its opponent. The opposition, meanwhile, shot .415 from the field, .341 from distance and averaged 16.7 turnovers per game.
- In losses, the 'Roos averaged 62.2 points with a .403 field goal percentage and a .328 mark from three-point land. The opposition, meanwhile, shot .520 from the floor, .379 from long range and attempted 149 more free throws than UMKC.
- UMKC attempted 143 more field goals than its opponents, including 79 more three-point attempts.
- UMKC's reserves averaged 19.4 points per game.
'ROOS IN THE CLASSROOM
Last season, five 'Roos were named to The Summit League Academic all-Conference team, including current 'Roos Dustin Dibble, Kirk Korver and Bakari Lewis. In order to be named to academic all-League team, each student-athlete must post a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the semester in which they compete. Additionally, Dibble was named a Distinguished Scholar for posting a GPA above 3.6.
Meanwhile, one current player and three total were named to the Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence, including Dibble, for posting a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
UMKC TOP WIN TOTALS - DIVISION I HISTORY
20 wins (once) - 1991-92 (later changed to 21 wins due to NCAA violation by UTPA)
18 wins (once) - 2001-02
16 wins (twice) - 1999-00, 2004-05
15 wins (three times) - 1990-91, 1992-93, 2003-04
14 wins (twice) - 2000-01, 2005-06
13 wins (once) - 1989-90
12 wins (four times) - 1993-94, 1995-96, 2006-07, 2009-10
BATTLING FOR BOARDS
Senior Spencer Johnson paced the squad on the glass for the second straight year, pulling down a team-high 5.8 boards per game. With his efforts, the Champaign, Ill. native led the squad on the glass for the second consecutive season, becoming the first player since Jimmy Keller (1997-99) to do so.
BK TO THE RESCUE
Senior Bakari Lewis developed a knack for taking and making the big shot, as the guard connected for the game-winner twice last season. On Jan. 2, Lewis drained a three-pointer from the top of the key with 17 seconds remaining to lift the 'Roos to the 53-50 win over Southern Utah.
The Cleveland, Ohio, native had his first late game heroics in the 84-83 road victory at Centenary on Dec. 5 when he scored 10 of his team-high 18 points over the final four minutes of the contest. This included seven straight points over the final 52 seconds, which included the game-winner with 3.3 seconds remaining to lead the 'Roos back from a 10-point deficit for the victory.
RAINING THREES
UMKC has made at least one three-point basket in 3010consecutive regular season or tournament games dating back to Jan. 22, 2000.
IT'S A FAMILY THING
UMKC sophomore Kirk Korver is the fourth son of Kevin and Laine Korver to suit up the sneakers to play Division I basketball. Oldest brother Kyle was an all-America selection at Creighton, where he played from 1999-2003, and is currently a member of the NBA's Chicago Bulls. Klayton played at Drake from 2003-08, where he was one of the most prolific three-point shooters in school history, and Kaleb is currently a senior on the Creighton basketball team. Basketball is in the blood for the Korver family as mother, Laine, once scored 73 points in a single game in high school.
FOLLOW UMKC VIA ROO VISION
Fans can follow the UMKC men's basketball team as all home games are streamed live online via ROO Vision at UMKCKangaroos.com. Live statistics are also available at the web site under the Multimedia tab or on the men's basketball schedule page.
