UMKC Starts Exhibition Play Tuesday with Benedictine
11/1/2011 12:54:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The UMKC men's basketball team kicks off the 2011-12 season on Tuesday with an exhibition contest against Benedictine (Kan.) at 7:05 p.m. in Swinney Recreation Center. UMKC will be playing its fifth exhibition contest counting the four games they played in Italy in August. The 'Roos will play their final exhibition game against Tabor (Kan.) on Saturday at 5:05 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
UMKC made its first ever overseas trip to Italy in August, where it played four games against various semi and professional teams. The 'Roos won all four games in four days, taking out Grosseto 95-40, Stella Roma 111-48, and Virtus Flaminio, twice, by scores of 63-44 and 92-58.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Benedictine College, in Atchison, Kan., went 16-16 last season overall, and 11-9 in the Heart of America Conference. The NAIA affiliated Ravens return their top two scorers in seniors Chris McFaul and Alex Miller at 13.4 and 11.8 points per game, respectively. McFaul hit 89 three-pointers, and shot 45 percent from the floor, while Miller averaged a team-best 5.4 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES
The Kangaroos have never played Benedictine College as a member of NCAA Division I in regular season action. The two squads did face off numerous times during the NAIA era of 1969-1986, with UMKC going 8-3 against them.
THE COACHES
Matt Brown is in his fifth season as the head coach of the UMKC men's basketball program, and comes off his most successful season at the helm.In 2010-11, he posted his first winning record at 16-14 overall. The 'Roos also posted the third-most home wins in school history, going 11-4 in Kansas City, and the third-most overall wins in program history.
Brown joined the 'Roos as the eighth head coach in school history on April 12, 2007. In his first four seasons as head coach, Brown has guided UMKC to a 42-77 overall record and has coached seven players to all-Summit League recognition.
Ryan Moody is entering his first season at the helm of Benedictine after spending the previous five seasons at North Dakota as an assistant coach. He graduated from Benedictine in 1997 after a four-year playing career. He also coached Raymore-Peculiar High School in the Kansas City area from 2001-06.
UMKC TOP HOME WIN TOTALS - DIVISION I HISTORY
14 wins (once) - 1991-92
12 wins (once) - 1992-93
11 wins (five times) - 1989-90, 1990-91, 2001-02, 2010-11
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 (three times) - 1999-00, 2004-05, 2010-11
TEAM CAPTAINS
The three 'Roo captains, as voted upon by the team, are seniors Dustin Dibble and Reggie Chamberlain, and sophomore Kirk Korver. Chamberlain is the leading returning scorer, while Dibble has played more games at UMKC than any player on the roster. Korver is coming back after a redshirt season in which he was injured.
2011-12 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
UMKC was selected to finish seventh in the Summit League Preseason Poll by the conference coaches SID's and media, receiving 221 points. Oral Roberts received 27-of-32 first-place votes and was tabbed as the favorite to win the league. IUPUI forward Alex Young, who was The Summit League's scoring leader and first team NABC All-District selection last season, was the preseason choice for Player of the Year.
