UMKC Travels to Big Ten Country, Faces No. 11 Wisconsin Tuesday
11/21/2011 5:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TV: Big Ten Network (Eric Collins, Tim Doyle)
Radio: 1140 AM / 102.9 FM (Steven Davis)
Webcast: None
Live Stats: UWBadgers.com
THE GAME
The Kangaroos head back out on the road to play the second game of the Chicago Invitational Challenge, this time at undefeated and 11th ranked Wisconsin on the Big Ten Network. The 'Roos then head to Chicago for the final two games of the Challenge on Friday and Saturday.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Wisconsin comes into the contest ranked No. 11 in the nation with a 3-0 mark. They have three wins at home, all decided by at least 27 points. The Badgers have not allowed a team to score more than 41 points in any game, allowing a national best 35.0 points per outing.
They are led by second-team All-American Jordan Taylor, who has 15 assists to only one turnover. The Badgers have three starters averaging at least 11 points per game, and as a team they rank seventh in the nation with a three-point percentage of .479. They are also out-rebounding opponents by 18.7 per game.
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 five seasons as head coach, Brown has guided UMKC to a 43-80 overall record and has coached seven players to all-Summit League recognition.
Bo Ryan is in his 11th season at Wisconsin, and his 28th as a head coach. He has a 245-91 record at Wisconsin, and a 628-194 mark overall. His win percentage is the highest in school history, and he has three Big Ten regular season titles, and two tournament crowns to his credit.
THE SERIES
The Kangaroos and Badgers are meeting for the first time ever. The 'Roos are 1-13 against current Big Ten opponents with its only win coming against Nebraska when it was a member of the Big 12. The last Big 10 opponent was at Northwestern on Dec. 15, 2008, losing 77-62.
Matt Brown is 0-1 against Big Ten competition with the loss against Northwestern.
REGGIE'S WAY
Senior guard Reggie Chamberlain tallied a career-high 28 points last Wednesday against UNO, while hitting the game-winning shot with 1.9 seconds remaining. It was his sixth career 20+ point game, and first this season. He returned this season as the leading scorer with 11.6 points per game, along with 55 threes and a Summit League high three-point percentage. He is also the only 'Roo to earn preseason honors, as College Sports Madness named him a second-team All-Summit League pick.
He leads the team with 17.8 points per game, and has hit 10 threes this season (2.5 per game). He has scored 15+ three times, and comes off a 19-point effort at Utah Valley.
UP THE HALL
Sophomore Trinity Hall leads the Kangaroos in rebounding (5.5), blocks (3), and steals (5), while ranking second in scoring (12.5). The only areas he hasn't been solid are at the free throw stripe (47 percent), and in the turnover area, with 13.
