Kangaroos Hit the Road, Face No. 23 Michigan State Monday Night
12/18/2011 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: 1140 AM/102.9 FM (Steven Davis)
THE GAME
The Kangaroos will head to a Big Ten school for the second time this season on Monday when they face No. 23 Michigan State at the Breslin Center in a game being televised on the Big Ten Network. UMKC comes into the contest winning six of its last seven games, while the Spartans are are on a nine game win streak.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
No. 23 Michigan State comes into the contest on a nine-game win streak after opening the season with losses to North Carolina and Duke.
They are led by senior forward Draymond Green, who leads the team in scoring (15.9), rebounding (9.7), assists (37) and steals (18). Guard Keith Appling averages 10.8 points a contest, while guard Brandon Wood puts up 10.0 per contest.
The Spartans shoot .466 from the floor, while holding opponents to a paltry .367 and only 57.9 points per game. The biggest strength for MSU is the rebounding, using a +10.2 margin over opponents.
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 49-82 overall record and has coached seven players to all-Summit League recognition.
Tom Izzo is in his 17th season as the head coach at Michigan State, and has a 392-163 overall record there. A four-time National Coach of the Year, he has been to 14 consecutive NCAA Tournaments and has six Final Four appearances. He led the Spartans to the 2000 National Championship as well.
THE SERIES
The Kangaroos and Spartans are meeting for the first time ever. The Kangaroos are 1-14 against opponents from the Big Ten, falling to Wisconsin earlier this year. The only win ever game against Nebraska when it was a member of the Big 12.
Matt Brown has a 0-0 mark against MSU and is 0-3 vs. the Big Ten, while Tom Izzo is 0-0 vs. UMKC.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- UMKC would have won seven of eight games for the first time since 2005-06.
- UMKC would have defeated a current Big Ten opponent for the first time in school history.
- UMKC would have its first win vs. a BCS conference opponent since defeating Kansas State 93-52 on Dec. 30, 2003.