UMKC Finishes Six-Game Road Swing with Trip to Defending Champ Oakland
12/2/2011 7:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Radio: 1140 AM/102.9 FM (Steven Davis)
THE GAME
The Kangaroos continue the conference opening road swing on Saturday, facing defending Summit League champion Oakland. UMKC is riding a three-game win streak, while the Grizzlies have posted victories in their last five contests. The Kangaroos are playing the final game of a six-game road trip.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Oakland comes in on a five-game win streak, posting a 5-2 overall record, and 1-0 mark in conference play. The Grizzlies have lost only to Alabama and Arkansas, with wins against Tennessee and Houston. They defeated South Dakota in their Summit opener on Thursday at home, 101-83.
They are led by senior guard Reggie Hamilton, who is averaging 20 points and 3.9 assists per game to go with 15 steals and a conference best free throw percentage of .885. Travis Bader is putting up 15.1 points per outing, including 28 on Thursday night. He has drilled a league-best 26 threes.
The Grizzlies are the highest scoring team in the league with 79.3 points per game. They also lead the conference in offensive rebounding at 14.7 per game. Defensively, they rank ninth in the conference, allowing 75.9 points per contest.
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 46-81 overall record and has coached seven players to all-Summit League recognition.
Greg Kampe is in his 28th season as the head coach at Oakland, and has a 475-335 overall record. He has been named Summit League Coach of the Year on five occasions, and is currently the fifth longest tenured coach in Division I basketball. He has led Oakland to league titles in each of the past two seasons.
THE SERIES
The Kangaroos and Grizzlies are meeting for the 30th time with Oakland holding a 23-6 advantage. The Grizzlies have won the last 10 meetings in the series, with the 'Roos last win coming on Feb. 15, 2007 by an 80-76 score in overtime. UMKC is 2-11 on the road against OU, last winning on Feb. 11, 2006 (84-81).
Matt Brown has a 0-9 mark against Oakland, while Greg Kampe has a 23-6 mark vs. UMKC.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- UMKC would be 2-0 in conference play for the first time ever under Matt Brown, and the first overall since 2006-07. It would also be the fourth time in program history.
- UMKC would also have the first 2-0 start ON THE ROAD in league play since 2004-05, and only the third time ever.
- The Kangaroos would be on a four-game win streak for the first time since the first four games of last season.
- UMKC will have defeated OU for the first time since 2007, and first on the road since 2006.