UMKC Looks to Keep Pace, Faces South Dakota Saturday Night
2/3/2012 1:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UMKC (9-15, 3-9) at South Dakota (7-14, 2-10)
February 4, 2012 - 7:30 p.m. (Central)
Dakota Dome * Vermillion, S.D.
Radio: 810 AM (Steven Davis)
THE GAME
The Kangaroos make their first ever trip to Vermillion, South Dakota on Saturday when they wrap up a three-game road swing against USD at 7:30 p.m. The contest will be the second half of a doubleheader, with the UMKC women facing the Coyotes at 5:00 p.m.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
South Dakota, in its first season in the Summit League, enters the contest with a 7-14 overall record, and is 2-10 in conference play. The Coyotes two wins in conference play are against UMKC and IUPUI.
They are led by senior guard Charlie Westbrook, who is averaging 17.5 points and 3.8 boards, while leading the team with 40 steals. Senior guard Louie Krogman puts up 14.5 points per contest and has a team-best 72 assists, while center Trevor Gruis puts up 10.8 points and 5.7 boards per outing.
USD is nearly identical to UMKC statistically, putting up just a few more points per game. The Coyotes score a little better and defend a little worse overall, but UMKC has a decided advantage in three-point shooting and three-point defending area.
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 51-92 overall record and has coached seven players to all-Summit League recognition.
Dave Boots is in his 25th season as the head coach of the Coyotes and has a 490-210 record there. Overall, he is in his 31st season as a head coach, boasting a 605-273 mark. He has been named conference coach of the year seven times, and led the Coyotes to the Great West Conference regular season and tournament title in 2010.
THE SERIES
The Kangaroos and Coyotes are meeting for the second time ever, with USD entering the conference this season. The Coyotes won the meeting in Kansas City earlier this season by a 76-57 margin.
The only other team UMKC has faced from the state is SDSU, and it is 3-8 vs. teams from there.
Matt Brown has a 0-1 mark against USD, while Dave Boots is 1-0 vs. UMKC.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- UMKC would have snapped a two-game losing streak overall.
- UMKC would have defeated the Coyotes for the first time ever, but have played only twice.
- UMKC would have moved its record to 3-4 in games played in the state of South Dakota.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
- Dustin Dibble will be playing in his 104th career college basketball game on Saturday, and needs just one more game to crack the UMKC top 10.
- Reggie Chamberlain now has 124 career threes and needs 11 more to take sole possession of eighth. His current 2.9 made per game is third all-time at UMKC, while his percentage of .426 would be second.
- Chamberlain is now 18th on the all-time scoring list at UMKC (started the season 49th). He has 736 points now, and is the 19th player to reach 700 pts at UMKC. He needs 21 points to pass Bakari Lewis in 15th.
