'Roos Look to End Skid with Wolverines Coming to Kansas City
1/8/2013 7:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UVU Head Coach: Dick Hunsaker (Weber State, 1977)
Record at UVU: 194-120 (11th year) Career Record: 361-193 (19th year)
UMKC Head Coach: Matt Brown (Shippensburg, 1994)
Record at UMKC: 60-110* (6th year) Career Record: Same
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Date / Time: January 9, 2013 - 7:05 p.m. CST
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Swinney Recreation Center (1,504)
TV: None
Talent: -
Radio: 810 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Steven St. John (analyst)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos
Series: Kansas City trails 4-2
Home: 2-1
Away: 0-3
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: Utah Valley won 58-54 in Orem, 11/19/11
Brown vs. Opponent: 1-1
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THE GAME
Notables: The 'Roos look to snap an eight-game skid when they head back to Swinney Recreation Center for a Wednesday night contest against Utah Valley, stepping out of conference play for a night. The Wolverines come into the game after dropping their last two.
Kansas City Last 5: 0-5, last time out lost vs. North Dakota State, 63-44
UVU Last 5: 2-3, last time out lost vs. New Jersey Institute of Technology, 57-52
QUICK NOTES
- Fred Chatmon's 7.4 rebounds per game this season rank third in the Summit League, while Thomas Staton (.421) and Tyler (.463) rank fourth and ninth in the league in three-point shooting, respectively. Chatmon also ranks fourth in blocks (1.3 bpg) while Tyler is fifth in assists (3.4 apg).
- Kansas City has used eight different starting lineups this season, including five in the last seven games. Four different players have sat out games due to injury during the last month.
- The 'Roos are 2-6 at home this season, dropping the last six there. It is the longest home drought since 1998-99 when the 'Roos also lost six straight. The record for consecutive home losses is 10.
- The 'Roos have been behind at halftime in each of the past eight games. Kansas City is 0-11 when trailing at the half this year.
- In the last five games, one players is averaging in double-figure points, Thomas Staton (14.0). Estan Tyler is at 9.2 per game. Fred Chatmon leads the team with 9.6 boards a game during the stretch, and has two 13 and a 16-rebound game this year already.
- Sophomore point guard Estan Tyler leads the 'Roos with 30.4 minutes played per game, six more than the next closest player. He has scored his four highest career point totals this year, and has been in double figures eight times already (only had four all of last year).
- Kansas City had played at least 10 players in every game but one, and at least 11 in all but three. Eight different players have scored double figure points, with seven guys leading them in points.
- Junior forward Trinity Hall has been out the last six games due to injury suffered on December 16. Freshman guard Mason Wedel sat out the last two games due to injury as well.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Utah Valley comes in with a 7-10 overall record with losses in their last two games. The Wolverines have defeated Austin Peay and Troy twice for their last three wins.
They have a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures. The leader is forward Ben Aird, who puts up 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds a game, while hitting 57.5 percent of his shots. The coach's son, Holton Hunsaker, scores 13.1 points an outing, along with 54 assists. Alfonzo Hubbard scores 10.5 points per contest, while Nick Thompson leads the squad with 71 assists and scores 10.2 points per game.
As a team the Wolverines have been out-scored by 5.2 points per game, while shooting 44.7 percent from the field. They average 15 assists per game and have a 1.2 assist-to-turnover ratio as well.
THE COACHES
Matt Brown is in his sixth season as the head coach of the UMKC men's basketball program, and has a 60-110* overall record at the helm. Brown joined the 'Roos as the eighth head coach in school history on April 12, 2007. He has coached eight players to All-Summit League recognition.
His most successful season came in 2010-11 when he posted his only winning record at 16-14 overall. The 'Roos also had the third-most home wins in school history, going 11-4 in Kansas City, and the third-most overall wins in program history that season.
Dick Hunsaker is in his 11th season with the Wolverines and boasts a 196-120 overall record there. He has been a head coach for 19 seasons, posting a mark of 361-193. He has had coaching stints at Ball State and Utah as well.
THE SERIES
It will be the seventh meeting between the 'Roos and Wolverines, with UVU holding a 4-2 lead in the series. Utah Valley won last season's meeting in Orem by a 58-54 score on November 19. It has won four of the last five meetings overall.
At home, Kansas City is 2-1 overall, having won the last meeting by a 70-63 score in 2010. Matt Brown is 1-1 against UVU.
Matt Brown is 1-1 vs. Dick Hunsaker, while Hunsaker has a 2-4 record against UMKC.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have defeated Utah Valley both times they have met in Kansas City under Matt Brown.
- Kansas City would have snapped an eight-game losing streak overall.
- The 'Roos would have snapped a six-game home losing streak.
UP NEXT
Kansas City will head back into conference play and start a three-game road swing when it faces South Dakota on Saturday at 7 p.m.
It will be the third ever meeting between the 'Roos and Coyotes, with both of the other contests coming last season. The Coyotes won both games by at least 15 points in conference play last year.
At USD, Kansas City is 0-1, having lost by a 79-63 score there. Matt Brown is 0-2 against USD as well.
