UMKC To Open Renovated Municipal Friday In Exhibition Against Rockhurst
10/31/2013 6:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Rockhurst Hawks (0-0) at UMKC Kangaroos (0-0) (Exhibition)
Date / Time: November 1, 2013 - 7:05 p.m. CST
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 102.9 FM
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Steven St. John (analyst)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos
Series: 0-0 as a D-I school, played 25 times as NAIA.
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 70-68 on 1/27/86
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
THE GAME
Notables: The 'Roos open the 2013-14 season with a new coach, new arena, and new conference on Friday evening at Municipal Auditorium. UMKC is playing its first exhibition game of the season, as is Rockhurst. The game will also be a 'Blackout', with 2,000 t-shirts given away to UMKC students and fans. The pre-game event starts at 4:00 p.m. at Johnny's Tavern in the Power and Light District.
QUICK NOTES
- Kansas City announced February 7, 2013 that it would be going to the WAC. This will be men's basketball's first exhibition game as a member of the new conference after 19 years in the Summit League.
- UMKC hired new head coach Kareem Richardson on March 19, 2013. He helped Louisville win the National Championship last season as an assistant under Rick Pitino.
- This game is the first event in Municipal Auditorium since the $5 million renovation. It includes new video boards, LED scorer's table, sound system, lighting, seating in the lower level and electrical upgrades.
- Municipal Auditorium, considered by some as “America's best arena in which to watch basketball” and site of more NCAA Final Fours than any other arena, is once again the home of UMKC men's basketball. The 'Roos will be playing the bulk of their home games at the historic venue in 2013-14.
- The 'Roos return four players that started a large amount of games last season, with eight letterwinners coming back as well.
- The eight returnees make up 47 percent of the scoring from last season's team.
- There are seven players on the roster from the Kansas City area, more than any UMKC team in the Division I era.
- This year's roster also feature nine newcomers, six of which are freshmen. There are three transfers, two of which have to sit out this season due to Division I transfer rules.
- Kansas City's roster may feature a large amount of young players, but it also has six seniors.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Rockhurst enters the exhibition season against the 'Roos after totaling a 4-21 record a year ago. They return all five starters, including nine letterwinners. The Hawks also brought in four newcomers.
They are led by senior guard Brandon McCann, who put up 12.2 points and 2.1 assists per contest, while James Robinson averaged nine points and 2.3 assists per game. On the inside, Cooper Beckett pulled down 4.8 rebounds per game, while averaging 7.4 points a contest.
As a team the Hawks averaged 58.2 points per game and shot 40 percent from the floor while being forced into 14.4 turnovers a contest. Defensively, RU gave up 71.8 points per outing and 47 percent shooting to its opponents.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 0-0 record. He was named the sixth coach in the Division I era on March 19, 2013 after helping Louisville to a National Championship last season as an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
He brings 13 years of Division I coaching experience to the fold, as well as four years playing at the Division I level, graduating from Evansville in 1997.
Bill O'Connor is in his 20th season at the helm of the Hawks, posting a 258-278 overall record. He has led RU to three NCAA Tournament appearances and has earned conference coach of the year honors three times.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos and Hawks have never played a regular season meeting during the Division I era for UMKC, but the two were fierce rivals at the NAIA level from 1969-86, playing 25 times.
This will be the first time the two have played at Municipal Auditorium in the D-I era.