'Roos Continue Road Swing Against Skyhawks Wednesday
11/19/2013 1:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: November 20, 2013 - 7:00 p.m. CST
Site: Martin, Tenn. / Elam Center (5,000)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 810 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p)
Webcast: UTMSports.com (free)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via UTM)
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos #WACHoops
Series: First Meeting
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: N/A
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos continue the road swing on Wednesday night with the UT-Martin Skyhawks.Kansas City is looking for its first win of the season, while UT-Martin is coming off a loss to Florida State. The 'Roos and Skyhawks will be meeting for the first time.
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC has forced 50 turnovers from opponents this season, an average of 16.7 per game. Its average of 13 steals per game leads the WAC.
- Kansas City tallied 15 steals against Omaha, the most for a 'Roos team since February 12, 2004 against Western Illinois, when they posted 16.
- Fred Chatmon tallied 23 points and nine rebounds vs. Omaha, setting a career-high for points. The point total is the fifth-highest by a WAC player this season. The 11 made field goals is the highest in the WAC this year.
- Kansas City began a four-game road swing last Monday at Creighton, the longest regular season road stretch for the 'Roos since playing six in a row away from home in Nov./Dec. of 2011.
- Kansas City announced February 7, 2013 that it would be going to the WAC. This will be the first regular season 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.
- The 'Roos have been hit hard by the injury bug, with Kirk Korver, Mason Wedel, and Juan Ramon Rivas not playing yet this season.
- 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.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
UT-Martin, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, comes into the contest with a 1-4 record with a win against Rochester College at home, and losses to Florida State, Arkansas State, Colorado and Wyoming.
They are led by returning leading scorer Myles Taylor, who is two games back from an offseason injury, but still leads the squad at 18.5 points per game. Point guard Marshun Newell is averaging 13 points and 3.6 assists per game. The other player in double figures is Terence Smith, averaging 11.4 ppg. Sitting out through the first four games due to suspension is Mike Liabo, who ranked second on the team in scoring a year ago.
As a team the Skyhawks are averaging 65.4 points per game, while allowing 78.8 from their opponents. They have forced opponents into 15.4 turnovers per game as well, and a +3.2 margin.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 0-3 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.
Jason Jones is in his fifth season with UT-Martin, posting a 30-98 record there. He led the Skyhawks to a 9-21 overall record last season, including a berth in the OVC Tournament.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are playing UT-Martin for the first time ever on Wednesday night.
UMKC is 0-2 on the road so far this season, and will be playing their third straight on the road vs. the Skyhawks.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have defeated a team from the OVC for the first time since knocking off SEMO on the road (12/10/11).
- The 'Roos would have won for the first time on the road this season.
- UMKC would have the first win in the career of head coach Kareem Richardson.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will play at Iowa State next Monday on the road for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
The 'Roos are 0-1 against the Cyclones after a 76-61 loss at home last season. UMKC will play for the first time at Hilton Coliseum.
