Kansas City Comes Home, Hosts Milwaukee Saturday
11/29/2013 1:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: November 30, 2013 - 7:05 p.m. CST
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: Time Warner Cable Sports Channel
Talent: Daron Sutton, Adrian Tigert
Radio: 810 AM WHB
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Steven St. John (analyst)
Webcast: None
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos #WACHoops
Series: UMKC leads 5-4
Home: 3-2
Away: 2-2
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: Milwaukee won 70-68 in KC, 11/27/99
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos come home for the first time in four games to host Milwaukee on Saturday night. It will be the 'Roos second home game of the season, and first since November 8. The Panthers come in winning six of their last seven games. The two teams have not played since 1999.
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC has forced 78 turnovers from opponents this season, an average of 15.6 per game. Its average of 10.6 steals per game leads the WAC.
- Fred Chatmon was named WAC Player of the Week when he had his fifth career double-double against UT-Martin with 20 points and 12 boards. He also made 9-of-12 from the field (.750), the highest percentage in the WAC this season.
- The UMKC non-conference schedule features 13 opponents, 10 of which currently have winning records, including three nationally ranked, and three in the Mid-Major Top 25.
- Kansas City is currently led in scoring by freshman Martez Harrison at 15.4 points per game. That currently ranks third in the freshman scoring average ranks, behind Ronnie Schmitz and Tony Dumas.
- 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 is the first season 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.
- Kansas City's 59-point loss at Iowa State was the largest margin in school history.
- 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
Milwaukee comes in having won six of its last seven games and post a 6-2 overall record. Last season the Panthers were 8-24 and finished ninth in the Horizon League. They are currently receiving votes in the mid-major top 25. So far they have wins over Davidson and Northern Illinois, as well as San Jose State.
They are led by four players averaging double-figure points a contest, including a team-best 14.5 per game from newcomer Matt Tiby, to go along with 7.9 boards a game. Also in double figures is Austin Arians at 13 per game, while Kyle Kelm is putting up 12.8 and Jordan Aaron is at 10.4 a contest.
As a team the Panthers are averaging 75.8 points a game, and holding opponents to 68.5 a contest. They are shooting 45 percent from the field, and 76 percent from the line, but have been out-rebounded by 2.9 a game. They also have an outstanding 1.2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 1-4 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.
Rob Jeter is in his ninth season with Milwaukee, posting 135-129 overall record. He has led Milwaukee to three postseason berths and three 20 win seasons during his time there, and has had assistant coaching stops at Wisconsin and Marquette.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are 5-4 all-time against the Panthers, but have not played them since 11/27/99 in a 70-68 loss at home. The 'Roos are 3-2 at home in the series.
This will be the first time either coach has faced the other team.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have earned its first win at home this season.
- The 'Roos would have defeated a team from the Horizon League for the first time since December 2002 when they knocked off Youngstown State 71-59.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will head to Louisville for a re-match with the defending national champions on Wednesday. The contest is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. CT tipoff.
The 'Roos are 0-1 against the Cardinals, falling 99-47 last season on the road. Last year, Kareem Richardson was on the other side of the bench as an assistant for Rick Pitino and the Cardinals.
