'Roos Face Defending Champion Louisville, Richardson's Former Team
12/3/2013 4:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: December 4, 2013 - 6:00 p.m. CST
Site: Louisville, Ky. / KFC Yum! Center (22,000)
TV: ESPN3
Talent: Drew Deener (p-b-p), Bob Valvano (analyst)
Radio: 810 AM WHB
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Jason Anderson (analyst)
Webcast: ESPN3.com (ESPN Cable Subscribers)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via UL)
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos #WACHoops
Series: UL leads 1-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-1
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UL won 99-47 in Louisville, 12/8/12
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos head to the house of the defending national champions on Wednesday in the battle of mentor vs. mentee as Rick Pitino faces Kareem Richardson, who was on the UL bench last season. The 'Roos played one of their best halves of the season in the final stanza against Milwaukee on Saturday, while Louisville comes in at No. 7 in the nation at 6-1.
QUICK NOTES
- 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.
- Martez Harrison scored 28 points against Milwaukee, the most for a 'Roo since Reggie Chamberlain had 30 at Oakland on 12/3/11. It was the most scored by a freshman at UMKC since all-time leading scorer Michael Watson tallied 28 on February 12, 2001.
- Kansas City is currently led in scoring by freshman Martez Harrison at 17.5 points per game. That currently ranks No. 1 in the freshman scoring average ranks at UMKC.
- UMKC has forced 97 turnovers from opponents this season, an average of 16.2 per game. Its average of 10.8 steals per game leads the WAC and ranks third in the nation.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Louisville is ranked No. 7 in the nation by the AP and No. 6 by the coaches in this week's poll, and come in with a 6-1 overall record with their only loss coming to North Carolina. The Cardinals are playing the second of five straight home games.
They are led by All-American Russ Smith with 18.9 points per game, while transfer point guard Chris Jones is putting up 15.0 points a contest. Also averaging double figures is Montrezl Harrell at 12.3 and a team best 9.7 rebounds a game.
As a team the Cardinals lead the nation with a +11.0 turnover margin, while outscoring its competition by 24.3 points a game. They are holding the competition to 58 points a contest and 39 percent shooting, while out-rebounding foes by 4.9 a game.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 1-5 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.
Rick Pitino is in his 12th season (316-112) at Louisville and 28th overall with a record of 670-240. A member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, he led the Cardinals to the National Championship last season.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are 0-1 against the Cardinals, falling 99-47 last season on the road on December 8. Last year, Kareem Richardson was on the other side of the bench as an assistant for Rick Pitino and the Cardinals.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have earned its first win over a ranked team in school history.
- The 'Roos would have defeated Louisville for the first time ever.
- Kansas City would have given head coach Kareem Richardson a win against his former team.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will be at home for three straight games, starting with Youngstown State on Saturday at noon. The game will be played on campus at Swinney Recreation Center.
Youngstown State leads the series 13-7 overall. UMKC is 3-7 at home, with the last meeting coming on 12/22/03, resulting in a 73-65 win for the Penguins in Ohio. UMKC won two of the last three meetings.
