UMKC Looks to Stay Hot, Hosts Chicago State in WAC Home Opener Saturday
1/10/2014 12:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: January 11, 2014 - 5:15 p.m. CST
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: KSMO - Kansas City / ESPN3
Talent: Neil Harwell (p-b-p), JC Pearson (analyst)
Radio: 102.9 FM / 1140 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Steven St. John (analyst)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (Subscribers)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: Kansas City leads 25-9
Home: 14-4
Away: 10-4
Neutral: 1-1
Last Meeting: UMKC won 86-78 in KC, 1/4/07
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos will re-new a rivalry from the Summit League days on Saturday against Chicago State in the Hall of Fame game. This will be the 35th meeting in school history between the two, but they have not met since 2007. The squads are both undefeated in WAC play coming into the weekend.
UMKC Last 5: 3-2, last time out won at Seattle, 95-84.
CSU Last 5: 2-3, last time out lost to Green Bay, 98-62.
QUICK NOTES
- Kansas City started 2-0 on the road in league play for the first time since 2005 when it won at IUPUI and Centenary. It also started 2-0 overall in conference play for the first time since 2007.
- UMKC has forced 219 turnovers from opponents this season, an average of 15.8 per game. Its average of 9.2 steals per game leads the WAC and ranks 16th in the nation.
- Seniors Kirk Korver, Trinity Hall, Fred Chatmon and Nelson Kirksey are ranked in the top 50 in all-time in scoring as Hall is at No. 15 with 786 points, Korver is 33rd with 568, Chatmon is 42nd at 472 and Kirksey is 47th with 425.
- Trinity Hall is one of five players in school history to have at least 750 points, 350 rebounds and 50 blocks. He joined the club with Michael Jackson, David Robinson, Darecko Rawlins and Mike English.
- Martez Harrison's current 15.9 ppg would rank No. 3 in the freshman scoring average ranks at UMKC, he currently leads all freshmen scorers in the WAC, and sits 10th in the nation.
- The UMKC non-conference strength of schedule was ranked No. 28 in the nation as of Wednesday. The 'Roos RPI of 137 is second in the WAC, 67 spots ahead of the next closest team.
- 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.
- There are seven players on the roster from the Kansas City area, more than any UMKC team in the Division I era.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Chicago State enters the contest with a 6-9 overall record and is 1-0 in the WAC after a road win at Idaho last Saturday. The Cougars are coming in off a 98-62 home loss to Horizon League favorite UW-Green Bay.
They are led by a balanced attack of four players in double figures. Quinton Pippen leads the team with 13.9 points per contest and 41 assists, while Clarke Rosenburg puts up 13.3 points an outing. Post man Matt Ross averages 11.1 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds a game to go with 20 blocks, while Nate Duhon averages 10.2 points a game.
As a team the Cougars are similar to the 'Roos in several areas, including steals (76. spg) and scoring (69.6 ppg). They push the pace and play a high risk, high reward defense, but have a -10.5 rebound margin.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 5-9 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.
Tracy Dildy is in his fourth season at Chicago State, posting a 27-56 overall record there. He came to CSU after three seasons as the associate head coach at his alma mater, Illinois-Chicago, and has had coaching stops at several BCS schools.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos will be renewing a rivalry with the Cougars that has not been played since 2007 when both were members of the Summit League. This is the 35th meeting, and UMKC leads the series 25-9 overall, including a 14-4 mark in Kansas City. The 'Roos have won three of the last four meetings as well.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have started 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 2005, when it started 9-0.
- Kansas City would have won three consecutive games for the first time since December of 2011 when it defeated North Dakota, SEMO and Canisius.
- The 'Roos would have won three straight conference games for the first time since January of 2011.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will continue the home stand, playing Texas-Pan American on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.
The 'Roos are facing UTPA for the 13th time, trailing the series 7-5. UMKC leads the series in Kansas City though, 4-3. The last meeting was a 104-80 'Roo win in Kansas City back on December 4, 2003. The two squads played 11 times fron 1988-91.
