'Roos Look to Rebound, Face Broncs Thursday at Home
1/15/2014 4:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Texas-Pan American Broncs (4-14, 0-3) at UMKC 'Roos (5-10, 2-1)
Date / Time: January 16, 2014 - 7:05 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: 810 AM WHB
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Steven St. John (analyst)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (Subscribers)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: UTPA leads 7-5
Home: 4-3
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 104-80 in KC, 12/4/03
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos will look to rebound from a tough loss this Thursday when Texas-Pan American comes to town for a 7:05 p.m. contest, the second of three straight home games for Kansas City. UMKC is 2-1 in the WAC while UTPA is 0-3, dropping two at home last week to Idaho and Seattle.
UMKC Last 5: 2-3, last time out lost to Chicago State, 68-66.
UTPA Last 5: 0-5, last time out lost to Seattle, 64-46.
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC has forced 233 turnovers from opponents this season, an average of 15.5 per game. Its average of 8.9 steals per game leads the WAC and ranks 16th in the nation.
- Senior Nelson Kirksey has led the 'Roos in scoring the last four games, and is averaging 20.7 per contest in WAC play.
- 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 790 points, Korver is 33rd with 568, Chatmon is 41st at 483 and Kirksey is 46th with 442.
- 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 15.8 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. 35 in the nation as of Wednesday. The 'Roos RPI of 175 is second in the WAC behind New Mexico State, who is at 54.
- 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
Texas-Pan American enters the contest on a 10-game losing streak after starting the season 4-4. The dropped a tight double overtime loss to Idaho last Thursday, before falling to Seattle on Saturday, 64-46. The Broncs have an overall mark of 4-14 and are 0-3 in WAC play.
They are led by a trio of players that can score the ball. Javorn Farrell leads the way with 16.3 points, 3.1 assists and a 13 blocks, all team-highs, to go along with 5.2 rebounds a game. Shaquille Boga puts up 12.3 points an outing, while post man Shaquille Hines averages 11.4 points and 5.8 boards a contest.
As a team the Broncs average 65.2 points a game while giving up 71.1 per outing. They have a shooting percentage of 40 percent, but hit only 26 percent from three-point range. They do force opponents into 14.6 turnovers per game as well.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 5-10 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.
Dan Hipsher is in his first season at Texas-Pan American, and has a 4-14 record there. Overall, he is 242-197 after coaching at Akron for nine seasons, as well as two other programs before that. He most recently coached at Alabama as the associate coach.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have started with three wins in their first four games in conference play for the first time since 2006.
- Kansas City would have won their first home game since December 18 vs. Miami.
- UMKC would have won their second game this season at Municipal Auditorium.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will finish the home stand, playing WAC leader and conference favorite New Mexico State on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.
The 'Roos are facing the Aggies in men's basketball for the first time in school history.
