Kangaroos Look to Rebound at Bakersfield Saturday
1/24/2014 6:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: January 25, 2014 - 9:00 p.m. CST
Site: Bakersfield, Calif. / Icardo Center (3,800)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 810 AM WHB
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (via CSUB)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via CSUB)
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #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 look to rebound from Thursday night's loss at Utah Valley when they travel to Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday night for a 9:00 p.m. CT tipoff from the Icardo Center. The 'Runners are also looking to get back on track, falling to Chicago State last time out.
UMKC Last 5: 2-3, last time out lost at Utah Valley, 66-48.
CSUB Last 5: 1-4, last time out lost vs Chicago State, 71-63.
QUICK NOTES
- Kansas City is in the toughest portion of its conference schedule, playing the second contest of a stretch with six of seven games on the road.
- UMKC has forced 266 turnovers from opponents this season, an average of 14.8 per game. Its average of 8.4 steals per game leads the WAC and ranks 21st 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 817 points, Korver is 33rd with 576, Chatmon is 38th at 502 and Kirksey is 43rd with 479.
- Trinity Hall is one of four players in school history to have at least 800 points, 400 rebounds and 50 blocks. He joined the club with Michael Jackson, David Robinson and Darecko Rawlins.
- Martez Harrison's current 16.1 ppg would rank No. 3 in the freshman scoring average ranks at UMKC, he currently leads all freshmen scorers in the WAC, and sits eighth in the nation.
- The UMKC non-conference strength of schedule was ranked No. 34 in the nation as of Monday. The 'Roos RPI of 197 is fourth in the WAC.
- 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
Bakersfield enters the contest with an 8-11 overall record and a 1-4 mark in WAC play. The Roadrunners have lost all four of their conference games by eight points or less. They have lost four of their last five games.
They are led by Issiah Grayson, who is the only player in double figures at 15.4 points per game. He ranks in the league's top 10 in scoring, three-point shooting (.478) and assists (3.9). Brandon Barnes and Javonte Maynor are averaging 8.8 and 8.5 points, respectively, while Maynor leads the team with 46 made threes.
As a team the Roadrunners average 69.1 points per game, while holding opponents to 67.6 per contest. They average 7.8 made threes per game and out-rebound their opponents by 1.8 per contest.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 6-11 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.
Rod Barnes is in his third season with the Roadrunners and has a 38-42 record there. Overall, he is 223-231 in his 13th year as a head coach. He was the head coach at his alma mater, Ole Miss, for eight years prior to taking the job at Georgia State for four seasons. After his tenure there ended, he became the head coach at CSUB.
THE SERIES
Kansas City is playing in the state of California for the first time since 1997 at Cal Poly on Saturday against the Roadrunners.
The 'Roos are meeting Bakersfield for the first time ever on the basketball court.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would be 3-1 in WAC play on the road.
- UMKC would have won in the state of California for the first time ever.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will head to Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday for their final non-conference game of the regular season. The game in Cap Girardeau is scheduled for 7 pm.
The 'Roos are playing SEMO for the sixth time, and trail the series 3-2. The teams are tied 1-1 in Cape Girardeau, with UMKC taking the last meeting there in 2011, 74-69. The two played last season in Kansas City with the Redhawks taking a 66-65 win.
