'Roos Continue Opening WAC Road Swing at Seattle Saturday
1/3/2014 10:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: January 4, 2014 - 9:00 p.m. CST
Site: Seattle, Wash. / Key Arena (8,500)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 102.9 FM / 1140 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (via SU)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via SU)
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 finish their WAC opening road swing on Saturday with their first ever contest against Seattle. Kansas City moved to 1-0 in league play for the third straight year on Thursday, while the Redhawks look to get back on the winning track after dropping their last two.
UMKC Last 5: 2-3, last time out won at Idaho, 80-74.
Seattle Last 5: 3-2, last time out lost to UC-Santa Barbara, 86-70.
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC has forced 206 turnovers from opponents this season, an average of 15.8 per game. Its average of 9.0 steals per game leads the WAC and ranks 15th in the nation.
- Kansas City has now started conference play 1-0 for the third straight season, and is looking to start 2-0 on the road in league play for the first time since 2005 when it won at IUPUI and Centenary.
- Seniors Kirk Korver, Trinity Hall and Fred Chatmon are ranked in the top 50 in all-time in scoring. Hall is ranked No. 16 with 775 points, while Korver is 33rd with 568 and Chatmon is 43rd at 457.
- 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 15.7 ppg would rank No. 3 in the freshman scoring average ranks at UMKC, behind Ronnie Schmitz' 16.8 points in 1989-90, as well as Tony Dumas' 16.5 ppg.
- The UMKC non-conference strength of schedule was ranked No. 31 in the nation as of Friday, and features 13 opponents, 11 of which currently have .500 or better records, including three nationally ranked, and three in the Mid-Major Top 25. The 'Roos RPI of 158 is second 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
Seattle enters WAC play against the 'Roos on Saturday on a two-game skid. The losing streak was preceeded by a five-game win spurt though, and included wins over Cal State Northridge and Cal State Fullerton.
The Redhawks are led by two-time WAC Player of the Week Isiah Umipig, who averages 19.8 points per game to lead the WAC. He also ranks second in the league with 4.2 assists per contest. Clarence Trent is the only other player in double figures, putting up 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
As a team the Redhawks rank second in the WAC in scoring margin at +4.4, scoring 73 points per contest. They also hold opponents to only 40 percent from the field, and boast the best rebounding in the league at +7.0 per game.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 4-9 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.
Cameron Dollar is in his fifth season at Seattle, posting a 56-76 record there. He has a 67-98 overall mark there in six seasons as a college head coach. He previously served seven years at Washington as an assistant.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos have never faced Seattle in men's basketball, this will be the first ever meeting.
The two will meet again in Kansas City on March 6 in the final weekend of league play.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have started 2-0 in league play for the first time since 2007.
- The 'Roos would have started 2-0 on the road in league play for the first time since 2005, when it started 7-0.
- Kansas City would have won two consecutive games for the first time since January 19 and 21 of 2012, and won two straight on the road for the first time since February of 2011.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos head home for three straight contests at Municipal Auditorium in conference play, starting with Chicago State next Saturday at 5:15 on Hall of Fame Day.
The 'Roos will be renewing a rivalry with the Cougars that has not been played since 2007 as members of the Summit League. 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.
