Kangaroos Host Grand Canyon Saturday on UMKC Basketball Alumni Night
1/31/2014 7:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: February 1, 2014 - 7:05 p.m. CST
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: KSMO TV / ESPN3 / ESPN Full Court
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: First Meeting in Division I (GCU leads 2-0 in NAIA)
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0 (0-2 in NAIA)
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: N/A
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos get back in conference play and come home for the first time in three games when they host Grand Canyon Saturday night. The 'Lopes coming in on a three-game win streak and in a tie for second in the WAC. It is Alumni Night, with former UMKC basketball players attending the game and playing an exhibition contest at 4:00 p.m. earlier in the day.
UMKC Last 5: 2-3, last time out lost at Southeast Missouri State, 91-81.
GCU Last 5: 4-1, last time out won at Chicago State, 76-75.
QUICK NOTES
- Kansas City is playing the final game of the first half of the conference season Saturday night.
- UMKC is currently tied for third place in the WAC with Chicago State, a game behind GCU.
- Martez Harrison's current 16.2 ppg currently leads all freshmen scorers in the WAC, and sits 10th in the nation. The average would rank No. 3 in the freshman scoring average ranks at UMKC as well.
- UMKC has an average of 8.2 steals per game to lead the WAC and rank 29th 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 835 points, Korver is 32nd with 581, Chatmon is 38th at 518 and Kirksey is 39th with 503.
- 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.
- The UMKC non-conference strength of schedule was ranked No. 47 in the nation as of Monday. The 'Roos RPI of 202 is third 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 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
Grand Canyon has won its last three games in WAC play to push into a tie for second place with New Mexico State. The 'Lopes are 10-10 overall and 5-2 in conference action after a 76-75 win at Chicago State Thursday.
The Antelopes are led by guard Jerome Garrison, who is averaging 15.2 points per game overall, and 20.9 in conference play. Killian Larson ranks fourth in the nation in rebounding at 11.6 per game, while also scoring 16 points a contest. Daniel Alexander also puts up 11.8 points per game.
As a team the 'Lopes average 71.3 points per game, while allowing 70.3 a game. They are one of the top free throw shooting teams in the conference, as well as one of the best defensive rebounding squads.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 7-13 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 Majerle is in his first year at Grand Canyon, taking over the program in its first year as a Division I school. He spent the last five years as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns, where he played the majority of his career as a three-time NBA All-Star.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are playing the Antelopes for the first time ever at the DIvision I level in men's basketball.
The two faced off back in the NAIA days two times, with GCU taking a 2-0 lead in the series, as both games were played in Phoenix.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have won two straight league games for the first time since opening the conference 2-0.
- UMKC would even its conference home record to 2-2 after starting 0-2.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will start the second half of conference play next Saturday at Chicago State, playing a doubleheader with the women. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
The 'Roos are playing the Cougars for the second time. The last one saw CSU win on a jumper with 1.7 seconds left, 68-66. This is the 36th overall meeting, and UMKC leads the series 25-10 overall, including a 10-4 mark in Chicago.
