UMKC Continues Road Swing at Youngstown State Wednesday
11/25/2014 4:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (2-3) at Youngstown State (3-3)
Date / Time: November 26, 2014 - 6 p.m. CT
Site: Youngstown, Ohio / Beeghly Center (6,300)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 810 AM (102.9 FM/1140 AM if bumped by K-State)
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p)
Webstream: ESPN3.com
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via YSU)
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: YSU leads 13-8
Home: 4-7
Away: 4-5
Neutral: 0-1
Last Meeting: UMKC won 88-80 in KC, 12/7/13
Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos continue their road swing, playing at Youngstown State on Wednesday night. The 'Roos are playing their fifth road game of the season, and are coming off two losses, while Youngstown State is entering the contest on a two-game win streak.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos are playing on the road for the fifth time in the first six games to start the season.
- UMKC had two players with double-digit rebounds (Holliday, Shayok) in the same game against UALR for the first time since 11/20/13 at UT-Martin when Fred Chatmon and Trinity Hall did it.
- Martez Harrison had 11 assists last Wednesday night, a career-high and the most for a 'Roo since Marc Stricker set the school record on December 16, 1999.
- As a team UMKC hit 79.3 percent from the line vs. Mizzou and 80 percent against K-State, the two highest totals in Kareem Richardson's tenure. However they hit only 45 percent Saturday and 46 percent on Sunday.
- UMKC has shown its depth early in the year, with 12 different players scoring against Missouri S&T, 11 vs. K-State and 10 against Missouri.
- Martez Harrison was named the College Sports Madness Mid-Major National Player of the Week last Monday for his 26-point performance at Missouri.
- The roster currently has eight players from the Kansas City area, the most ever at UMKC (previous record set last season with seven).
- UMKC also has eight players that are completely new to the roster this year.
- There is only one player (Mason Wedel) on the current roster that was not recruited by this coaching staff.
- UMKC is in its second season under head coach Kareem Richardson, and is playing its second year back at Municipal Auditorium, and second in the Western Athletic Conference.
- In Richardson's first year, he led the team to a fifth place finish in the WAC, and the fourth seed in the conference tournament, both of which were the highest since 2006 at UMKC.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Penguins enter Wednesday's contest after winning their last two games in a tournament up in Michigan. They defeated Longwood and UNC-Greensboro on back-to-back nights, while playing three straight days.
They are paced by Marcus Keene, who is averaging 15.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, while post Bobby Hain also puts up 15.7 points, while averaging a team-high 7.2 rebounds per contest. The third player in double figures is Shawn Amiker at 12.3 per game, while point guard DJ Cole has 42 assists on the season to only nine turnovers.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting an 12-23 record. He was named the sixth coach in the Division I era on March 19, 2013 after helping Louisville to a National Championship in 2013 as an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
He brings 14 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.
Jerry Slocum is in his 10th season as head coach at Youngstown State. He has posted a 110-172 record at YSU, and a 691-496 overall mark. Slocum, who has coached in 1,187 career games, is behind only Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse's Jim Boeheim.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos and Penguins played last year in Kansas City, with UMKC taking an 88-80 win. This will be the 22nd meeting all-time, with YSU holding a 13-8 lead in the series. The two teams were in the Mid-Continent Conference together from 1995-2001.
YSU won the last meeting in Youngstown by a 73-65 margin in 2003, and have a 5-4 lead in the series in its home arena.
Richardson is 1-0 against YSU, while Slocum is 0-1 against UMKC.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have moved to 3-3 on the season, snapping a two-game skid.
- UMKC would moved to 2-0 against the Penguins in the last two years.
- The 'Roos would be 2-3 on the road this season.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will be back at home for the first time in three games, facing William Jewell on Saturday night at Municipal Auditorium at 7:05 p.m.
The 'Roos and Cardinals are playing for the first time in the Division I era, but the two played every year in the NAIA days. The last meeting came all the way back in 1985, with UMKC taking a 78-72 decision at home.
