UMKC Opens Municipal Auditorium Regular Season With Cardinals Saturday
11/28/2014 9:49:00 AM | Men's Basketball
William Jewell Cardinals (0-3) at UMKC Kangaroos (2-4)
Date / Time: November 29, 2014 - 7:05 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 102.9 FM/1140 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Aaron Washington (analyst)
Webstream: Roos TV (subscribers)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: First meeting in Division I
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 78-72 at home, 12/5/85
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos play at home for the first time in the regular season at Municipal Auditorium on Saturday night, hosting the William Jewell Cardinals. UMKC looks to get back on track in the game, having lost three close games in a row, while WJC is also looking for its first win in three games.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos have played on the road five times in the first six games to start the season. The last three games resulted in losses that were all by nine points or less away from home.
- Martez Harrison is leading the WAC in assists (4.83), steals (2.50) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.71), while ranking second in the league in scoring at 18.7 points per game.
- Shayok Shayok is second in the WAC in field goal percentage (.590) and fourth in rebounding (7.8), while Reese Holliday is fourth in free throw shooting (.824).
- UMKC leads the WAC in turnover margin at +3.67 per game this season. It has forced 125 this year.
- 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 vs. UALR and 46 percent vs. Samford in two losses.
- 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 both Missouri and Youngstown State.
- 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 Cardinals enter Saturday's contest with a 0-3 record after falling in three close contests. They dropped games to Northwest Missouri, Missouri Western and Southwest Baptist, all by six points or less.
They are paced by D'Vante Moseby, who is averaging 20 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Also in double figures is Darius Tomlin at 13.7 points per outing, Jordan Lewis at 11 points per game, and Clint McCullough at 11.7 per contest. The Cardinals score 74 points per game, but give up 78 per contest, and have only averaged 10 turnovers per game. This will be an exhibition game for William Jewell.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting an 12-24 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.
Larry Holley is in his 36th season at William Jewell and 43rd as a college basketball coach. He has posted a 757-370 record at WJC, and an 855-505 record overall. He has been named Coach of the Year 14 times and been inducted into five Halls of Fame.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have moved to 2-0 at home this season, and be 2-0 at home for the first time since starting 2-0 in 2012.
- The 'Roos would have improved to 12-2 against Division II competition as a Division I school.
- The 'Roos would have snapped a three-game losing streak.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will be back on the road for three more games, starting with a trip to Milwaukee on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against 2014 NCAA Tournament team UW-Milwaukee.
The 'Roos and Panthers are tied 5-5 in the overall series, with Milwaukee taking an 84-79 win in Kansas City last season on November 30. This will be the 11th all-time meeting, with each team winning twice in Milwaukee. The last meeting there came back in 1998, with UWM taking an 88-68 win.
