UMKC Opens Exhibition Slate with Rockhurst in Saturday Doubleheader
11/7/2014 5:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Rockhurst Hawks (0-0) at UMKC Kangaroos (0-0) - Exhibition
Date / Time: November 8, 2014 - 7:05 p.m. CST
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)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: 0-0 as a D-I school, played 25 times as NAIA.
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won in last year's exhibition, 95-80
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
PROMOTION - UMKC is working with Arvest Bank to give away free rally towels while supplies last.
THE GAME
The 'Roos start year two of the Kareem Richardson era on Saturday night vs. Rockhurst in an exhibition doubleheader with the UMKC women playing Missouri S&T at 4:30 p.m. UMKC is facing the Hawks for the second straight season in exhibition play. The two teams used to be fierce NAIA rivals in the 1960's-80's.
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC is entering its second season under head coach Kareem Richardson, and is playing its second year back at Municipal Auditorium and in the Western Athletic Conference.
- In Richardson's first year with the 'Roos in 2013-14, 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.
- The attendance in 2013-14 increased 36 percent from the previous year.
- Overall winning percentage in 2013-14 was an improvement from the previous two years.
- Martez Harrison was named WAC Freshman of the Year last season. The Kansas City, Mo. product averaged 17.2 points per game. The other two returning letterwinners are Frank Williams and Isaac Kreuer.
- 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 returns four redshirts, two of which sat out last season due to Division I transfer rules in Reese Holliday (Toledo) and Shayok Shayok (Bradley).
- 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.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Rockhurst enters the exhibition season against the 'Roos after totaling a 7-18 record a year ago. They return three starters, including 11 letterwinners. The Hawks also brought in four newcomers.
They are led by Russell Burns, who put up 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game a year ago. He is flanked by Adam Fatkin and Cooper Beckett as returning starters, averaging 5.8 and 6.6 points per game, respectively. They also got a transfer John Burke, who played for the 'Roos the last two seasons.
As a team the Hawks went 3-15 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference last season.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 10-20 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.
Bill O'Connor is in his 21st season at the helm of the Hawks, posting a 258-278 overall record. He has led RU to three NCAA Tournament appearances and has earned conference coach of the year honors three times.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos and Hawks have never played a regular season meeting during the Division I era for UMKC, but the two were fierce rivals at the NAIA level from 1969-86, playing 25 times.
This will be the second time the two have played at Municipal in D-I, as UMKC took a 95-80 exhibition decision last season.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have won its exhibition game for the third year in a row.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will head to Columbia, Missouri for their season-opener against the Missouri Tigers on Friday night, as part of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The game will be televised on the SEC Network+.
UMKC has faced Mizzou three times in the regular season, falling each time. This will be the fourth meeting all-time, all in Columbia. They last time they met in 2009, MU took a 91-57 win. It will be the first game for MU head coach Kim Anderson as well.
