'Roos Begin Three-Game Home Stand with Omaha on Saturday
12/11/2014 7:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Omaha Mavericks (4-4) at UMKC Kangaroos (3-7)
Date / Time: December 13, 2014 - 2:05 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: American Sports Network (KMCI 38 the Spot, locally) Availability Chart
Talent: Dave Armstrong (pxp), JC Pearson (analyst)
Radio: 810 AM WHB
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream: UMKCKangaroos.com (subscribers)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: UNO leads 3-1
Home: 1-1
Away: 0-2
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UNO won 101-71 in Omaha, 11/13/13
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-1
THE GAME
The 'Roos start a three-game home stand on Saturday afternoon with the Omaha Mavericks at 2:05 p.m. The game will be televised on KMCI/38 the spot in Kansas City, via the American Sports Network. UMKC comes in on a three-game skid, while Omaha picked up a victory on Wednesday night to even their record.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos are playing at home after being on the road for the 8-of-10 games to start the season.
- So far this year, the 'Roos have forced 200 turnovers and turned them into 226 points (22.6 points per game). Every team the 'Roos faced this year except two had been forced into at least 17 turnovers (all have had at least 11).
- Martez Harrison is leading the WAC in steals (2.67), while ranking second in assists (4.0) and third in in scoring at 16.4 points per game.
- Shayok Shayok is tied for first in the WAC in field goal percentage (.560) and sixth in rebounding (7.0), while Noah Knight is second in steals (2.0).
- UMKC leads the WAC in turnover margin (+3.80) and ranks second in steals per game (9.8).
- UMKC has shown its depth early in the year, with 12 different players scoring against Missouri S&T, 11 vs. K-State, SDSU and WJC, and 10 against Missouri, Youngstown State and Milwaukee.
- 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, in only its second season.
- 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 Mavericks enter Saturday's contest with a 4-4 overall record and wins against Marquette and Nevada. The Mavs lost to Kansas State, the only common opponent with the 'Roos, by an 84-66 margin.
They are led by guard CJ Carter, who averages 15.5 points per game, while Devin Patterson is putting up 14.4 points an outing. Inside, Mike Rostampour is averaging 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per outing. As a team they are high scoring, averaging 80 points per game, while allowing 78 points per contest.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting an 13-27 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.
Derrin Hansen is in his 10th season as head coach of the Mavericks, leading them from a perennial Division II postseason qualifier to the Division I ranks in the Summit League. He has a 153-125 overall record there, and led the Mavs to Division I in the 2011-12 season.
THE SERIES
The Mavericks lead the overall series 3-1, and won the last meeting by a 101-71 score in Omaha last season on November 13. In Kansas City, the series is 1-1, with both meetings coming at Swinney Recreation Center. The Mavs have won three in a row in the series.
Richardson is 0-1 against UNO while Hansen is 3-1 against UMKC.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have snapped a three-game losing streak.
- Kansas City would have improved their record to 3-0 at home this season.
- The 'Roos would have defeated UNO for the first time in the last three tries, since a 77-74 victory in 2011.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos continue their home stand next Saturday when Incarnate Word comes to town for a 6 pm contest. The game will be a doubleheader with the women, and both will be televised on KSMO in Kansas City.
This will be the first ever meeting between UMKC and Incarnate Word in basketball. UIW upset Nebraska earlier this week, and is receiving votes in the Mid-Major top 25.
