UMKC Faces Canisius Tuesday, Looks to Build Momentum
12/29/2014 3:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (5-9) at Canisius Golden Griffins (6-4)
Date / Time: December 30, 2014 - 6 p.m. CT
Site: Buffalo, N.Y. / Koessler Athletic Center (2,196)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 810 AM WHB
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream: UMKCKangaroos.com (pay-per-view via CC)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via CC)
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: UMKC leads 1-0
Home: 1-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 72-67 in KC, 12/16/11
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos continue the road trip on Tuesday night when it heads to Buffalo, New York for the first time since 1997, and will face Canisius for the first time on the road. The contest tips off at 6 p.m. CT, as both teams enter the night looking to build off wins their last time out.
QUICK NOTES
- Martez Harrison's 34 points on Sunday were the most for a 'Roo since February of 2007 when Dane Brumagin scored 35 points. He was named College Sports Madness WAC Player of the Week for his efforts.
- Thaddeus Smith tied a 23-year old school record on Sunday with seven blocks, matching Hall of Famer David Robinson, who set it in 1991. He is now ranked second in the WAC with 1.5 blocks per game.
- So far this year, the 'Roos have forced 274 turnovers and turned them into 305 points (21.8 points per game). Ten of the 'Roos 14 opponents faced this year have been forced into at least 17 turnovers (all have had at least 11).
- As a team the 'Roos are seventh in the nation and first in the WAC in steals per game at 10.1, while ranking first in the WAC with a +3.6 turnover margin.
- Martez Harrison is leading the WAC in steals (2.29) and assists (4.36), while ranking second in scoring at 18.3 points per game. He is also third in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.42) and fifth in free throw shooting (.748).
- 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 playing its second year back at Municipal Auditorium, and second in the WAC.
- 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 Golden Griffins come into the contest on Tuesday at 6-4 overall, and UMKC is their final non-conference opponent of the year. They have not played since last Sunday in a win over Holy Cross, and this will be their third straight home game.
They are led by Zach Lewis, who is averaging 13 points per game, including 23 three-pointers made. Phil Valenti ranks second with 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. They have played at least 11 guys in every game this year, and really defend well, holding opponents to only 61.2 points per outing. They are 3-1 at home, with their only loss there coming to cross town rival Buffalo.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 15-29 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.
Jim Baron is in his third season as head coach of the Golden Griffins, posting a47-31 overall record. Last year he led the squad to the CIT with a 21-13 overall record, while finishing fourth in the MAAC with a 14-6 mark.
THE SERIES
This will be only the second ever meeting against Canisius, with UMKC winning the first contest by a 72-67 margin in 2011 at home. This will be the first time UMKC has played in Buffalo, New York since 1997 against Buffalo.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won two games in a row for the first time this season.
- Kansas City would improve its record against Canisius to 2-0 all-time.
- UMKC would have won six games in the non-conference, matching the most since winning that many in 2011-12.
- The 'Roos will have won three non-conference road games for the first time since 2009.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will close their non-conference road slate on Saturday at Miami University (Ohio) in a game that will be televised back to Kansas City on KSMO at 2:30 p.m. CT.
This will be the second ever meeting between the schools, with UMKC taking a 69-55 decision in Kansas City last season. MU head coach John Cooper is a Kansas City native, and played at Wichita State.
