'Roos Hit the Road For Another Tough Road Test, Face Aggies Thursday
2/12/2014 9:08:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: February 13, 2014 - 8:00 p.m. CST
Site: Las Cruces, N.M. / Pan American Center (8,994)
TV: KSMO-TV / ESPN3 / ESPN Full Court
????? Talent: N/A
Radio: 810 AM WHB
????? Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (via NMSU)
Live Stats:? UMKCKangaroos.com (via NMSU)
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops? #WACHoops
Series:? Kansas City leads 1-0
????? Home: 1-0
????? Away: 0-0
????? Neutral: 0-0
????? Last Meeting: UMKC won 68-66 on 1/18/14 in KC
????? Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-0
?
THE GAME
The ?Roos continue their road swing on Thursday against WAC favorite New Mexico State. Kansas City is looking to snap a three-game skid, while NMSU has won three of its last four games after being upset by the ?Roos on January 18.
UMKC Last 5: 1-4, last time out lost at Chicago State, 81-74.
NMSU Last 5: 4-1, last time out won 92-77 at Seattle.
QUICK NOTES
- The ?Roos and Aggies have gone opposite directions since their last meeting. UMKC is 1-4 with a last second win at Bakersfield, while NMSU is 4-1 with a loss at Idaho.
- Martez Harrison's current 16.7 ppg currently leads all freshmen scorers in the WAC, and sits eighth in the nation. The average would rank No. 2 in the freshman scoring average ranks at UMKC as well.
- Seniors Kirk Korver, Trinity Hall, Fred Chatmon and Nelson Kirksey are ranked in the top 50 in all-time in scoring as Hall is at No. 15 with 848 points, Korver is 32nd with 583, Chatmon is 38th at 532 and Kirksey is 39th with 520.
- UMKC has three seniors that have played at least 100 games during their careers in Kirk Korver (106), Fred Chatmon (102), and Trinity Hall (100).
- Trinity Hall is one of four players in school history to have at least 800 points, 400 rebounds and 50 blocks. He joined the club with Michael Jackson, David Robinson and Darecko Rawlins.
- The UMKC non-conference strength of schedule was ranked No. 49 in the nation as of Thursday. The ?Roos RPI of 233 is fifth in the WAC.
- Kansas City announced February 7, 2013 that it would be going to the WAC. This is the first season as a member of the new conference after 19 years in the Summit League.
- 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.
- There are seven players on the roster from the Kansas City area, more than any UMKC team in the Division I era.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
New Mexico State, the defending WAC Tournament Champion, have won four of their last five games after falling to the ?Roos January 18. The Aggies are 7-3 in WAC play, and 18-8 overall.
???? They are led by preseason WAC Player of the Year Daniel Mullings, who is averaging 17.3 points (3rd in the WAC), 1.96 steals (1st in the WAC) and 5.0 rebounds a game to go with 3.2 assists a contest (8th in the WAC). DK Eldridge ranks second on the team with 11.6 points, while five others average better than 7.9 points a game. Tshilliszi Nephawe? and Sim Bhullar lead the team with 7.6 and 6.9 rebounds a game.
???? As a team the Aggies lead the WAC in both offense and defense. They shoot 49 percent from the floor and score 78.4 points per game, while allowing opponents to shoot only 41.5 percent (1st in the WAC).
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 7-15 record. He was named the sixth coach in the Division I era on March 19, 2013 after helping Louisville to a National Championship last season as an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.?
???? He brings 13 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.
???? Marvin Menzies is in his seventh season at New Mexico State and boasts a 144-87 overall record there. He has led the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament three times, winning the WAC Tournament in 2010, 2012 and 2013. He has also led NMSU to four 20-win seasons.
THE SERIES
The ?Roos are playing the Aggies for the second time ever, after upsetting the league favorites on January 8 at home, 68-66.?????
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have snapped a three-game losing streak.
- UMKC would have swept its first opponent in the WAC.
- The ?Roos would improve to 4-2 on the road in WAC play.
UP NEXT
The ?Roos will continue the road swing on? Saturday at Texas-Pan American, facing the Broncs in a 7:00 p.m. CT contest.
???? The ?Roos are facing UTPA for the 14th time, trailing the series 8-5. UMKC trails the series in Edinburg 4-1. The last meeting was a 78-66 Bronc win in Kansas City on January 16. The only win for the ?Roos on the road against UTPA came on Feb. 15, 1988.
