Kangaroos Look to Get Back on Track at Texas-Pan American
2/14/2014 10:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: February 15, 2014 - 7:00 p.m. CST
Site: Edinburg, Texas / UTPA Fieldhouse (2,500)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 102.9 FM / 1140 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (via UTPA)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via UTPA)
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: UTPA leads 8-5
Home: 4-4
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UTPA won 78-66 on 1/16/14 in KC
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-1
THE GAME
The 'Roos finish the three-game road swing on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. against Texas-Pan American, looking to snap a four-game skid. The Broncs are coming off back-to-back overtime games, including a win over Chicago State Thursday night.
UMKC Last 5: 1-4, last time out lost at New Mexico State, 71-48.
UTPA Last 5: 1-4, last time out won vs. Chicago State, 71-68 in OT.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos are playing the last game of a six of seven on the road stretch. After this weekend, UMKC will play only one more regular season game on the road.
- Martez Harrison's current 16.5 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 857 points, Korver is 32nd with 583, Chatmon is 38th at 539 and Kirksey is 39th with 532.
- UMKC has three seniors that have played at least 100 games during their careers in Kirk Korver (106), Fred Chatmon (103), and Trinity Hall (101).
- 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
Texas-Pan American enters the contest on the heels of two straight overtime games, winning the last one at home against Chicago State on Thursday by a 71-68 margin. The win completed the season sweep of CSU. The Broncs have an overall mark of 7-19 and are 3-8 in WAC play.
They are led by a trio of players that can score the ball. Javorn Farrell leads the way with 15.4 points, 3.3 assists, both team-highs, to go along with 5.5 rebounds a game. Shaquille Boga puts up 14.1 points an outing with 3.2 assists a game, while post man Shaquille Hines averages 12.4 points and 6.5 boards a contest.
As a team the Broncs average 66.4 points a game while giving up 71.4 per outing. They have a shooting percentage of 41 percent, but hit only 27 percent from three-point range. They do force opponents into 14.7 turnovers per game as well.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 7-16 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.
Dan Hipsher is in his first season at Texas-Pan American, and has a 6-19 record there. Overall, he is 244-202 after coaching at Akron for nine seasons, as well as two other programs before that. He most recently coached at Alabama as the associate coach.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have snapped a four-game losing streak.
- UMKC would have evened the season series with UTPA.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will go home for four of the final five regular season games, starting with a Thursday contest against Bakersfield at 7:05 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.
The 'Roos are playing Bakersfield for the second time ever after winning the first meeting on January 25 by a 70-69 margin after Frank Williams hit a go-ahead three with 2.2 seconds left.
