'Roos Looking For First WAC Season Sweep, Face Streaking Bakersfield
2/19/2014 5:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: February 20, 2014 - 7:05 p.m. CST
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 810 AM WHB
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Steven St. John (analyst)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (subscribers)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: UMKC leads 1-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 1-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 70-69 on 1/25/14 (Away)
Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos play four of their final five games at home, starting with Thursday's battle against Bakersfield. The 'Roos pulled out a 70-69 win against the Roadrunners last time around, but have lost five in a row since then. CSUB has gone 3-2 since that game, and comes in on a two-game streak.
UMKC Last 5: 0-5, last time out lost at UTPA, 70-69.
CSUB Last 5: 3-2, last time out won vs. Seattle, 83-65.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos are looking to end a season-high five game losing streak, with their last win coming against Bakersfield on the road January 25.
- Martez Harrison's current 16.3 ppg currently leads all freshmen scorers in the WAC, and sits eighth in the nation. The average would rank No. 3 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 869 points, Korver is 32nd with 589, Chatmon is 38th at 549 and Kirksey is 39th with 536.
- UMKC has three seniors that have played at least 100 games during their careers in Kirk Korver (107), Fred Chatmon (104), and Trinity Hall (102).
- 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. 43 in the nation as of Wednesday. The 'Roos RPI of 250 is sixth 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
Bakersfield enters the contest with an 11-14 overall record and a 4-7 mark in WAC play. The Roadrunners have lost all seven of their conference games by 10 points or less. They have won their last two games though.
They are led by Issiah Grayson, who is the only player in double figures at 15.9 points per game. He ranks in the league's top 10 in scoring, three-point shooting (.481) and assists (4.2). Brandon Barnes and Javonte Maynor are averaging 9.6 and 9.2 points, respectively, while Maynor leads the team with 60 made threes.
As a team the Roadrunners average 70.8 points per game, while holding opponents to 68.7 per contest. They average 7.3 made threes per game and out-rebound their opponents by 1.5 per contest.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 7-167record. 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.
Rod Barnes is in his third season with the Roadrunners and has a 41-45 record there. Overall, he is 227-234 in his 13th year as a head coach. He was the head coach at his alma mater, Ole Miss, for eight years prior to taking the job at Georgia State for four seasons. After his tenure there ended, he became the head coach at CSUB.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have snapped a season long five-game losing streak.
- UMKC would have swept its first WAC opponent of the season.
- The 'Roos would have just their second WAC home win (NMSU).
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will host Utah Valley on Saturday night in a 7:05 p.m. contest. Senior Night will be celebrated, since the final two home games will be played at Independence Events Center.
It will be the ninth meeting between the 'Roos and Wolverines. The 'Roos are 2-6 against Utah Valley all-time, going 2-2 in Kansas City. This is the fourth straight season they have played. Utah Valley took a 66-48 win in Orem on January 23.
The Wolverines have won six of the last seven meetings in the series.
