Kangaroos Welcome In League-Leading Wolverines Saturday for Senior Day
2/21/2014 11:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Utah Valley Wolverines (16-9, 10-2) at UMKC Kangaroos (7-18, 4-8)
Date / Time: February 22, 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: Utah Valley leads 6-2
Home: 2-2
Away: 0-4
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: Utah Valley won 66-48 in Orem, 1/23/14
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-1
THE GAME
The 'Roos welcome in the WAC leading Utah Valley Wolverines on Saturday night, looking to avenge a loss from January 23 in Orem. The 'Roos are on a season-long six-game losing streak, while Utah Valley is clinging to a half-game lead over New Mexico State in the standings.
UMKC Last 5: 0-5, last time out lost vs. Bakersfield, 74-69.
UVU Last 5: 3-2, last time out won at Chicago State, 79-70.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos are celebrating six seniors on Saturday. The group has combined for 2,743 points, 1,522 rebounds, 439 games played, and 8,554 minutes.
- Martez Harrison's current 16.4 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. 13 with 882 points, Korver is 32nd with 589, Chatmon is 35th at 553 and Kirksey is 39th with 548.
- UMKC has three seniors that have played at least 100 games during their careers in Kirk Korver (108), Fred Chatmon (105), and Trinity Hall (103).
- 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 254 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
Utah Valley comes into the contest with a 16-9 overall record and sits in first place with a 10-2 mark in WAC play. The Wolverines have a half game lead over WAC favorite New Mexico State.
They are balanced in scoring, with four players in double figures between 10.0 and 13.9 points a game. The coaches son, Holton Hunsaker, averages 13.9 points and a WAC leading 4.2 assists per game. Ben Aird is second with 11.7 points while pulling 7.8 rebounds a game. He is averaging 14 and 9 in WAC play. They also also have one of the top three-point shooters in the league in Keawe Enos (.500).
As a team the Wolverines have the best defense in the conference, holding teams to 66 points a game. Offensively though, they rank eighth in scoring at 68.6 per contest. They also lead the WAC with .765 shooting from the line.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 7-18 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.
Dick Hunsaker is in his 12th season with the Wolverines and boasts a 217-137 overall record there. He has been a head coach for 20 seasons, posting a mark of 384-210. He has had coaching stints at Ball State and Utah as well.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have snapped a season long six-game losing streak.
- The 'Roos would have just their second WAC home win (NMSU).
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will play their final regular season road game next Thursday when they head to Grand Canyon for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off.
The 'Roos will be facing the 'Lopes for the second time ever, and first on the road. GCU took a 72-53 win last time around in Kansas City on February 1.
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY...
The WAC Tournament seeds would be as follows: No. 1 Utah Valley, No. 2 New Mexico St., No. 3 Chicago State, No. 4 Bakersfield, No. 5 Kansas City, No. 6 Seattle, No. 7 Idaho, and No. 8 UTPA.
