Kangaroos Head to Grand Canyon For Final Road Game Thursday
2/26/2014 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: February 27, 2014 - 8:00 p.m. CST
Site: Phoenix, Ariz. / GCU Arena (5,000)
TV: Local - Phoenix
Talent: N/A
Radio: 810 AM WHB
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p)
Webcast: UMKCKangaroos.com (via GCU)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via GCU)
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: Grand Canyon leads 1-0
Home: 0-1
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: GCU won 72-53 in KC, 2/1/14
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-1
THE GAME
The 'Roos head out on the road for the final time in the regular season Thursday when they face Grand Canyon. Kansas City is looking to build momentum after an upset of Utah Valley on Saturday, while GCU comes off a loss at Idaho. UMKC was handed a 72-53 loss to the 'Lopes on Feb. 1.
UMKC Last 5: 1-4, last time out won vs. Utah Valley, 74-56.
GCU Last 5: 3-2, last time out lost at Idaho, 83-77.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos have only three games left in the regular season, and could be seeded anywhere from the No. 3 to No. 8 seed in the WAC Tournament March 13-15 in Las Vegas.
- The 'Roos held UVU to only 36 percent shooting in the game, the lowest for a UMKC opponent in conference play this year. It was also the largest margin of victory this season for the 'Roos at 18.
- Martez Harrison's current 16.7 ppg currently leads all freshmen scorers in the WAC, and sits seventh 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. 13 with 885 points, Korver is 32nd with 594, Kirksey is 34th with 564 and Chatmon is 35th at 561.
- 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. 46 in the nation as of Tuesday. The 'Roos RPI of 248 is fourth 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
Grand Canyon is in third place in the WAC standings, two games ahead of Chicago State, but are ineligible for the WAC Tournament due to Division I transfer rules. The 'Lopes are 13-12 overall and 8-4 in conference action, but are coming in off a loss at Idaho on Saturday.
The Antelopes are led by guard Jerome Garrison, who is averaging 16.6 points per game overall, and 21.4 in conference play. Killian Larson ranks fourth in the nation in rebounding at 11.4 per game, while also scoring 16 points a contest. Daniel Alexander also puts up 13.2 points per game.
As a team the 'Lopes average 71.8 points per game, while allowing 70.6 a game. They are one of the top free throw shooting teams in the conference (.737), as well as one of the best defensive rebounding squads.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 8-18 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.
Dan Majerle is in his first year at Grand Canyon, taking over the program in its first year as a Division I school. He spent the last five years as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns, where he played the majority of his career as a three-time NBA All-Star.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- Kansas City would have snapped a four-game road losing streak.
- The 'Roos would have split the season series with the top three teams in the WAC (also UVU and NMSU).
- The 'Roos would have six wins in conference play for the first time since 2011 when they were 9-9.
-UMKC would have surpasses last season's win total.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos come home for their final two games of the season at the Independence Events Center on Thursday and Saturday. They face Seattle at 7:05 p.m to start it off.
The 'Roos will be looking to complete the season sweep of the Redhawks after taking a 95-84 win in their first ever meeting on January 4 in Seattle.
