Kangaroo Men Open WAC Tournament Thursday with Idaho
3/12/2014 9:12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: March 13, 2014 - 4:30 p.m. CT
Site: Las Vegas, Nev. / Orleans Arena (7,471)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 1510 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (p-b-p), Steven St. John (analyst)
Webcast: WACSports.tv (pay-per-view)
Live Stats: WACSports.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: Series tied 1-1
Home: 0-1
Away: 1-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: Idaho won 80-74 in KC, 3/8/14
Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-1
THE GAME
The 'Roos go to their first ever WAC Tournament on Thursday, facing Idaho in a grudge match after the two split the regular season series. UMKC has won three of its last four games, while the Vandals are winners of four of their last five.
UMKC Last 5: 3-2, last time out lost vs. Idaho, 87-80.
Idaho Last 5: 4-1, last time out won at Kansas City, 87-80.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos are seeded fourth in the WAC Tournament. It is the highest seed for UMKC in the conference tournament since 2006 when it was a No. 3 seed.
- UMKC has not won a conference tournament game since 2007, and is on a current five-game losing streak. The 'Roos have never advanced to the conference championship game.
- The 10 Kansas City wins match the total from two seasons ago, while eclipsing last year's total of eight wins. With one more victory, UMKC would have its highest win total in three years.
- Martez Harrison's 17.1 ppg currently leads all freshmen scorers in the WAC, and sits seventh in the nation. That would rank No. 1 in freshman scoring average, while his point total of 497 is a record.
- 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. 12 with 913 points, Kirksey is 31st with 609, Korver is 32nd with 597 and Chatmon is 35th at 578.
- 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 Monday. The 'Roos RPI of 246 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.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Idaho, who is in its last year in the WAC, enters the week with a 14-17 overall record and went 7-9 in league play to get the fifth seed. The Vandals come into the week having won four of their last five games.
They are led by five-time WAC Player of the Week Stephen Madison, who ranks second in the conference in scoring at 19.7 per game, while pulling down 7.6 boards an outing. Connor Hill averages 14.5 points a game, and ranks second in the conference with 89 threes made. One of the best freshmen in the league is Sekou Wiggs, who is averaging 11.5 ppg in WAC play.
As a team the Vandals are the second leading scoring squad in the WAC at 72.4 points per game, while giving up 74.7 an outing to rank seventh.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 10-19 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.
Don Verlin is in his sixth season as head coach with the Vandals, posting a 95-97 overall record. He has led Idaho to three CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament berths, and three top three finishes in the WAC during his tenure.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos will be looking to win the rubber match of the season series as both team won on the others home floor. UMKC took out the Vandals by an 80-74 margin in Moscow on Jan. 2, while Idaho won 87-80 in Kansas City on Saturday.. This is the third meeting all-time.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won a conference tournament game for the first time since 2007.
- The 'Roos would have snapped a five-game losing streak in the conference tournament..
UP NEXT
The 'Roos would face the winner of the No. 1 Utah Valley and No. 8 UTPA game on Friday at 8:00 p.m. CT for a chance to advance to Saturday's championship game on ESPNU.
IN THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
The 'Roos are 5-15 all-time in the conference tournament, last winning against Valparaiso in the 2007 Summit League quarterfinals. March 13 is the latest date UMKC has ever played a men's basketball game.
This is the second time that Kansas City has been the No. 4 seed, also doing it in 2001. That season the 'Roos suffered a 54-52 loss to IUPUI. UMKC has been seeded higher than fourth on four occasions, as the two seed in 2005, and the third seed in 1996, 2000, and 2006.
Kansas City has never won more than one game at the conference tournament, and has never reached the conference title game.
