UMKC Hosts SeattleU at Independence Events Center Thursday
3/5/2014 8:31:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: March 6, 2014 - 7:05 p.m. CST
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Independence Events Center (5,800)
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: Kansas City leads 1-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 1-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 95-84 in Seattle, 1/4/14
Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos play their final two regular season games of the year at home this week, but it will be at a new venue. It will be the first ever UMKC game at the Independence Events Center on Thursday against Seattle, with Kansas City looking to continue a two-game win streak.
UMKC Last 5: 2-3, last time out won at Grand Canyon, 85-80.
SU Last 5: 2-3, last time out won vs. Idaho, 76-68.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos could be seeded anywhere from the No. 3 to No. 8 seed in the WAC Tournament March 13-15 in Las Vegas. With a win this week though, they can guarantee at least a No. 4 seed.
- Martez Harrison became the first 'Roo to score 31 points since Jay Cousinard did it on February 17, 2011. It was the most for a freshman at UMKC since Tony Dumas scored 40 on March 3, 1991. He is only the third UMKC freshman to score 30+ in a game (Dumas and Ronnie Schmitz).
- Harrison's 17.2 ppg currently leads all freshmen scorers in the WAC, and sits seventh in the nation. That would rank No. 1 in freshman scoring average, and is just shy of the overall points record of 471.
- UMKC surpassed last year's win total against GCU. It can match the 2011-12 total with one more W.
- 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 898 points, Korver is 31st with 597, Kirksey is 34th with 576 and Chatmon is 35th at 566.
- 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. 52 in the nation as of Monday. The 'Roos RPI of 239 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
Seattle enters the week with a 13-14 overall record, and are 5-9 in WAC play, just a game behind UMKC in the standings. They are coming off a win at home against Idaho, and a heartbreaking triple OT loss to Chicago St.
The Redhawks are led by two-time WAC Player of the Week Isiah Umipig, who averages 20.2 points per game to lead the WAC. He ranks third in the league with 3.8 assists per contest and has also hit a conference-best 98 threes. The only other player averaging in double-figures is Deshaun Sunderhaus, but he is hurt and will not play.
As a team the Redhawks are holding opponents to only 42 percent from the floor, second best in the WAC. They average a conference leading +5.8 rebound margin as well, while scoring 72 points per game.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his first season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 9-18 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.
Cameron Dollar is in his fifth season at Seattle, posting a 61-85 record there. He has a 72-107 overall mark there in six seasons as a college head coach. He previously served seven years at Washington as an assistant.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have swept their first WAC opponent of the season.
- The 'Roos would have secured a No. 4 seed in the conference tournament, their highest since 2005-06 when they were a No. 3.
-UMKC would have won three consecutive games for the first time this season and first overall since December of 2011.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos play the final game of the WAC regular season on Saturday with a late 9:35 p.m. tipoff against Idaho at Independence Events Center.
The 'Roos will be looking to complete a season sweep of Idaho after edging out the Vandals by an 80-74 margin in Moscow on Jan. 2. This is the second meeting all-time.
WAC TOURNAMENT SCENARIOS
The WAC Tournament seeds would be as follows: No. 1 Utah Valley., No. 2 New Mexico St., No. 3 Chicago State, No. 4 Kansas City, No. 5 SeattleU, No. 6 Idaho, No. 7 UTPA, and No. 8 Bakersfield.
If UMKC goes 2-0 this week: It will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed. The only way it could be the 3 is if Chicago St. goes 0-2 vs. Idaho and Seattle.
If UMKC goes 1-1: It will be the No. 4 seed, even if tied in the standings with Idaho and/or Seattle.
If UMKC goes 0-2: It could be the 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 seed, depending on other game results.
