Kansas City Closes Out Regular Season With Idaho Saturday Night
3/7/2014 5:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Date / Time: March 8, 2014 - 9:35 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 80-74 in Moscow, 1/2/14
Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos play their final regular season game of the year late on Saturday at Independence Events Center, with Kansas City looking to continue a three-game win streak. The 'Vandals have won three of their last four, with a 79-76 victory at Chicago State on Thursday.
UMKC Last 5: 3-2, last time out won vs. Seattle, 82-73.
Idaho Last 5: 3-2, last time out won at Chicago State, 79-76.
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos will be in either the No. 4-No. 5 game or as the No. 3 seed in the WAC Tournament March 13-15 in Las Vegas. With a win this Saturday, they could move into the No. 3 position with a CSU loss.
- Kansas City has won three straight for the first time this season, also the longest since December of 2011 when it did the same.
- The win vs. Seattle was the first sweep of a WAC opponent this season for Kansas City, The 10 wins also matches the total from two seasons ago, while sitting two better than last year's total.
- 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 479 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. 13 with 902 points, Korver is 31st with 597, Kirksey is 33rd with 589 and Chatmon is 35th at 574.
- 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. 56 in the nation as of Monday. The 'Roos RPI of 235 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 weekend with a 13-17 overall record and a 6-9 mark in league play. They can be anywhere from the No. 4-7 seeds for next week's WAC Tournament.
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 10-18 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.
Don Verlin is in his sixth season as head coach with the Vandals, posting a 94-97 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 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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have swept their second WAC opponent of the season.
- The 'Roos would have secured at least a No. 4 seed in the conference tournament, their highest since 2006 when they were a No. 3.
-UMKC would have won four consecutive games for the first time this season and first overall since November of 2010, and first in conference play since 2005.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will head to their first ever WAC Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Orleans Arena March 13-15. UMKC could play in either the 2:30 or 6:00 p.m. game Thursday.
