UMKC Hosts Bakersfield in Thursday Night WAC Showdown
1/21/2015 7:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bakersfield RoadRunners (5-13, 1-2) at UMKC Kangaroos (6-13, 1-1)
Date / Time: January 22, 2015 - 7:05 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827) TICKETS Promotions
TV: KSMO in Kansas City
Talent: Neil Harwell (pxp), JC Pearson (analyst)
Radio: 810 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream: ESPN3.com / WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: Series tied 1-1
Home: 0-1
Away: 1-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: CSUB won 74-69 in KC, 2/20/14
Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-1
THE GAME
The 'Roos continue their WAC-opening home stand on Thursday against Bakersfield at 7:05 p.m. The game will be telvised on KSMO in Kansas City. UMKC is looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season, while Bakersfield comes in off a win vs. UTPA at home. UMKC Athletics is giving away a full semester's worth of tuition to a student in attendance.
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC ranks No. 34 in the nation in free throw attempts (441), led by Martez Harrison, who has been a WAC-high 143 times, and ranks No. 7 in the nation individually.
- The 'Roos have improved immensely on the defensive end this season, and it has been evident in the last six games, holding opponents to only 64.8 points per outing, including a double overtime contest at Indiana State. None of those six opponents have scored more than 70 points.
- So far this year, the 'Roos have forced 335 turnovers and turned them into 367 points (19.3 points per game).
- As a team the 'Roos are 15th in the nation and second in the WAC in steals per game at 8.8, while ranking first in the WAC with a +1.5 turnover margin.
- Martez Harrison is leading the WAC in steals (1.95), while ranking second in scoring (18.0) and assists (3.7). He is also fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2) and fourth in free throws (.748).
- UMKC has been hit hard by the injury bug this year, with seven different scholarship players missing games due to injury, including Shayok, Smith, Holliday, Knight, Jennings, Wedel and Rivas.
- The roster currently has eight players from the Kansas City area, the most ever at UMKC (previous record set last season with seven).
- UMKC also has eight players that are completely new to the roster this year.
- Mason Wedel made the decision to retire from playing basketball in late December.
- UMKC is playing its second year back at Municipal Auditorium, and second in the WAC.
- In Richardson's first year, he led the team to a fifth place finish in the WAC, and the fourth seed in the conference tournament, both of which were the highest since 2006 at UMKC.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Roadrunners enter the weekend with a 5-13 overall mark and 1-2 record in WAC play. They started the season 1-10, but are 4-3 in their last seven, including a win at California. Last time out they defeated UTPA by a 13-point margin.
Individually, they are paced returners Aly Ahmed and Javonte Maynor. Ahmed is averaging 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds a game, while shooting 78 percen from the line in the post. Maynor is the top deep threat, hitting a team-best 30 threes. Kevin Mays also puts up 9.4 points a game. As a team they are No. 1 in the league in defense, allowing only 61.8 points per game, as well as free throw shooting at .721. Despite their record, they have scored more points than their opponents.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 16-33 record. He was named the sixth coach in the Division I era on March 19, 2013 after helping Louisville to a National Championship in 2013 as an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
He brings 14 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.
Rod Barnes is in his fourth season at Bakersfield and has a 48-63 record there. He posts a 234-252 overall record as a head coach. He was the head coach at Ole Miss, for eight years prior to taking the job at Georgia State for four seasons. After his tenure there ended, he became the head coach at CSUB.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are facing Bakersfield for the third time, splitting the series a year ago. Each team won on the other's home floor, with both games decided by five points or less. The last meeting went the way of Bakersfield in Kansas City, taking a 74-69 victory last February.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have started conference play 2-0 at home for the first time since 2006.
- UMKC would have won two straight games for the first time this season.
- The 'Roos would be 5-3 at home this year.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will finish their home stand on Saturday night against Seattle at 6:05 p.m. It is Retro Roos Night, with the team wearing retro uniforms and alumni welcomed back.
The 'Roos are meeting Seattle for the third time ever, and lead the series 2-0 winning both meetings a year ago. The last meeting took place in Kansas City, and UMKC took an 82-73 decision.
