UMKC Looks to Extend Home Streak with First-Place Seattle In Town
1/23/2015 4:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Seattle Redhawks (10-8, 3-1) at UMKC KangaRoos (7-13, 2-1)
Date / Time: January 24, 2015 - 6:05 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827) TICKETS Promotions
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 810 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream: WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos or @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops
Series: UMKC leads 2-0
Home: 1-0
Away: 1-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 82-73 in KC, 3/6/14
Richardson vs. Opponent: 2-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos are finishing their home stand on Saturday night at 6 p.m. when first-place Seattle comes to town for a WAC battle. It will be Retro 'Roo Night, with the team wearing retro jerseys, and basketball alumni welcomed back. Fans are also encouraged to dress up for the occasion. Both teams come in hot, with UMKC winning its last two and Seattle taking three wins in a row.
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC has started 2-0 in league play at home for the first time since 2006-07.
- The 'Roos have improved immensely on the defensive end this season, and it has been evident in the last seven games, holding opponents to only 64.5 points per outing, including a double overtime contest at Indiana State. None of those seven opponents have scored more than 70.
- So far this year, the 'Roos have forced 353 turnovers and turned them into 385 points (19.3 ppg).
- UMKC ranks No. 15 in the nation in free throw attempts (472), led by Martez Harrison, who has been a WAC-high 153 times, and ranks No. 5 in the nation individually.
- As a team the 'Roos are 20th in the nation and second in the WAC in steals per game at 8.6, while ranking first in the WAC with a +1.8 turnover margin.
- Martez Harrison is leading the WAC in steals (1.95) and assists (3.7), while ranking second in scoring (18.0). He is also fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2) and seventh in free throws (.739).
- 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 Redhawks enter the weekend with a 10-8 overall record and are in first place with a 3-1 mark in league play. They are currently on a three-game win streak after dropping their league opener, including a win against New Mexico State.
Individually, they are led by first-team All-WAC guard Isiah Umipig, who ranks third in the league in scoring at 17.8 points a game. He has hit 77 threes already this season, and is hitting 48 percent from beyond the arc. Fellow senior Jarell Flora is also a threat from three, averaging 14.2 points a game, to go with his 45 threes made. They Redhawks also have size, with 6-11 center Jack Crook grabbing six boards a game, while William Powell is pulling 6.9 per contest down. As a team they are No. 2 in the WAC in defense.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 17-33 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.
Cameron Dollar is in his sixth season at Seattle, posting a 71-96 overall record there. The Redhawks were picked to finish second this season, after struggling with injuries a year ago. Last year he led them to a 13-17 mark and seventh place finish in the league.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are meeting Seattle for the third time ever, and lead the series 2-0, winning both meetings a year ago. The last contest took place in Kansas City, and UMKC took an 82-73 decision in March of 2014.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have started conference play 3-0 at home for the first time since 2004-05.
- UMKC would have won three straight games for the first time since the end of last season.
- The 'Roos would be 6-3 at home this year.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will get back on the road for a pair of games at Grand Canyon and Utah Valley next Thursday and Saturday. The contest at GCU will tip off at 8 p.m. CT.
The 'Roos are 1-1 against Grand Canyon all-time, meeting them twice last season. Each team won on the other's home court last year, with UMKC taking the last decision by an 85-80 score on February 27.
