Roos Tip Off Three-Game Home Stand with Lincoln on Wednesday
11/24/2015 11:50:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Lincoln Blue Tigers (3-1) at UMKC Kangaroos (2-2)
Date / Time: November 25 - 7:05 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: None
Listen:UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream:Roos TV (subscribers)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #RooUp
Series: UMKC leads 2-0
Home: 2-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 99-64 in KC, 11/13/12
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC has now defeated a Missouri Valley team on the road in each of the last two years after knocking off Drake on Saturday (defeated Indiana State last season).
- UMKC has out-rebounded three of its four opponents this year for a +1.3 margin. Last year the 'Roos were out-rebounded 22 times for a -4.1 margin.
- UMKC is 7-1 in its last eight home games.
- Martez Harrison ranks 16th in the nation in assists (27), while LaVell Boyd is 11th in the nation in three-pointers made (16). Harrison's 6.8 apg average is 20th, while Boyd's .615 three-point percentage is 16th in the nation.
- The 'Roos have hit 12 threes in two games already this season, matching the highest it has ever hit in a game under Richardson.
- UMKC returns six letterwinners to the lineup this season, all of which have starting experience. Four of those players started more than half the games they played (Martez Harrison, Shayok Shayok, Darius Austin, Thaddeus Smith).
- The 'Roos are facing 10 schools this season that went to postseason tournaments last year (South Dakota St., UT-Martin, Iowa, Louisville, UNC-Wilmington, Oklahoma St., USC-Upstate, Seattle, New Mexico State and Grand Canyon).
- UMKC will play games in 15 different states this season.
- Martez Harrison was named an AP honorable mention All-American last season, becoming the first ever in D-I history. He was named the WAC Player of the Year as well, becoming the second UMKC player ever to win a POY honor (Michael Jackson, 1999-00).
- Harrison led the league in scoring (17.5 ppg), total steals (60) and total assists (129). He also ranked among the league's top 10 in free-throw shooting (.748) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.50).
- Thaddeus Smith had 44 blocks last year, ranking fourth in a single season at UMKC. He was second in the WAC with 1.5 blocks per game.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Blue Tigers are 3-1 on the season, and started 3-0. They are a Division II school out of the MIAA, and based in Jefferson City, Mo.They face McKendree College on Tuesday night.
They are paced by Anthony Vidure in scoring at 26.5 points per game, while hitting 53 percent from the field and 45 percent from three-point range. Jaylon Smith also puts up 16.5 points per contest and has been to the line 35 times already. As a team they average 85.5 points per outing, while giving up 81.5 points. They have also forced 78 turnovers from their opponents (19.5 tpg).
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 26-41 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.
His second season in Kansas City as the head man was another step in the right direction in 2014-15, and generated several program firsts. The 8-6 WAC record was the first above .500 at UMKC since 2005-06, and its second place finish matched the highest ever in league play. UMKC finished with a 6-1 WAC home record, the best in school history in conference play.
John Moseley is in his second season at Lincoln, and has almost completely flipped the roster, with only three returning letterwinners from his first year. He has almost won as many games this season (3) as they did all of last season (4).
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are 2-0 all-time against the Blue Tigers in Division I, winning both games at home in convincing fashion in 2009 and 2012. The 2012 meeting was a 99-64 win to open the season for UMKC. The two had met several times as NAIA schools.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won for the eighth time in their last nine home games.
- UMKC would have moved above .500 for the first time since November 19 of last season.
- Missouri-Kansas City would have improved to 15-2 against Division II schools since moving to Division I in 1987.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will remain in Kansas City for the second game of the home stand on Saturday against former Summit League foe South Dakota State at 12:05 p.m.
The 'Roos are 5-12 against SDSU, and have not won a meeting in the series since 2011, dropping six straight. The 'Roos are 3-6 at home in the series, falling 65-60 at home in 2013. This will be the 18th all-time meeting.
