UMKC Faces Tough Test Saturday with South Dakota State Coming to Town
11/27/2015 4:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
South Dakota State Jackrabbits (6-0) at UMKC Kangaroos (3-2)
Date / Time: November 28 - 12:05 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: None
Listen:UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream:WAC Digital Network (free)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #RooUp
Series: SDSU leads 12-5
Home: 3-6
Away: 2-6
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: SDSU won 81-61 in Brookings, 12/6/14
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-2
QUICK NOTES
- The 'Roos have played at least 11 players in every game this year, and seven players have scored at least 22 points this season.
- UMKC has led by at least nine points in all five games this season.
- UMKC is 8-1 in its last nine home games.
- The 'Roos are above .500 for the first time since Nov. 19 of last season.
- Martez Harrison ranks 30th in the nation in assists (29), while LaVell Boyd is 14th in the nation in three-pointers made (18). Harrison's 5.8 apg average is 38th, while Boyd's .563 three-point percentage is 23rd in the nation.
- UMKC has now defeated a Missouri Valley team on the road in each of the last two years after knocking off Drake last Saturday (defeated Indiana State last season).
- The 'Roos have hit 12 threes in two games already this season, matching the highest it has ever hit in a game under Richardson. In each of its last two wins though, it has attempted only 16 and 10.
- 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).
- 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 Jackrabbits are 6-0 and ranked No. 19 in the Mid-Major Top 25 this week. They have wins over TCU and Illinois State. They have held at least a 20-point lead in every game they have played. They were picked to win the Summit League in the preseason poll.
They have five players averaging double figures, led by Deondre Parks at 17.4 per contest, while George Marshall is putting up 14.5 per game. They have hit 50 threes, and shoot nearly 50 percent from the floor overall as a team. SDSU averages 83.3 points per game, while holding opponents to only 64.7.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 27-41 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.
Scott Nagy is in his 21st season at SDSU, posting a 390-232 overall record. He has led the Jackrabbits to four straight postseason tournament appearances, including the NIT last year. He has also led them to eleven 20-win seasons.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won for the ninth time in their last 10 home games.
- UMKC would have moved two games above .500 for the first time since 2011 when it started 7-5.
- Missouri-Kansas City would have defeated SDSU for the first time since January of 2011, snapping a six-game skid against them.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will remain in Kansas City for the third game of the home stand on Tuesday against former UT-Martin at 7:05 p.m.
The 'Roos are 1-0 against the Skyhawks, defeating them on the road in 2013 by a 79-67 margin. The win was Kareem Richardson's first as a head coach.
