UMKC Looks to Complete Perfect Home Stand, Face Skyhawks Tuesday
11/30/2015 5:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UT-Martin Skyhawks (2-5) at UMKC Kangaroos (4-2)
Date / Time: December 1 - 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 1-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 1-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 79-67 in Martin, 11/20/13
Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-0
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC has moved two games above .500 for the first time since 2011 when it started 7-5.
- The 'Roos have led by at least eight points in all five games this season.
- Martez Harrison passed Matt Suther for seventh on the all-time assists chart, as he now has 278 assists in his career.
- UMKC is 9-1 in its last 10 home games.
- The Kangaroos are 3-0 at home to start the year for the second consecutive season.
- Martez Harrison ranks 39th in the nation in assists (35), while LaVell Boyd is 19 in the nation in three-point percentage (.528). Harrison's 5.8 apg average is 44th, while Boyd's 19 threes made is 41st 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 Skyhawks are 2-5 entering the game on Tuesday with victories in two of their last three contests. They lost their last game at Mississippi State, with wins over James Madison and Harris-Stowe.
They are led by three returning starters in sharpshooter Alex Anderson at 13 ppg (with 23 made threes), Twymond Howard at 12 ppg, and Myles Taylor at 10.1 points a contest. Howard also pulls down a team-best 5.6 rebounds a game. Offensively they average 68 points per game, while allowing 74.9 points a contest.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 28-41 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.
Heath Schroyer is in his second season at UT-Martin, posting a 23-18 record there. Overall, he is 107-133 as a head coach. He spend his previous three seasons as associate head coach at UNLV, and has been a head coach at both Wyoming and Portland State.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won for the 10th time in their last 11 home games.
- UMKC would have won five games faster than any Roo team since 2001, when it started 5-0.
- UMKC would have won four straight games for the first time since 2010, while starting 4-0 at home since that same season.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will hit the road for two games, starting on Saturday at Iowa at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
The 'Roos and Hawkeyes have never played in men's basketball. UMKC is facing its second opponent from the Big 10 this season (Minnesota).
