UMKC Set to Host Mississippi State for Military Appreciation Saturday
12/11/2015 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-3) at UMKC Kangaroos (5-4)
Date / Time: December 12 - 4:05 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Municipal Auditorium (9,827)
TV: ASN (KSMO locally) Dish Network-432, DirectTV-640
Talent: Neil Harwell (pxp), Jayice Pearson (analyst)
Listen:UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream:AmericanSportsNet.com
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #RooUp
Series: MSU leads 2-1
Home: 1-0
Away: 0-2
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: MSU won 82-64 in Starkville, 11/23/04
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC will be wearing special camouflage uniforms, as it is Military Appreciation Day.
- UMKC is ranked No. 158 in the RPI rankings, good for second in the WAC. MSU is ranked at 214.
- Martez Harrison was named the WAC Player of the Week on Monday for his performance last week against UT-Martin and Iowa. He averaged 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
- The Roos have won five games faster than any UMKC team since 2001, when they started 5-0.
- UMKC has won two games against teams that were in postseason tournaments last year.
- Martez Harrison needs nine made free throws to pass Michael Watson for second on the all-time free throws made list with 398 in his career.
- UMKC is 10-1 in its last 11 home games.
- The Kangaroos are 4-0 at home to start the year for the first time since 2010 when they went 7-0.
- Martez Harrison ranks 26th in the nation in assists (49), while LaVell Boyd is 10th in the nation in three-pointers made (31). Harrison's 65 free throw attempts are 20th in the country, while Boyd's .484 three-point percentage is 27th in the nation.
- As a team the 'Roos are 83rd in the nation in three-point percentage (.370).
- 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). So far UMKC is 2-1 against those teams.
- 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).
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Bulldogs have not played since December 2, and come in with a 4-3 record after winning three straight games against Missouri State, UT-Martin and Texas Southern.
They are led by big man Gavin Ware, who is putting up 20 points and 7.9 rebounds a game, while four others are in double-figures, including I.J. Ready, Craig Sword, Malik Newman and Travis Daniels. They really score the basketball, averaging 82 points a game, but allow 76.7 points per contest.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 29-43 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.
Ben Howland is in his first year at MSU, boasting a 4-3 record there, and a 405-209 mark overall in his 20th season. He has taken Northern Arizona, Pittsburgh and UCLA to the NCAA Tournament in his career, including three straight Final Fours with the Bruins from 2006-08.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are 1-2 all-time against the Bulldogs, last meeting in 2004. MSU won that meeting in Starkville by an 82-64 score. In Kansas City, UMKC is 1-0, taking an 89-87 overtime win in 1993.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won five straight home games for the first time since 2010.
- The 'Roos would have won their sixth game of the season at the earliest date in Division I history (Dec. 12).
- UMKC would have defeated a Power 5 conference opponent for the 13th time in school history and second year in a row.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will stay at home for a matchup with Rockhurst next Saturday at 3:35 p.m. The game will be televised on KSMO in Kansas City and will be a doubleheader with the women's team.
The 'Roos have not faced Rockhurst in a regular season game as a D-I school, but the two met several times as NAIA schools (1969-86). The last regular season meeting came in 1986, a two-point UMKC win.
