UMKC Faces Louisville in Billy Minardi Classic on Tuesday
12/21/2015 11:18:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (7-4) at No. 19 Louisville Cardinals (9-1)
Date / Time: December 22 - 8 p.m. CT
Site: Louisville, Ky. / KFC Yum! Center (22,000)
TV: ACC Regional Sports Network (Available in select markets)
Talent: Tom Werme (pxp), Dan Bonner (analyst)
Listen:UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream:ESPN3.com
Live Stats: GoCards.com
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #RooUp
Series: Louisville leads 2-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-2
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UL won 90-62 in Louisville, 12/4/13
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-1
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC is ranked No. 130 in the RPI rankings as of Sunday, the top RPI in the WAC.
- The Roos have attempted fewer threes than their opponent in seven of their last eight games, and are 5-0 this year when attempting 16 or fewer threes in a game.
- Since its loss to Omaha, UMKC is 5-0 in games decided by seven points or less.
- Martez Harrison is the WAC's active career leader in points (1,268), threes made (97), free throws made (399), steals (124), and assists (301).
- The Roos 7-4 record is the best start since 2010 when it started with the same record.
- Martez Harrison passed Michael Watson for second on the all-time free throws made list on Saturday with 399. He also passed Ronnie Schmitz for fifth on the all-time assists list with 301.
- UMKC is 12-1 in its last 13 home games.
- The Kangaroos are 6-0 at home to start the year for the first time since 2010 when they went 7-0.
- Martez Harrison ranks 28th in the nation in assists (58), while his 77 free throw attempts are 14th and 57 free throw makes are 20th in the country.
- LaVell Boyd is 17th in the nation in three-pointers made (32) while his .471 three-point percentage is 27th in the nation.
- UMKC has now defeated an SEC school for the second straight year after the win over Mississippi State (defeated Missouri last season).
- 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 is playing five “Power 5” conference teams this year, the most for a UMKC team since the 1996-97 season when it also played five (All 5 were Big 12 teams that season).
- UMKC returned 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).
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Cardinals enter the contest ranked No. 19 in the nation with a 9-1 overall record, including an 8-0 mark at home. Their only loss was to No. 1 Michigan State on the road.
They are led by Damion Lee at 18.3 points per game, while Trey Lewis puts up 13.8 points a contest. Quentin Snider also averages 10.4 points per game with 47 assists and only 12 turnovers. The Cardinals are out-scoring their opponents by 30.4 points per game, and out-rebounding them by 16.5 a contest.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 31-43 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.
Rick Pitino is in his 15th year at Louisville, posting a 377-127 record there. Overall, he is in his 31st season as a head coach with a 731-255 mark. A member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, he has won national titles at both Louisville and Kentucky, including the 2013 crown.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are 0-2 all-time against Louisville, both on the road. Last time they met was in 2013, with UL winning 90-62.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have defeated a ranked opponent for the first time in school history after starting 0-20.
- The 'Roos would have won eight non-conference games for the first time since 2001-02.
- Missouri-Kansas City would have won for the 14th time against a Power 5 school and for the first time against an ACC school.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will play UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. CT to conclude the Billy Minardi Classic.
The 'Roos have never faced UNCW in men's basketball. They are coached by former Louisville assistant coach Kevin Keatts, who was on staff there at the same time as Richardson.
