Roos Look to Bounce Back, Face Seahawks Wednesday
12/23/2015 3:06:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UNC-Wilmington Seahawks (6-3) vs. UMKC Kangaroos (7-5)
Date / Time: December 23 - 3:15 p.m. CT
Site: Louisville, Ky. / KFC Yum! Center (22,000)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Listen: UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream: None
Live Stats: GoCards.com
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #RooUp
Series: First Meeting
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: N/A
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC is ranked No. 115 in the RPI rankings as of Wednesday, the top RPI in the WAC.
- The Roos have attempted fewer threes than their opponent in seven of their last nine 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 (1,280), threes made (99), free throws made (401), steals (127), and assists (302).
- The Roos 7-5 record is the best start since 2010 when it started 7-4.
- Martez Harrison passed Michael Watson for second on the all-time free throws made list on Saturday and now has 401. He also passed Ronnie Schmitz for fifth on the all-time assists list with 302.
- 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 39th in the nation in assists (59), while his 80 free throw attempts are 30th and 59 free throw makes are 32nd in the country.
- LaVell Boyd is 46th in the nation in three-pointers made (33).
- 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 2-2 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 Seahawks enter the contest with a 6-3 overall record, including a 102-77 victory over Utah Valley yesterday in the opening game of the Billy Minardi Classic.
They are led by a balanced scoring effort with Chris Flemmings pacing the squad at 14.9 points per game. Craig Ponder is also in double figures with 13.1 points a game, while Denzel Ingram and Jordan Talley average 9.4 and 9.0 points per game. Marcus Bryan is the leading rebounder at 6.6 a game. As a team the Seahawks really score it, putting up 85.4 points per contest.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 31-44 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.
Kevin Keatts is in his second year at UNCW, posting a 24-17 record there. He was previously the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisville, and coached there at the same time as Richardson. Last season he led the Seahawks to one of the best turnarounds in the NCAA, and helped them win a conference regular season championship.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos have never faced UNCW in men's basketball.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have defeated its third opponent this year that played in a postseason tournament last year.
- The 'Roos would have won eight non-conference games for the first time since 2001-02.
- Missouri-Kansas City would have won for the first time away from home since Nov. 21.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will play at Oklahoma State next Tuesday on the road at 7 p.m.
The 'Roos are 0-6 against OSU all-time, last meeting in 2001 (OSU won 62-50 in Kansas City). In Stillwater, the 'Roos are 0-2, with the last contest there taking place in 1992.
