UMKC Faces Iowa Hawkeyes to Tip Off Road Swing
12/4/2015 9:50:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (5-2) at Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2)
Date / Time: December 5 - 2 p.m. CT
Site: Iowa City, Iowa / Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400)
TV: None
Listen: UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp), Bryce Weiler (guest analyst)
Webstream: ESPN3.com
Live Stats: HawkeyeSports.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
- The Roos have won five games faster than any UMKC team since 2001, when they started 5-0.
- The Roos have led by at least eight points at some point in every game this season.
- UMKC has won back-to-back games against teams that were in postseason tournaments last year.
- Martez Harrison is tied with David Robinson for seventh on the all-time scoring list with 1,211 points. He is also tied for sixth in steals with Kent Denmon, Darecko Rawlins and Erin Washington at 121.
- 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 25th in the nation in assists (40), while LaVell Boyd is 22nd in the nation in three-point percentage (.523). Harrison's 5.7 apg average is 43rd, while Boyd's 23 threes made is 17th in the nation.
- UMKC has shot a higher field goal percentage than its opponents in six of its seven games.
- As a team the 'Roos are 46th in the nation in three-point percentage (.394).
- 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 2-0 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).
- 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 Hawkeyes enter the contest with a 5-2 overall record, and have won their last two games against Wichita State and Florida State. They also have a win over Marquette.
They return four starters from last year's NCAA Tournament team, paced by Jarrod Uthoff with 17.7 points and 6.0 rebounds a game. Peter Jok is averaging 14.0 points a contest, while seven-foot center Adam Woodbury pulls down 7.6 rebounds along with 9.9 points a game. Point guard Mike Gesell has 49 assists and only 15 turnovers, while averaging 9.0 points a game.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 29-41 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.
Fran McCaffery is in his sixth year at Iowa and has a 101-77 record there. He has been a head coach for 20 seasons, and has a career 352-254 mark. He has led the Hawkeyes to NCAA Tournament appearances the last two seasons. He previously coached at Siena for five seasons.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos and Hawkeyes have never played in men's basketball. UMKC is facing its second opponent from the Big 10 this season.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won their sixth game of the season at the earliest date in school history (Dec. 5).
- UMKC would have defeated a Power 5 conference opponent for the 13th time in school history and second year in a row.
- UMKC would have won five straight games for the first time since the school record 11-game win streak in 2005.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will continue the road swing on Tuesday when they head to Vermillion, S.D. for a matchup with the South Dakota Coyotes at 7 p.m.
The 'Roos are 2-2 against the Coyotes all-time, last meeting in 2013 as a member of the Summit League. UMKC won the last meeting, and each team is 1-1 on the other's home floor.
