UMKC Faces Another Tough Test at South Dakota Tuesday
12/7/2015 5:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (5-3) at South Dakota Coyotes (5-3)
Date / Time: December 8 - 7 p.m. CT
Site: Vermillion, S.D. / Dakota Dome (10,000)
TV: None
Listen:UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream:GoYotes.com
Live Stats: GoYotes.com
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #RooUp
Series: Series tied 2-2
Home: 1-1
Away: 1-1
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 80-65 in Vermillion, 2/9/13
Richardson vs. Opponent: 0-0
QUICK NOTES
- 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.
- UMKC is ranked No. 127 in the first RPI ranking of the year, the highest among any WAC school.
- 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 10 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 32nd in the nation in assists (44), while LaVell Boyd is 21st in the nation in three-point percentage (.510). Harrison's 5.7 apg average is 43rd, while Boyd's 26 threes made is 24th in the nation.
- UMKC has shot a higher field goal percentage than its opponents in six of its eight games.
- As a team the 'Roos are 42nd 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).
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Coyotes enter the contest with a 5-3 overall record, and come off a double overtime upset of Minnesota on Saturday. They have won four straight games.
They are led by returners Casey Kasperbauer and Tre Burnette, averaging 14.5 and 12.9 points per game, respectively. Newcomers Shy McClelland and Dan Jech are also averaging double figures with 12.8 and 10.0 points per game, respectively. As a team the Coyotes average 77.9 points a game, while allowing 77.4 per contest.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 29-42 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.
Craig Smith is the 17th head coach in South Dakota history, and enters his second year, boasting a 22-19 record there, and a 94-48 mark overall. He went to USD after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Nebraska. He led the Coyotes to their first winning season in four years and earned the team's first Summit League tourney win.
THE SERIES
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.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won their sixth game of the season at the earliest date in school history (Dec. 8).
- UMKC would have won on the road for the second time this year.
- UMKC would have won at USD for the second straight meeting.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will return home for a matchup with Mississippi State on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on the American Sports Network and on KSMO in Kansas City.
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.
