UMKC Continues Road Swing at Seattle Wednesday Night
2/17/2015 8:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (11-15, 6-3) at Seattle RedHawks (11-13, 4-6)
Date / Time: February 18, 2015 - 9:00 p.m. CT
Site: Seattle, Wash. / Key Arena (8,500)
TV: None
Talent: N/A
Radio: 102.9 FM/1140 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream: WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via SU)
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops #RooUp
Series: UMKC leads 3-0
Home: 2-0
Away: 1-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 75-55 in KC, 1/24/15
Richardson vs. Opponent: 3-0
THE GAME
The 'Roos continue a critical stretch of road games, facing Seattle in a rare Wednesday contest at 9:00 p.m. CT. The game will be available to watch on the WAC Digital Network. UMKC has won six of its last eight games, while Seattle is looking to rebound after back-to-back losses on the road last week. They are 8-5 at home this season, including a 3-1 mark there in WAC play.
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC is currently in a tie for second place with Grand Canyon in the WAC standings, with five games to play. If the season ended today, it would be the No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament.
- The 'Roos have improved immensely on the defensive end this season, and it has been evident in conference play, holding opponents to only 61.3 points per outing (71.4 in non-conference).
- UMKC is the highest it has been in the standings nine games into conference play since 2005-06. That season it finished third in the standings.
- So far this year, the 'Roos have forced 458 turnovers and turned them into 501 points (19.3 ppg). - UMKC ranks No. 53 in the nation in free throw attempts (581), led by Martez Harrison, who has been a WAC-high 186 times, and ranks No. 7 in the nation individually.
- As a team the 'Roos are 15th in the nation and first in the WAC in steals per game at 8.5, while ranking first in the WAC and 26th in the nation with a +3.0 turnover margin.
- Martez Harrison is leading the WAC in steals (1.8), while ranking second in scoring (17.7) and assists (3.9). He is also seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3).
- UMKC has been hit by injuries this year, with eight different scholarship players missing games due to injury, including Shayok, Smith, Holliday, Knight, Jennings, Wedel, Rivas and Franceschi.
- The roster currently has eight players from the Kansas City area, the most ever at UMKC (previous record set last season with seven).
- UMKC is playing its second year back at Municipal Auditorium, and second in the WAC.
- In Richardson's first year, he led the team to a fifth place finish in the WAC, and the fourth seed in the conference tournament, both of which were the highest since 2006 at UMKC.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Redhawks enter the weekend with an 11-13 overall record and 4-6 in league play. They have lost their last two games, but have a 3-1 mark at home, including a win against first-place New Mexico State.
Individually, they are led by first-team All-WAC guard Isiah Umipig, who ranks third in the league in scoring at 16.7 points a game. He has hit 85 threes already this season, and is hitting 44 percent from beyond the arc. Fellow senior Jarell Flora is also a threat from three, averaging 14.2 points a game, to go with his 56 threes made. The Redhawks also have size, with 6-11 center Jack Crook grabbing six boards a game, while William Powell is pulling 6.1 per contest down. As a team they are No. 3 in the WAC in defense, and average a WAC high 7.2 threes per game.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 21-35 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.
He brings 14 years of Division I coaching experience to the fold, as well as four years playing at the Division I level, graduating from Evansville in 1997.
Cameron Dollar is in his sixth season at Seattle, posting a 72-101 overall record there. The Redhawks were picked to finish second this season, after struggling with injuries a year ago. Last year he led them to a 13-17 mark and seventh place finish in the league.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are 3-0 all-time against the Redhawks, winning earlier this year in Kansas City by a 75-55 margin. This will be the fourth meeting between the schools, with UMKC taking a 95-84 win in Seattle last year.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won three straight road games for the first time since setting the school record of seven back in 2005.
- UMKC would have won its seventh WAC game, matching last year's total.
- The 'Roos would have won seven of their last nine games overall.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos will continue their road swing on Saturday night at Bakersfield, which will tip at 9 p.m. Central time. The contest will be available to watch on the WAC Digital Network.
The 'Roos are 2-1 all-time against CSUB, winning earlier this year in Kansas City by a 66-63 margin. This will be the fourth meeting between the schools, with all three meetings being decided by five points or less.
