Kangaroos Open WAC Tournament Against Broncs Thursday
3/11/2015 2:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
#7 UTPA Broncs (10-20) vs. #2 UMKC Kangaroos (13-18)
Date / Time: March 12, 2015 - 6:30 p.m. CT / 4:30 p.m. PT
Site: Las Vegas, Nev. / Orleans Arena (7,471)
TV: WAC Digital Network
Talent: Mychal Clanton (pxp), Steven Hunter (analyst)
Radio: 810 AM
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream: WAC Digital Network (Free)
Live Stats: WACSports.com
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #WACHoops #RooUp
Series: UTPA leads 10-7
Home: 5-4
Away: 2-6
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UTPA won 53-51 in Edinburg, 3/7/15
Richardson vs. Opponent: 1-3
THE GAME
The 'Roos head to fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday for the first round of the WAC Tournament, where they will face off against UTPA in a rematch of Saturday's regular season finale. The 'Roos are the No. 2 seed in the tournament for the second time in school history, and will face the Broncs at 6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT in the second game of the day.
QUICK NOTES
- Martez Harrison was named the WAC Player of the Year this week, becoming the second UMKC player ever to win the award (Michael Jackson, 1999-00). Reese Holliday was All-Newcomer Team.
- UMKC is a No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament, matching the highest seed it has ever been in the conference tournament (2004-05).
- 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).
- Martez Harrison has shot a WAC-high 221 free throws, and ranks No. 8 in the nation.
- Thaddeus Smith has 42 blocks this year, ranking fourth in a single season at UMKC. He is second in the WAC with 1.5 blocks per game.
- So far this year, the 'Roos have forced 510 turnovers and turned them into 562 points (18.2 ppg).
- As a team the 'Roos are 20th in the nation and first in the WAC in steals per game at 8.2, while ranking first in the WAC and 30th in the nation with a +2.6 turnover margin.
- Harrison is leading the WAC in steals (1.9) and scoring (17.8), while ranking third in assists (3.8). He is also seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5) and 10th in free throws (.738).
- UMKC has been hit hard by injuries this year, with nine different players missing games due to injury, A total of 81 games have been missed during the season due to injury.
- The roster currently has eight players from the Kansas City area, the most ever at UMKC (previous record set last season with seven).
- 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 Broncs enter the contest with a 10-20 overall record, and went 4-10 in the WAC. They won all of their games in conference play at home . They come in losing seven of their last eight games.
Individually, the Broncs are led by the WAC's second leading scorer, Janari Joesaar, at 17.3 points per game. He also pulls down 6.9 rebounds a game to rank fifth in the league. Both Shaquille Boga and Shaquille Hines are also leaders, averaging 12.5 and 12.2 points per game, respectively. Boga and Joesaar are the only two that have hit a significant amount of threes, as UTPA makes only 4.2 per game as a team. They average only 56.3 points a game in league play, but allow only 65.6 per contest.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his second season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 23-38 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.
Dan Hipsher is in his second season at UTPA, posting a 19-43 record there. He has an overall record of 257-225, also coaching at Akron for nine seasons. He has been a top assistant in the high-major ranks as well, most recently at Alabama for four years.
THE SERIES
The 'Roos are 7-10 overall against Texas-Pan American, with each team winning on its home floor. This will be the 18th overall meeting, with the two playing for the first time ever on a neutral floor. UMKC won 70-45 in Kansas City.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won their first conference tournament game since 2007 against Valparaiso in the Mid-Con.
- UMKC would have evened its record at 1-1 in the WAC Tournament, losing last year.
- The 'Roos would have improved to 6-16 all-time in conference tournaments.
UP NEXT
The 'Roos would face the winner of the Seattle vs. Chicago State matchup at 8:30 p.m. PT on Friday in the WAC semifinals.
