UMKC Hits the Road, Faces Tough Test at Grand Canyon
2/17/2016 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (10-15, 3-7 WAC) at Grand Canyon 'Lopes (22-4, 8-2 WAC)
Date / Time: February 18 - 8 p.m. CT
Site: Phoenix, Ariz. / GCU Arena (7,000)
TV: Local in Phoenix area
Listen:UMKCKangaroos.com (free)
Talent: Steven Davis (pxp)
Webstream:WAC Digital Network (free)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (via GCU)
Twitter: @UMKCMensHoops #RooUp
Series: GCU leads 3-2
Home: 1-2
Away: 1-1
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 70-65 in KC, 2/28/15
Richardson vs. Opponent: 2-3
QUICK NOTES
- UMKC had its largest margin of victory and halftime lead of the season at 17 and 12 points, respectively, on Saturday.
- The Roos held the Vaqueros to 58 points, the lowest opponent total this year in WAC play.
- UMKC had its largest positive rebound margin of the season (+17) vs. UTRGV.
- Martez Harrison is now fourth on the UMKC scoring chart with 1,462 points. He passed Tony Dumas for fourth all-time in assists (347) last time out, and just one steal from tying Dumas for fourth all-time (141). His 29 games of scoring 20+ is now tied with Quinton Day for fourth all-time.
- Harrison has 104 assists so far this year, and needs 108 to crack the single-season top 10. The school record is 131 by Day.
- Harrison is the WAC's active career leader in points (1,462), free throws made (468), steals (141), and assists (347).
- LaVell Boyd is the first player under Kareem Richardson to hit 50 threes in a season (64).
- Harrison's 161 free throw attempts are 61st and 126 free throw makes are 43rd in the country. LaVell Boyd is 54th with a .410 three-point percentage.
- UMKC has several players in the WAC rankings. Martez Harrison and LaVell Boyd are 3rd and 11th in scoring in the WAC at 15.4 and 13.4 ppg. Shayok Shayok is fourth in field goal percentage (.545). Harrison is 6th in assists (4.3), while sitting 5th in steals (1.3) and 6th in free throw percentage (.783). Boyd is 3rd in three-point percentage (.410) and 3rd in three point makes per game (2.6).
- UMKC is ranked No. 282 in the RPI rankings as of Monday, fifth highest in the WAC.
- The Roos non conference strength of schedule is No. 158 in the nation, second in the WAC.
- UMKC finished its non-conference schedule with seven wins, marking the most for the Roos since the 2010-11 team also had seven. The last team with eight or more: 2001-02 team, with 10.
- 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 3-8 against those teams.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The 'Lopes enter the game with a 22-4 overall record and an 8-2 mark in WAC play. They have wins over San Diego State and Houston, and only losses are to NMSU and Seattle in WAC play this year.
They are very potent on offense, led by Joshua Braun at 17.4 points per game, ranking second in the WAC. Grandy Glaze is putting up 14.6 points and 8.3 rebounds a contest, while DeWayne Russell is at 9.4 a game, along with 139 assists and 38 steals. As a team they average 77.8 points a game, while allowing only 68.5 an outing. They are 15-2 at home this year.
THE COACHES
Kareem Richardson is in his third season as the head coach at UMKC, posting a 34-54 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.
Dan Majerle is in his third season at Grand Canyon, posting a 54-34 overall record. He has led the 'Lopes to CIT berths in each of his first two seasons. A 14-year NBA veteran player, he most recently was an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns for five seasons.
THE SERIES
The Lopes lead the series with UMKC 3-2, with GCU winning in KC on Jan. 23 by an 85-78 score. The two squads split the series in each of their first two seasons in the WAC.
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
- The 'Roos would have won on the road for the first time since Nov. 21 at Drake.
- The 'Roos would have split the season series for the third straight season vs. GCU
- Missouri-Kansas City would have won at Grand Canyon for the second time under Kareem Richardson (also won in 2014).
UP NEXT
The 'Roos continue the road swing at Utah Valley on Saturday. The game will be televised on KSMO and streamed on ESPN3.
The Roos will be meeting Utah Valley for the 13th time, with UVU holding a 7-5 series advantage. UMKC had won three in a row before the Wolverines won in Kansas City earlier this season, 90-79.
