Sunday, January 19
Kansas City, MO
4:00 PM
Kansas City
vs
Grand Canyon
Preview: Men's Basketball Hosts Grand Canyon in Sunday Matinee
1/18/2020 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kansas City Opening Tip
• Looking to snap a three-game losing skid, the Kansas City Men's Basketball (9-10, 2-3) team welcomes Grand Canyon (6-11, 1-2) to Swinney Center Sunday for a 4 p.m. tip. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but Grand Canyon was unable to arrive into Kansas City until Saturday due to inclement weather traveling from Chicago State, where the Lopes had a Thursday night game.
• Kansas City is 4-9 all-time against the Lopes in the NCAA Division I era, holding a 3-3 mark at home. The 87-75 overtime win in Swinney Center last February snapped a five-game series losing streak.
• Last time out on Thursday, the Roos dropped a 74-64 overtime decision to CSU Bakersfield for the first home loss of the year. One more win would have tied the best home start in school history with the 2010-11 program.
• After beginning the conference season 2-0, the Roos have hit a tough streak dropping a pair of road WAC games last week at UT Rio Grande Valley and New Mexico State and the home game Thursday.
The Starting Five
1. The Sunday matinee will go a long way deciding who is going to be a contender or pretender in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Roos have surprised many critics, but after a three-game slide, are tied for fifth in the WAC standings. On the flip side, Grand Canyon was a team picked second in the coaches' preseason poll and has struggled to a 1-2 mark in the WAC, which is eighth.
2. Senior Jordan Giles has been one of the most consistent scorers in league play. Through five WAC games, Giles ranks seventh in conference games averaging 16.2 points, up from his 9.9 season average. Also, he is tied for sixth in field goal shooting at 55.6 percent. In Thursday's game with CSU Bakersfield, he became the 19th Kansas City player with at least 800 points in his career. He now has 809 entering Sunday. His 108 career games played is two games away from being in the top 10 list for most games played as a Roo.
3. Coach Donlon has gone with eight different starting line-ups, which is tied for third-most in the NCAA. The most successful line-up to the tune of a 4-0 record has been Javan White and Jordan Giles in the front-court, with Brandon McKissic, Marvin Nesbitt Jr. and Rob Whitfield teaming up in the back-court. Overall, nine players have earned the starting nod, with Giles and Nesbitt getting a team-high 17 starts.
4. Kansas City is seeing success it hasn't had in recent times with the nine overall victories. The Roos hit nine wins the fastest (in 16 games), since the 2010-11 program also notched its ninth win in its 16th game (9-7). That unit eventually posted a 16-14 record. KC is seeking it's first non-losing record since the 2016-17 season and just its second in the last nine years. A 10th win on Sunday means its the quickest to 10 wins (20th game) since the 2010-11 team went 10-7.
5. Getting to the free-throw line has not been a strength of the Roos this year. In 16-of-19 games, the opponent has attempted more or the same amount as Kansas City. In fact, the opponent has tossed more or the same attempts in the last 10-straight games. On the season, the Roos have attempted 16.9 and made 11.3 on average. Conversely, the opposition averages 23.5 attempts and 17.7 makes.
The Comforts of Home
• The Roos are a different team playing at the renovated Swinney Center with a 6-1 record. As a team, Kansas City shoots 47 percent overall and outscores the opponent by over 20 points. • On average, the Roos force 18 turnovers, are +6 in rebounding margin and post eight steals.
• Prior to the Thursday home loss to CSU Bakersfield, the 6-0 start tied for the second best home start since the 2015-16 team also went 6-0 on its home court to begin the season. The 2010-11 program is the only Kansas City team to go 7-0 at home prior to its first loss in the NCAA Division I era (1986-87). That 7-0 mark is the all-time mark.
Series History Notes vs Grand Canyon
• Kansas City is 4-9 all-time against the Lopes in the NCAA Division I era, holding a 3-3 mark at home. The 87-75 overtime win in Swinney Center last February snapped a five-game series losing streak.
• In last year's home victory, the Roos posted just four turnovers and out-scored Grand Canyon 23-7 at the free throw line. Rob Whitfield swished in a team-high 19 points and Brandon McKissic had 16.
• The Roos have won two out of the last three meetings in Kansas City.
• The Jan. 19th meeting is tied for the earliest date the teams have played each other.
Making a Good First Impression
• The Roos won their ninth game in its 16th overall contest to begin the year 9-7. That is the fastest output to nine wins since the 2010-11 program also went 9-7 to start the season.
• With five wins prior to Dec. 1, the Roos collected the most victories before the calendar flipped into December since the 2016-17 program went 6-2. That year was the last time Kansas City had a winning record at 18-17 overall.
• Kansas City recorded seven wins prior to Jan. 1, which was the most since the 2016-17 program tallied seven victories prior to the new year.
National Stat Rankings
• Kansas City is ranked in the top 100 in seven different national statistical categories:
   - No. 33 in total steals (151)
   - No. 64 in steals per game (7.9)
   - No. 69 in turnovers forced (15.6)
   - No. 71 in 3-point FG percentage (.359)
   - No. 89 in total assists (256)
   - No. 94 in 3-point FG defense (.310)
   - No. 96 in FG percentage (45.5%)
Bucking the Trend
• Heading into the Dec. 22 game at South Dakota, Kansas City was 0-6 on the year in true road games losing by an average margin of 17.8 points. However, the Roos stopped that streak courtesy of a three-pointer by senior Jahshire Hardnett. His dagger with two seconds remaining lifted the Roos to a 78-75 road victory and improved their team record to 7-7 on the season.
Statistical Trends
• There are a few statistical trends that equates to success for Kansas City. When the Roos do the following, they have a perfect record this year:
   - Out-rebounding the opponent: 4-0
   - More made FT's than opponent: 3-0
   - Allowing 60 points or less: 4-0
Going Deep
• Kansas City is riding a streak of 316-straight games making at least one three-pointer. The last time the team failed to connect from deep was on Jan. 22, 2000 against Oakland when the Roos were 0-for-13. This year, Kansas City averages 7.0 make's per game, which ranks second in the WAC. Kansas City recorded a season-high of 13 at NM State (1/11/20). The fewest amount was four done on two occasions.
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• Looking to snap a three-game losing skid, the Kansas City Men's Basketball (9-10, 2-3) team welcomes Grand Canyon (6-11, 1-2) to Swinney Center Sunday for a 4 p.m. tip. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but Grand Canyon was unable to arrive into Kansas City until Saturday due to inclement weather traveling from Chicago State, where the Lopes had a Thursday night game.
• Kansas City is 4-9 all-time against the Lopes in the NCAA Division I era, holding a 3-3 mark at home. The 87-75 overtime win in Swinney Center last February snapped a five-game series losing streak.
• Last time out on Thursday, the Roos dropped a 74-64 overtime decision to CSU Bakersfield for the first home loss of the year. One more win would have tied the best home start in school history with the 2010-11 program.
• After beginning the conference season 2-0, the Roos have hit a tough streak dropping a pair of road WAC games last week at UT Rio Grande Valley and New Mexico State and the home game Thursday.
The Starting Five
1. The Sunday matinee will go a long way deciding who is going to be a contender or pretender in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Roos have surprised many critics, but after a three-game slide, are tied for fifth in the WAC standings. On the flip side, Grand Canyon was a team picked second in the coaches' preseason poll and has struggled to a 1-2 mark in the WAC, which is eighth.
2. Senior Jordan Giles has been one of the most consistent scorers in league play. Through five WAC games, Giles ranks seventh in conference games averaging 16.2 points, up from his 9.9 season average. Also, he is tied for sixth in field goal shooting at 55.6 percent. In Thursday's game with CSU Bakersfield, he became the 19th Kansas City player with at least 800 points in his career. He now has 809 entering Sunday. His 108 career games played is two games away from being in the top 10 list for most games played as a Roo.
3. Coach Donlon has gone with eight different starting line-ups, which is tied for third-most in the NCAA. The most successful line-up to the tune of a 4-0 record has been Javan White and Jordan Giles in the front-court, with Brandon McKissic, Marvin Nesbitt Jr. and Rob Whitfield teaming up in the back-court. Overall, nine players have earned the starting nod, with Giles and Nesbitt getting a team-high 17 starts.
4. Kansas City is seeing success it hasn't had in recent times with the nine overall victories. The Roos hit nine wins the fastest (in 16 games), since the 2010-11 program also notched its ninth win in its 16th game (9-7). That unit eventually posted a 16-14 record. KC is seeking it's first non-losing record since the 2016-17 season and just its second in the last nine years. A 10th win on Sunday means its the quickest to 10 wins (20th game) since the 2010-11 team went 10-7.
5. Getting to the free-throw line has not been a strength of the Roos this year. In 16-of-19 games, the opponent has attempted more or the same amount as Kansas City. In fact, the opponent has tossed more or the same attempts in the last 10-straight games. On the season, the Roos have attempted 16.9 and made 11.3 on average. Conversely, the opposition averages 23.5 attempts and 17.7 makes.
The Comforts of Home
• The Roos are a different team playing at the renovated Swinney Center with a 6-1 record. As a team, Kansas City shoots 47 percent overall and outscores the opponent by over 20 points. • On average, the Roos force 18 turnovers, are +6 in rebounding margin and post eight steals.
• Prior to the Thursday home loss to CSU Bakersfield, the 6-0 start tied for the second best home start since the 2015-16 team also went 6-0 on its home court to begin the season. The 2010-11 program is the only Kansas City team to go 7-0 at home prior to its first loss in the NCAA Division I era (1986-87). That 7-0 mark is the all-time mark.
Series History Notes vs Grand Canyon
• Kansas City is 4-9 all-time against the Lopes in the NCAA Division I era, holding a 3-3 mark at home. The 87-75 overtime win in Swinney Center last February snapped a five-game series losing streak.
• In last year's home victory, the Roos posted just four turnovers and out-scored Grand Canyon 23-7 at the free throw line. Rob Whitfield swished in a team-high 19 points and Brandon McKissic had 16.
• The Roos have won two out of the last three meetings in Kansas City.
• The Jan. 19th meeting is tied for the earliest date the teams have played each other.
Making a Good First Impression
• The Roos won their ninth game in its 16th overall contest to begin the year 9-7. That is the fastest output to nine wins since the 2010-11 program also went 9-7 to start the season.
• With five wins prior to Dec. 1, the Roos collected the most victories before the calendar flipped into December since the 2016-17 program went 6-2. That year was the last time Kansas City had a winning record at 18-17 overall.
• Kansas City recorded seven wins prior to Jan. 1, which was the most since the 2016-17 program tallied seven victories prior to the new year.
National Stat Rankings
• Kansas City is ranked in the top 100 in seven different national statistical categories:
   - No. 33 in total steals (151)
   - No. 64 in steals per game (7.9)
   - No. 69 in turnovers forced (15.6)
   - No. 71 in 3-point FG percentage (.359)
   - No. 89 in total assists (256)
   - No. 94 in 3-point FG defense (.310)
   - No. 96 in FG percentage (45.5%)
Bucking the Trend
• Heading into the Dec. 22 game at South Dakota, Kansas City was 0-6 on the year in true road games losing by an average margin of 17.8 points. However, the Roos stopped that streak courtesy of a three-pointer by senior Jahshire Hardnett. His dagger with two seconds remaining lifted the Roos to a 78-75 road victory and improved their team record to 7-7 on the season.
Statistical Trends
• There are a few statistical trends that equates to success for Kansas City. When the Roos do the following, they have a perfect record this year:
   - Out-rebounding the opponent: 4-0
   - More made FT's than opponent: 3-0
   - Allowing 60 points or less: 4-0
Going Deep
• Kansas City is riding a streak of 316-straight games making at least one three-pointer. The last time the team failed to connect from deep was on Jan. 22, 2000 against Oakland when the Roos were 0-for-13. This year, Kansas City averages 7.0 make's per game, which ranks second in the WAC. Kansas City recorded a season-high of 13 at NM State (1/11/20). The fewest amount was four done on two occasions.
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Players Mentioned
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