Roos Open Summit League Play with South Dakota, South Dakota State

vs. USD (WATCH | STATS | TICKETS)
vs. SDSU (WATCH | STATS | TICKETS)

Starting Five

After notching a 4-9 mark in non-conference play, Kansas City begins the Summit League slate at home, hosting South Dakota and South Dakota State. Kansas City is looking for its first league-opening win since the 2019-20 season, when it beat Seattle U in a triple-overtime game as a member of the WAC. In the past five years, the Roos have gone a combined 6-4 in their first two games of conference play.
With four wins in non-conference play, Kansas City enters league play with at least four wins for the ninth year in-a-row. KC's last time failing to reach that mark came in the 2013-14 season, when the Roos posted a 3-10 non-conference mark.
Having scored a career-high 65 field goals already this season, RayQuawndis Mitchell is approaching the mark of 150 made field goals in his DI career. He needs just five more makes from the field to join Anderson Kopp as the only Roos on-roster to reach that mark.
Defense has kept the Roos in games so far this season. Kansas City ranks atop the Summit League in field goal percentage defense (40.0), rebounds per game (39.31), and points allowed per game (67.5), while ranking second in rebound margin (5.1), steals per game (6.6) and three-point percentage defense (32.5).
Notching a percentage of 27.0% through the first 13 games of the year, Kansas City continues to search for its three-point shot. On shots inside the arc, the Roos' shooting percentage skyrockets, connecting on a 45.7% clip.

South Dakota Notes

In its first season under the direction of Head Coach Eric Peterson, South Dakota brings a 5-7 record into Monday's game, having dropped its past three matchups.
The Roos and Coyotes are all square in the all-time series, having each won seven games. In games played in Kansas City, South Dakota holds a 4-3 edge.
Kansas City won two-of-three matchups last season, but the Coyotes won the most important one, taking down the Roos in a 74-61 decision in last year's Summit League Quarterfinals. Marvin Nesbitt Jr. led the Roos with 19 points in that game, while five Coyotes finished in double figures.
In last year's game at the Swinney Center, Kansas City got the win, jumping out to a 31-9 lead early and holding on for the 72-63 win.
The Coyotes are one of the best three-point shooting teams in the nation this year, connecting at a 38.3% mark. That is good for firs in the Summit League and 40th in the nation.
Four South Dakota players average double-digit scoring, led by A.J. Plitzuweit at 12.3 points per game. He shoots at a blazing 55.6% clip from three, making an average of 2.0 per game.

South Dakota State Notes

The reigning Summit League champions, SDSU enters conference play with a 5-7 mark overall and winners of their last two contests. The Jackrabbits will take on Oral Roberts to open conference play before Wednesday's game.
The Jackrabbits have had Kansas City's number in the all-time series, holding a 19-4 advantage and winning the last seven meetings. KC's last win in the series came on Nov. 28, 2015 at Municipal Auditorium.
South Dakota State swept the season series last year, winning by 32 points in Brookings and then by 11 points in the regular season finale in Kansas City.
SDSU has a knack for forcing turnovers, creating 13.42 giveaways per game. That mark is good for second in the Summit League. On the flip side, they commit 15.4 turnovers per game, seventh in the league.
Zeke Mayo has stepped into a leadership role in his second year at SDSU, averaging a team-leading 14.2 points per game. He ranks top-ten in the Summit in field goal percentage, points per game and rebounds per game.

University of Missouri Kansas City Athletics