Back in March Louisville assistant basketball coach Kareem Richardson was hired to become the next head basketball coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and on Wednesday night he returns to the Yum Center with the Roos to face his old team. The Cardinals lead this young series 1-0 winning the only game ever played between these teams back on Dec. 8th 2012 99 to 47. The Roos are 1-5 and are picked to finish last in their first season as members of the Western Athletic Conference. Game time is at 7PM and can be seen locally on WHAS TV or ESPN3.

“Being at the University of Louisville and working under future Hall of Famer Coach Pitino, it had to take a special situation for me to leave, but I know the vision that Leo Morton and Tim Hall have for the program makes UMKC a special situation,” Richardson said. “It is extremely exciting to have the opportunity to lead the UMKC men’s basketball program and to be back in the wonderful city of Kansas City.”

First-year head coach Kareem Richardson lost the team’s two most effective offensive players in the off-season, and he inherits a mixed collection of pieces and a solid recruiting class of his own. The Roos are struggling early on this season because of a turnover-prone offense averaging 16.5 a game with a turnover margin of -0.3 and middling defense allowing their opponents to score 89.8 points a game with a scoring margin at -18.8. They are also a team getting beat up on the boards averaging 34 a game with a rebounding margin of -6.5.

UMKC returns 47% of their scoring from last year and the Roos have six seniors playing this season. The starters for their last game included four seniors, and a freshman. Interesting fact from their roster is that NBA Atlanta Hawk player Kyle Korver’s brother Kirk Korver is on the team, but I don’t believe he has played a single minute this season. Their top players appear to be Brewster Academy product freshman Martez Harrison (17.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3 assist) who runs the point, flanked by returning wing Nelson Kirksey (11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds), along with returning role player Aaron Washington (2.7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assist), and both starting front-court players wing Trinity Hall (11.7 points, 7 rebounds) and center Fred Chatmon (9.8 points, 5.8 rebounds). Chatmon enters this game as one of the teams and WAC’s best rebounders, a strong shot-blocker, and a 56 percent field-goal shooter. He pulled down 212 rebounds last season ranking seventh in a single season in the schools history.

UMKC Kangaroos
2013-14 OVERALL RANKINGS
-POINTS PER GAME
71.0
231st
OVERALL
-REBOUNDS PER GAME
34.0
245th
OVERALL
-ASSISTS PER GAME
12.0
228th
OVERALL
-FIELD GOAL PCT
.423
263rd
OVERALL

Kenpom Ranks
Overall – #312
Defense Adjustment Efficiency
-107.5 ranks 256th
Offensive Adjustment Efficiency
-94.5 ranks 319th

UMKC’s lack of proven Division I contributors doesn’t bode well for its success against our Cards on Wednesday night. But their coach does know the Cardinals very well so the Roos will be up for this challenge. Chatmon is a guy that will bang with our front court players and will make them work for their shots and rebounds. It’s a good thing when Mango, Behanan, and Harrell go up against a decent player. They need all the practice they can get especially Mango. This is another one of those games that will be a good opportunity for Hancock and Behanan to work on their condition to get back up to game shape. Both of them appear to be only at about 60% to where they finished last year. It’s also a great opportunity for guys like Rozier and Jones to continue to build their confidence. Should be another productive blow out win on Wednesday.