UMKC Opens the Regular Season Friday at Seton Hall

The UMKC Kangaroos travel to Seton Hall to take on the Pirates Friday at 6:30 p.m. CST as part of the Hall of Fame Tipoff. This is the first meeting between the two schools but UMKC has faced Big East schools before. The 'Roos are 1-2 against teams in the Big East, with a 1-1 mark against Cincinnati and a 0-1 record against Providence. UMKC will also be facing Louisville later this season on December 8.

The 'Roos enter the season with four returning starters (Trinity Hall, Estan Tyler, Thomas Staton and Kirk Korver) and seven letterwinners to the lineup (six of which played in at least 26 games). Despite this fact the 'Roos are still a young team with only two seniors on the roster.

Seton Hall posted a 21-13 overall record last season, earning a berth in the NIT. The Pirates finished 10th in the Big East with an 8-10 mark, and was knocked out of the conference tournament by eventual champion Louisville. They lost to UMass in the second round of the NIT.

The Pirates return three starters and seven letterwinners to the lineup, but lost their top two scorers in Jordan Theodore (16.1 ppg) and Herb Pope (15.1 ppg). Expected to lead the squad this year is 6-6 junior Fuquan Edwin, who averaged 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. The Pirates also have five transfers that are eligible to play this season, including Brian Oliver (Ga. Tech), Gene Teague (So. Illinois), and Kyle Smith (Iona).

A victory would mean UMKC has defeated a BCS conference opponent for the first time under Matt Brown, and first in program history since Dec. 30, 2003 vs. Kansas State.

The 'Roos next game will be their home opener as they host NCAA Division II Lincoln (Mo.) University on Tuesday at Swinney Recreation Center at 7:05 p.m.