Those who stayed with KC Roos built a winning record in Donlon’s first season
Final home games that recognize the seniors can get emotional. So it was for Kansas City’s Rob Whitfield, who got so choked up during his speech that he couldn’t speak until his mother, Beverly Bonds, walked from her seat to give him a hug.
Two games remained in the regular season after the KC Roos beat Chicago State in their home finale last week, but this seemed like a good time to reflect on the decisions made by Whitfield, his teammates and coach Billy Donlon nearly a year earlier.
Decisions that helped the Kangaroos deliver a season beyond expectations.
They were picked eighth in a nine-team conference but enter the WAC Tournament this week in Las Vegas as the fifth seed, 16-14 overall. Only twice in the previous 14 seasons have the Roos finished the season with a winning record.
For bracket seeding, Kansas City was given a loss by the conference for canceling its trip to Seattle on Saturday.
The KC Roos, the university’s preferred name for its athletic teams that had long been known as UMKC, were starting over at coach. Donlon, formerly a head coach at Wright State and more recently an assistant at Northwestern, replaced Kareem Richardson.
Eleven of the roster’s 12 players with eligibility entered the NCAA’s transfer portal, signaling their intention to at least explore departing.
Donlon held a team meeting the day he was hired. His message: There would be a new coach in their lives, whether it was him or at another program.
“I value your love for Coach Richardson,” Donlon told his team. “Sometimes coaches get fired because winning is hard. I understood they wanted to play for a different coach. They’re going to play for me or somebody else. Let’s have a two-week trial and see how it goes.”
Whitfield remembers driving around during spring break with teammates Jordan Giles and Brandon McKissic and talking about this new coach
“We were all thinking about it,” Whitfield said. “’Do we really want to do this?’”
Eight players wound up leaving the program. But after another conversation with Donlon the Whitfield, Giles and McKissic were sold. They’re part of the core group that has built a competitive team on attributes coaches love.
The Kangaroos defend with an edge, holding opponents to 42.8% from the floor and 29.7% from beyond the arc while leading the WAC in three-point shooting at 36.5%. They’re positive in turnover ratio and have handed out 2½ more assists per game than their opponents.
“This team really grinds it out on defense,” McKissic said. “That’s where we put on our hard hats, as Coach Don always says.”
Scoring is balanced among McKissic (11.0), Giles (10.5), Clemson transfer and senior Javan White (10.1) and Whitfield (9.8). Against Chicago State, key moments were provided by Marvin Nesbitt Jr., who scored the final five points of the half, the last bucket on a follow slam.
The Kangaroos had some good moments early in the season, including neutral-floor triumphs over George Washington and East Carolina. But Donlon said Kansas City came up with its worst effort in its highest-profile game, against now No. 1-ranked Kansas at Sprint Center.
“That crushed our momentum,” Donlon said. “But these guys stuck with it and played hard.”
Next up is KC’s final league tournament in the WAC. The Roos move to the Summit League next year. Top-seed New Mexico State romped through the WAC without a loss, but its two victories over Kansas City were by a combined nine points.
“I know New Mexico State is undefeated,” Donlon said. “But it’s up for grabs.”
KC Roos in WAC Tournament quarterfinals
- No. 1 seed Roos women vs. No. 8 seed Chicago State, 2 p.m. Wednesday
- No. 5 seed Roos men vs. No. 4 seed Grand Canyon, about 4:30 p.m. Thursday
This story was originally published March 8, 2020 at 1:33 PM.