UMKC

Basketball situation: Tough roadies, no fans at home for KC Roos’ early-season games

The Kansas City Roos compete in the Summit League for NCAA sports.
The Kansas City Roos compete in the Summit League for NCAA sports. KC Roos Athletics

No fans will be in the stands for UMKC basketball games because of COVID-19, at least until January.

The school announced its men’s non-conference schedule on Friday — the KC Roos open next Wednesday at Swinney Rec against Culver-Stockton — and the attendance policy would be reevaluated when conference play begins in early 2021.

The Kangaroos’ finish next week by playing in the first Negro League Baseball Museum Tip-Off Classic at Avila University. UMKC will play Avila Friday and either Southeast Missouri or Northern Colorado on Saturday.

Kansas State, Minnesota, Toledo and Saint Louis—all on the road—are among other non-conference opponents.

The Kangaroos, who finished 16-14 in Coach Billy Donlon’s first season, return to the Summit League this season after spending the previous seven years in the WAC.

All league games are scheduled in pairs. UMKC opens at North Dakota on Jan. 2 and will play the same opponent on Jan. 3. The Roos’ league games are all on Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday.

KC Roos 2020-21 schedule

Nov. 25 Culver-Stockton

Nov. 27 at Avila

Nov. 28 Northern Colorado or SE Missouri at Aliva

Nov. 30 at Kansas State

Dec. 5 South Dakota

Dec. 10 at Minnesota

Dec. 12 at Toledo

Dec. 23 at Saint Louis

Jan. 2-3 at North Dakota

Jan. 8-9 South Dakota

Jan. 15-16 at Western Illinois

Jan. 23-24 at Oral Roberts

Jan. 29-30 North Dakota State

Feb. 12-13 Omaha

Feb. 19-20 Denver

Feb. 26-27 at South Dakota State

March 6-9 Summit League Tournament at Sioux Falls, S.D.

Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
Sports Pass is your ticket to Kansas City sports
#ReadLocal

Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Kansas City area sports - only $1 a month

VIEW OFFER