• Named assistant coach at Drake on May 19, 2008 after
spending the previous season as the top assistant with
the UMKC men's basketball program.
• During his playing days at Evansville, Richardson was a
starter at point guard and team captain. He was named to the
MVC All-Underrated team in 1996 and was a two-time MVC All-Academic
team member.
• Richardson served as recruiting coordinator at Evansville
from 2003-2007 before moving on to UMKC for a season as the top
assistant. He brings a wealth of MVC experience to the Drake
staff given his coaching stops at both his alma mater, Evansville,
and Indiana State (1999-2002).
NCDS: Kareem Richardson, Asst. Coach - Drake
In many ways it’s hard to believe its February already. I always know when the season is approaching the end when we head to games or get out of practice and we still have daylight. Unfortunately, that daylight in the Midwest doesn’t mean warmth! When practice first began we talked with our guys about how the season is a marathon, not a sprint. Our staff knew with the many new faces it could take a while for this year’s team to learn what it takes to compete a high level. We hit the nail right on the head! Our guys are finally figuring out what it takes to compete at this level. That’s great news for us but unfortunately it is now February and we only have six conference games and a bracketbuster game remaining for the regular season.
Our season is coming down the home stretch. We can no longer pace ourselves. We have to put the pedal to the floor. We have to play with an intense urgency of now! We began February with our first conference road win at Southern Illinois. Our next opponent will be Northern Iowa (February 5th). UNI comes to Des Moines winning eight straight games and tied for first place in the league. Northern Iowa has played excellent basketball on the road this year. The Panthers are the only Valley school to defeat both Wichita St and Missouri St-both on the road. Wichita St and Missouri St are tied with UNI for first place. This is a game, with a win, that can give us tremendous confidence and a shot adrenaline down the home stretch.
We have some guys that are really beginning to play with some exceptional confidence and we need them to continue their outstanding play. Rayvonte Rice, freshman, is leading us in scoring at 13ppg and rebounding (5 rpg). Ben Simons, a sophomore from Cadallic, MI, has played well for us in conference play. Ben is now 2ndin scoring for us in conference game (10.5ppg) and shooting over 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3. Our lone senior, Ryan Wedel, continues to do whatever our team needs. Ryan is shooting over 47 percent from 3 in league play. Our big fella, Seth Van Deest, has struggled with a badly sprained ankle. I feel if he can get healthy (at least somewhat), we can make things interesting in the month of February.
The season is no longer a marathon; it’s an all out sprint! WE HAVE TO PUT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR!!
Best of luck to everyone down the home stretch!
