Just when things were starting to look up, uP, UP!- your Milwaukee Panthers lost two road games that were entirely winnable.
But then we defeated Cleveland State to win the Horizon Leaguer opener. And our record sits at a not gaudy, not shabby 6-4.
First, Milwaukee battled in a close-fought contest with the UCF Knights only to fall apart a bit in the final minutes losing 84-76 in Orlando.
Then days later this past Saturday, the Panthers found themselves leading Southern Mississippi the entire game up until the final minutes when it matters most. We dropped that game by a single point, 66-65. And that Southern Miss loss is a bitter pill to swallow considering we shot 8-17 from the free throw line.
And this last Thursday the Panthers battled a Cleveland State team that played us a little too close for comfort until late in the game when we outmuscled the Vikings in the low post down the stretch to win handily, 79-67 securing our 6th victory of the season. KP (12pts, 10reb) and Stillwell (12pts, 15reb) both recorded double-doubles.
Milwaukee (6-4, 1-0) is now up to a 182 rating in Haslametrics after starting the season mired in the mid 200s. (for context Wright State leads the Horizon League with a 115 rating on Haslametrics).
I could be wrong, but after Akron (150th), which will be a huge contest at the Fiserv on the afternoon of December 15th, we should have a great shot at winning every single remaining game. I think if we play our best, we may only lose a couple more games all season. That isn't to say we will. But it is to say the hardest competition will be behind us after Akron (and will lie in wait in the NCAA Tournament we so badly want to reach again...).
UCF would have been a major takedown but it wasn't in the cards this season
Our '24-'25 shooting problem has lingered, but it isn't too late to get it under control or at least play to our shooting strengths (rebounding and scoring in the paint) and limit the potential damage caused by our weaknesses (3pt and free throw shooting). We did shoot better from the charity stripe versus Cleveland State. Our perimeter shooting however (29.2%), might be a lost cause.
The transition buckets, aggressive drives and post-ups in the paint will have to be how we feast offensively. (we are 11th in the NCAA in "ratio of near-proximity attempts to total field goal attempts")
AJ McKee (14.7 ppg) and Themus Fulks (14.9ppg, 5apg) continue to lead the pack offensively, and in the absence of Faizon Fields, Jamichael Stillwell (12.5ppg, 10.8rpg- good for #8 in the country in rebounds 😳) has made himself a household Horizon League name in this early season.
Update: It is not looking like Erik Pratt is returning to the lineup. He was back in his Florida hometown when we were playing Southern Miss. It's unfortunate for a player who was Second Team Pre-season All-Horizon League. Next men- up (and get a hot hand! 🔥).
We cannot erase the 4 games already lost- each of them which were entirely winnable by this bruising Panther team. As it stands currently, we are not playing like the best team in the Horizon. To say nothing of a team that would have any chance of advancing in the NCAA Tourney.
But we can start winning streak with a convincing win in Green Bay next week.
When the wins start rolling in, the casual fans will take notice and we might just be able to get the Arena rocking again. It has been a long time since anyone in the Milwaukee area took the Panthers seriously before the Horizon League Tournament.
Do you believe?
go panthers.
tilt the floor. 🏆🏀
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