Jan. 22, 2002

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Game #19 - Cleveland State (8-9, 2-4 Horizon) at Milwaukee (10-8, 5-1 Horizon)

Thurs. Jan. 24 - 7 p.m. CST - Klotsche Center - Milwaukee, WI

TV: None

Radio: 1290 AM, WMCS - Bill Johnson's pregame show begins at 6:45 p.m.

Internet: www.uwmpanthers.com

Thursday's Game

UWM kicks off a three-game homestand by welcoming Cleveland State to the Klotsche Center. Thursday's game tips off at 7 p.m.

Thursday's Opponent

Cleveland State was picked to finish third in the Horizon League but has stumbled some out of the gates in the league, standing 2-4 six games into league play. The Vikings remain extremely dangerous, though, led by backcourt standouts Jamaal Harris and Theo Dixon, each of whom are averaging in double figures on the season. Dixon also leads the team in rebounding, pulling in six boards per game.

Last Time Out

UWM recorded one of the most memorable wins in the program's history as Clay Tucker's three-point shot at the buzzer gave the Panthers a 73-72 win at Butler Saturday afternoon. UWM had to overcome a 13-point deficit to claim its third straight win and hang on to second place in the Horizon League. Tucker led the Panthers with 24 points while Ronnie Jones added 13 points and Adrian Tigert added 10.

Checking The Standings

UWM remains alone in second place in the Horizon League, one-half game back of first-place Loyola. The Panthers would move into a first-place tie with a win.

The Fast Start Continues

UWM's 5-1 start continues to be its best start in league play in the school's Division I history. UWM had never been two games above .500 in a Division I league before this season. In fact, the Panthers have never finished with a winning record in a Division I league.

Play Of The Week

UWM, and Clay Tucker in particular, got plenty of national attention for the buzzer-beating victory over Butler Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The national notice hit its peak Sunday night, when Tucker's game-winning shot was featured as number six on Chris Berman's "Top 10 Plays Of The Week" during ESPN's Sports Center.

Player Of The Week

Clay Tucker was named the Horizon League Player Of The Week after his stellar week last week helped the Panthers to two road wins. The buzzer-beater in Saturday's win over Butler was the second game-winning buzzer-beater of Tucker's career. He beat Central Michigan with a three at the buzzer in his collegiate debut in 1999. Tucker averaged 24 points per game in the two games last week, and collected his fourth double-double of the season when he tallied 24 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Wright State Thursday night.

Big Man On Campus

As if all of that attention wasn't enough, Tucker was also selected as one of six candidates for ESPN's "Big Man On Campus" this week. Online voting for the award takes place at ESPN.com.

Breaking The Butler Jinx

Saturday's win at Butler was UWM's first-ever at Hinkle Fieldhouse and the first for the Panthers in their last 18 tries against the Bulldogs. UWM had shown signs of moving closer to Butler last year, leading by 10 at home before falling and dropping an overtime contest in Indianapolis.

Pulling Rank

UWM had never beaten a ranked team in its NCAA Division I history before Saturday afternoon. Butler entered the contest ranked 25th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.

Road Warriors

UWM has won three road games for the first time in its Horizon League and MCC history. The previous high was two, set during the 1998-99 season. The three road wins in a Division I league are the most for UWM since the Panthers won four road league games while a member of the Mid-Continent Conference during the 1993-94 season.

Streaking

UWM has won three straight games - a season-high winning streak for the Panthers. UWM won three straight games twice last season, but the Panthers have not won four straight games since the 1992-93 season. That's also the last time UWM won three straight road games.

Comeback Kids

Not that UWM wants to make a habit of falling behind, but the Panthers have shown incredible resiliency in coming from behind for three big wins this season. Saturday, the Panthers trailed 50-37 with 11:39 to play before rallying for the win. UWM struck back with six straight points in an 11-second span to spark the comeback, and the Panthers then won the game at the buzzer. A week earlier, the Panthers had trailed by 11 in the first half against UIC before outscoring the Flames, 52-15, over the final 24 minutes of the game. On Dec. 8, the Panthers put together the best comeback in school history, trailing by 21 points with under 11 minutes to play before coming from behind to beat Virginia Tech.

Freshman Double Take

Adrian Tigert collected his second double-double of the season Saturday, tallying 10 points and 11 rebounds. It was also the sixth double-double of the season by a Panther. Clay Tucker has the other four.

Hitting The Century Mark

Clay Tucker passed the 1,000-point mark in Thursday's win at Wright State and now stands in third place all-time on UWM's Division I scoring list. Tucker now has 1,043 points, surpassing Pat McCabe's 1,015 at UWM. Tucker is just the fourth Panther in the school's Division I history to score 1,000 points in his career. Chad Angeli is the school's all-time Division I scoring leader, collecting 1,417 points.

Double Trouble

Clay Tucker collected his fourth double-double of the season Thursday night in the win over Wright State, tallying 24 points and 11 rebounds. It was Tucker's third double-double in his last four games, having recorded double-doubles against UW-Green Bay and Loyola in back-to-back games. The back-to-back double-doubles by Tucker were the first for a Panther since the 1996-97 season, when Otto McDuffie recorded double-doubles against UW-Green Bay (Feb. 24, 13 pts., 11 rbs.) and Wright St. (Feb. 28, 18 pts., 10 rbs.). The school record for double-doubles in a season is six, last set by McDuffie in the 96-97 season.

Leading The Way

Clay Tucker continues to hold the team lead in just about every category so far this season. The junior, a first-team all-Horizon League selection in the pre-season, leads UWM in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and even blocked shots. If he holds the team lead in the points and rebounds categories, he would become the first Panther to lead the team in each of those two categories since Roderick Johnson did it during the 1995-96 season. He also has a chance to be the first Panther to lead in all five categories in the school's Division I history.

More About Clay

Clay Tucker's 24 points in Saturday's win marked the 17th time in 18 games this season Tucker has been in double figures. He saw a streak of 12 straight games in double figures snapped when he scored just nine points in the loss to Western Michigan Dec. 15. That streak ranks as the fifth-longest in the school's Division I history. Von McDade holds the record with 20 straight games in double figures, all during the 1990-91 season. Tucker's latest streak of consecutive double-figure scoring efforts has reached nine games.

Stolen Moments

Clay Tucker's four steals Thursday night against Wright State moved him into third-place all-time on UWM's Division I steals list. Tucker now has 111 steals in his career after adding another steal Saturday afternoon. Marc Mitchell is the school's all-time leader with 156. Tucker has 43 steals this season, including 16 in six league games.

Charity On The Road

It's been no secret UWM has struggled from the foul line this season, and the Panthers still find themselves at just 65 percent from the line for the year. But, UWM hit 23-of-30 free throws in its two wins this weekend, a clip of just under 80 percent. Most impressive, the Panthers went 6-for-6 from the line in the final 3:20 of Saturday's win as Clay Tucker hit four free throws and Ronnie Jones hit two. The Panthers also hit their last six free throws in Thursday's win at Wright State, including a perfect 4-for-4 in overtime.

Crashing The Glass

The Panthers appear to have completed a dramatic turnaround on the boards after outrebounding both Wright State and Butler this past weekend. The Panthers outrebounded the Raiders, 35-27, Thursday and the Bulldogs, 37-34, Saturday. UWM also grabbed 27 offensive rebounds in the two contests. UWM now has nearly a full rebound advantage on its opponents for the season and the Panthers are outrebounding league opponents by more than six boards per game. UWM has outrebounded its opponents in five of its last six games, and the one time the Panthers were outrebounded (vs. Loyola Jan. 10), it was by just a single rebound.

Milk Man

Nate Mielke collected a career-high seven rebounds in the win Saturday at Butler. In six league games, Mielke is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game while averaging about 11 minutes per game. Overall, Mielke is averaging 3.5 boards per game.

High Scoring

UWM enters Thursday's game with Cleveland State leading the Horizon League in scoring. The Panthers average 76.8 points per game, just ahead of Wright State. The Panthers are also second in the league to Butler in scoring margin, beating opponents by an average of 6.4 ppg. In six league games, UWM holds a 76.8-66.3 ppg edge on its opponents, and has claimed league wins of 26, 22 and 12 points. UWM scored 73 points in the win Saturday against a Butler team that entered the game as the third-best defensive team in the country.

Getting Defensive On Me

UWM is allowing just over 66 points per game in six league contests, and the Panthers allow just over 70 points per game overall. A defensive trend was broken in Thursday's win over Wright State, but the Panthers were happy to take the result. Wright State shot 55.6 percent from the field in the game. UWM's last three losses - to Wisconsin, Colorado and Loyola, had come when teams had shot better than 50 percent from the field. Butler shot 47.5 percent from the field Saturday. In UWM's other three league wins, the Panthers' defense has been stellar. They've limited UIC to under 30 percent shooting, Youngstown State to just 40 percent shooting and UWGB to just 39 percent shooting from the field.

Dousing The Flames On Defense

The 29.6 percent UIC shot from the field Jan. 12 against the Panthers marked a season-low for a UWM opponent. That mark bested the 33.9 percent Chicago State shot against UWM Dec. 4. In six league games, UWM opponents are shooting just 31 percent from three-point range.

Defense Is Half The Battle

Three halves of basketball stand out in the Panthers' defensive scrapbook so far this season. UWM allowed just 11 points in the second half Jan. 12 in the win over UIC. The 11 points given up also mark the fewest UWM has ever given up in a single half of a league game, breaking the old mark of 17 points set against UIC on Feb. 17, 1996, in a 79-48 Panther win. The Panthers allowed just 18 points in the first half against UW-Green Bay Jan. 5. That beat the 19 first-half points the Panthers allowed against Chicago State Dec. 4. The Phoenix shot just 29 percent from the field in the first half. UWGB wound up shooting just 39 percent for the game, the fourth-lowest mark by an opponent this season. The season low was the 33.9 percent Chicago State shot in an 84-47 loss to the Panthers Dec. 4 until UIC shot under 30 percent on Jan. 12.

Forcing Turnovers

UWM forced 14 turnovers Saturday in the win over Butler, a number that sounds low considering the Panthers are forcing an average of nearly 19 per game. But, consider that the 14 turnovers were a season-high for the Bulldogs, who entered the game leading the nation in fewest turnovers committed with an average of just over nine per game.

The Margin Of Victory?

UWM's turnover margin of +3.56 per game is second in the Horizon League. The Panthers are forcing a league-best 18.8 turnovers per game. Twice this season, UWM has forced 30 turnovers - Dec. 4 against Chicago State and Dec. 8 against Virginia Tech. Those totals tie the opponent record for UWM. Sacramento State committed 30 turnovers against the Panthers in a game during the 1991-92 season, while Illinois Tech committed the same number in a game during the 1995-96 season. UWM has forced 328 turnovers in 18 games. The single-season opponent record is 530 turnovers forced, set during the 1990-91 season.

Stealing The Thunder

UWM's pressure defense has resulted in 171 steals in 18 games this season, giving the Panthers a league-leading 9.5 steals per game. The Panthers had 17 steals in the Dec. 4 win over Chicago State - the sixth-highest total in school history. UWM has had at least seven steals in 15 of its 18 games this season and the Panthers have collected 15 or more steals three times. The current pace puts the Panthers near the school record for steals in a season. The 1990-91 Panthers tallied 308 steals.

Providing Assistance

UWM has recorded 122 assists in its last seven games, including a season-high 23 assists in the Dec. 30 loss to Colorado. The 23 assists mark the fifth-highest total in UWM's DI history. UWM currently leads the Horizon League in assists.

Checking The Lineup

UWM fielded its seventh different starting lineup in Thursday's win over Wright State, with Justin Lettenberger earning his first start of the season. The Panthers then used that same lineup in Saturday's win over Butler. In large part due to injury, UWM has been forced to use different starting lineups throughout this season. The lineup of Clay Tucker, Dan Weisse, Ronnie Jones, Kalombo Kadima and Adrian Tigert had stayed together for the first four games of league play before the change last Thursday. Clay Tucker is the only Panther to have started all 18 games for UWM, while Adrian Tigert has started 17 of the 18 games. Dan Weisse started the first seven games of the season at point guard before giving way to Ronnie Jones, who has been in the starting lineup for the last 11 games. Weisse did return to start alongside Jones for the first four games of league play. Kalombo Kadima entered the starting lineup Dec. 30 after the season-ending injury to James Wright. Lettenberger then first started for him last Thursday night. Nate Mielke and Dylan Page have each made a single start for the Panthers.

Look Who's Starting

Justin Lettenberger has quietly worked his was from reserve walk-on to starting forward for UWM. The junior first gained a more prominent role last season when James Wright suffered a sprained ankle and missed three games. This season, Lettenberger has again slid into more playing time following an injury to Wright. Thursday night, Lettenberger made his first start of the season, collecting five rebounds in 25 minutes. He added four points and three assists in Saturday's contest. Lettenberger is UWM's fourth-leading scorer in league games, averaging 7.5 ppg, and UWM's second-leading rebounder in the league, grabbing 5.5 boards per game.

These Guys Don't Miss

Justin Lettenberger and Adrian Tigert have both posted stellar shooting percentages so far this season. Lettenberger has made 45-of-72 field goal attempts for a .625 clip. Tigert, meanwhile, has made 49-of-78 shots for a .628 clip.

Ronnie Likes The League

Ronnie Jones has found his stride during the first six games of league play. Jones is UWM's leading scorer in league games, averaging 19.0 ppg. Jones is shooting nearly 53 percent from three-point range in league contests, andJan. 12 against UIC Jones collected a season-high eight rebounds. Overall, Jones averaged just 2.5 ppg in UWM's first four games this season. In the last 14 games, Jones is averaging around 17 points per game.

Working Overtime

UWM won in overtime for the second time this season Thursday night, adding to the list of accomplishments during the 2001-02 campaign. In fact, UWM had not won two overtime games in the same season since the 1988-89 season, when the Panthers won a double overtime game with UW-Parkside and an overtime contest at Northern Colorado that sent UWM to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Last season, UWM was 1-3 in overtime, and, entering this season, UWM had lost 17 of its last 19 overtime contests.

Finding The Range

Jason Frederick has posted three straight games complete with clutch three-point shooting. Saturday against Butler, Frederick recovered from an 0-for-2 first half to knock down three big three-point shots in the second half. Frederick has made 10-of-20 three-point shots in the last three games. Frederick had entered the UIC game Jan. 12 converting just 10 of his last 37 field goal attempts, including just eight of his last 26 three-point tries. Frederick re-entered the starting lineup for Thursday's contest. He has come off the bench for the majority of his career.

Not Shy About Shooting

UWM put up 27 more three-points shots in the win over Butler Saturday, and UWM has now tried 451 three-point shots in 18 regular season games. The 41 three-point attempts by the Panthers Dec. 30 tied a school record. The Panthers also attempted 36 three-point shots in the overtime win over Virginia Tech, knocking down 10 threes in the second half and another one in overtime. Last year, UWM set a Division I school record by trying 666 three-point shots, eclipsing the 657 the Panthers tried during the 1999-00 season. The Panthers are on pace to seriously threaten the record again during the 2001-02 season.

National Numbers

The Panthers' long-range shooting has helped them make a mark in some of the NCAA's national statistical rankings. The 17 three-point shots UWM made against Colorado Dec. 30 are the third-most in a single-game nationally this season. It is also one shy of a school record, set last year in a four-overtime loss at UIC. Ronnie Jones is 24th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage while, as a team, UWM is 16th nationally in three-point field goals made per game.

Run For The Ages

There's no real stat kept for most impressive run during a league game, but it's hard to think of a more impressive turnaround by the Panthers than the 52-15 burst UWM used to push UIC into submission Jan. 12 at the Klotsche Center. The run included an amazing 38-11 second-half edge for the Panthers. The 11 points are the fewest UWM has given up in a half this season, and the fewest the Panthers have allowed in a half since allowing 10 points in the second half against Mount Senario in December of 2000. The turnaround included runs of 14-4 to end the first half and 13-0 early in the second half.

Margin Of Victory

Two of UWM's league wins have included noteworthy margins of victory. The 26-point win at home Jan. 12 over UIC was the second-largest league win of all-time for UWM. The Panthers beat Loyola by 34 points, 92-58, in 2000. Meanwhile, the 22-point win Jan. 2 against Youngstown State marked the largest margin of victory in a league road game for the Panthers. The previous high was 19 points in a win at Loyola in 1999. In overall road games in Division I, the 22-point margin of victory is the third-largest in school history. UWM claimed 25-point wins at NE Illinois in 1991 and at Northern Illinois in 1992.

Bucking A Road Trend

Statistically, the Horizon League had proven to be the toughest league in the nation in which to win league games on the road. Last season, league road teams won just 16 of 56 contests. Yet, the road team has already experienced great success this season. In 26 league games so far, the road team has won 12 times. UWM owns a quarter of those wins.

Record-Setter On The Road

When UWM traveled to Youngstown State to open league play Jan. 2, Ronnie Jones put together a career night. In the league-opening win, Jones tossed in a school-record 10 three-point shots and scored a career-high 33 points. Jones made 10-of-12 three-points shots and 11-of-14 field goals overall. The performance against Youngstown State was highlighted by one of the best individuals halves in UWM basketball history. Jones converted all seven of his field goal attempts and made six-of-six three-point tries in the half, scoring 20 points.

Also On The Jones Performance

The 10 three-point shots Ronnie Jones hit Jan. 2 equal the most in a single game by a Division I performer this season. Earnest Porter of Nicholls State hit 10 three-point shots on Dec. 17 in a game against Troy State. The 10 three-point shots are also the third-most in a game in league history, two off the record of 12 set by Darrin Fitzgerald of Butler in 1987.

From The Depths Of The Bench

Bruce Pearl's promise to play at least 9-10 players throughout this season continues to pay dividends for the Panthers. With the return of Dylan Page from a bout with mono, UWM is once again a solid 10-deep in its rotation. The rotation includes eight players averaging at least 14 minutes per game, while Chris Hill and Nate Mielke each average around 10 minutes per game. UWM's depth may have been most apparent in the 21-point comeback against Virginia Tech. As the Hokies had three players play at least 40 minutes - including one player playing all 45 minutes - UWM had 11 players see action with nine players playing at least 15 minutes. UWM had just three players play more than 30 minutes. Clay Tucker played a season-high 41 minutes, and Tucker is the only Panther player averaging more than 30 minutes per game this season.

Is There A Doctor In The House?

The UWM injury report has had names on it all season long. James Wright is out for the season after breaking his leg in the Dec. 27 contest with Wisconsin. Derek Huff is out indefinitely after off-season foot surgery. Transfer Rob Sanders - who was not eligible to play in games this season - injured his knee in practice and had surgery last month. He will not return to practice this season. Dylan Page also missed six games after being diagnosed with mono, but has returned to play in the last two games.

Packing Them In

Despite the absence of UWM students - most of whom were away on their holiday break - the Jan. 5 game with UWGB drew 3,689 fans, the eighth-largest crowd in Klotsche Center history. The Dec. 27 overflow crowd of 4,903 against Wisconsin set a new single-game attendance record for the Klotsche Center. The previous record was 4,833, set against UW-Green Bay on Feb. 5, 2000.

Sharp Shooting

UWM's 54.2 percent shooting from the field against Youngstown State marked the best performance of the season to date for the Panthers. The effort surpassed the 47.8 percent UWM shot against Chicago State on Dec. 4. The game against Youngstown State is one of just two times all season UWM has shot 50 percent or better.

Non-Conference Challenges

UWM played the most difficult non-conference schedule in school history this season. The non-conference slate saw UWM play at Louisville, Colorado, Iowa State, Valparaiso and Western Michigan, plus face Virginia Tech on a neutral floor and Wisconsin at the Klotsche Center.

Oh What A Comeback

The 21-point comeback UWM mounted Dec. 8 against Virginia Tech marks the greatest comeback in Division I history for the Panthers. UWM was down 58-37 with 10:27 to play in the game before outscoring Virginia Tech, 36-15, to force overtime. Ronnie Jones knocked in a three-point shot with 1.9 seconds left to tie the game. Jones then gave UWM its first lead since 4-2 when he knocked in another three with 1:31 remaining in overtime. Other notable comebacks include:

Feb. 18, 1993 * Down 11 with 16:12 remaining @ CS-Northridge - won 75-74

Jan. 13, 1993 * Down 11 with 5:11 remaining vs. UWGB - won 75-68 in OT

Jan. 24, 1994 * Down 11 with 3:52 remaining @ Western Illinois - won 74-67

Dec. 12, 1996 * Down 11 with 9:38 remaining vs. NE Illinois - won 55-54

Jan. 14, 1999 * Down 13 with 18:11 remaining @ UIC - won 52-50

Beating The Big Boys

The win over Virginia Tech marked the first time UWM has beaten a school from the Big East. While fans may debate what the greatest win in the program's Division I history is, the only game that appears to come close is the 77-72 triumph over Wisconsin at the UW Fieldhouse on Dec. 12, 1992.

Player Of The Week

The week of Dec. 3-8 was one of the best weeks of junior Ronnie Jones' career. The junior averaged almost 20 ppg in three games during that week, and his work earned him Horizon League Player of the Week honors. The week was highlighted by his first start of the season Dec. 8 against Virginia Tech. Jones scored 25 points in the comeback win, with 23 of the points coming in the second half and OT.

Tournament Honors

Three Panthers have been honored following UWM's appearances in tournament play this season. Ronnie Jones was named to the all-tournament team at the Jim Thorpe Association Classic while Clay Tucker and Jason Frederick were each named to the Tribune Cyclone Challenge All-Tournament Team.

Eyes On The Panthers

The crowd of 18,947 Dec. 7 at Freedom Hall was the largest to ever witness a Panther game, surpassing the 17,770 that watched the UWM face Minnesota on Dec. 4, 1972.

Weisse Cares For The Ball

Dan Weisse has again taken the lead when it comes to taking care of the ball, collecting 48 assists while committing just 14 turnovers in his 18 games. Last season, Weisse would have led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio but did not record enough assists to meet the minimum requirements for the list. The junior finds himself in the same position this season, averaging just under three assists per game.

A Record You'd Rather Not Have

UWM's 0-for-21 stint from three-point range against Western Michigan easily became a new school record. Previously, the Panthers' poorest output from three-point range was an 0-for-7 effort against Valparaiso in 1996. UWM's 0-for-21 effort was also one shy of the most attempts without a make in NCAA Division I history. Canisius went 0-for-22 from three-point range against St. Bonaventure in 1995.

Picked For Fourth

UWM was picked to finish fourth in a preseason poll of Horizon League head men's basketball coaches, sports information directors and media. Butler was picked to win the league, followed by Detroit and Cleveland State. Butler's Thomas Jackson was named the league's preseason player of the year. The three teams picked ahead of the Panthers in the league standings combined for 68 wins last season and all three teams return four of their five starters. Butler advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, while Detroit advanced to the semifinals of the NIT. Meanwhile, Clay Tucker was named a preseason first-team All-Horizon League selection.

Bruce Pearl On Basketball

Fans can be a part of Bruce Pearl's radio show every Monday night live from Hooligan's on North Avenue in Milwaukee. The coach and special guests will talk Panther basketball from 7 until 7:30 p.m. each Monday night live on 1290 AM, WMCS.

Lights ... Camera ... Action

The Panthers are getting plenty of TV time during the 2001-02 season, with a number of games scheduled to air locally. The next TV game is Feb. 7 at UIC. Plus, "The Bruce Pearl Show" airs every Sunday at 10:30 p.m. on CBS-58, with a replay Mondays at 6:30 on TV-41.

Forever Young

The 2001-02 Panther squad is a young one and doesn't include a senior. Seven regulars are juniors, with transfer Jose Winston becoming eligible as a senior next year. UWM is also now regularly starting freshman Adrian Tigert and was starting sophomore James Wright before his season-ending injury. Freshman Chris Hill and sophomore Nate Mielke have also slowly worked their way into the regular rotation for UWM.

Hometown Touch

One of the themes of the 2001-02 basketball season for the Panthers is being "Milwaukee's Home Team." The Panthers are stocked with local talent. James Wright, Kalombo Kadima and transfer Jose Winston are all from Milwaukee. Jason Frederick hails from suburban Waukesha. No fewer than eight other players in the Panther program are from the state of Wisconsin.

Fox Valley All-Stars

Adrian Tigert is the second stellar product to come to UWM out of Oshkosh West High School and the Fox Valley Association. Dan Weisse is also from Oshkosh West. The presence of the two players gives UWM the winners of three of the last four Fox Valley Association Player of the Year awards. Weisse won the award in 1998 as a junior and again in 1999 as a senior, while Tigert won the award last season after leading the Indians to a runner-up finish in the state.

The Winning Numbers

UWM has put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 1991-92 and 1992-93 campaigns. UWM's 13 wins in league play over the last two seasons are also the most-ever for a two-year period in the school's brief MCC history. UWM has never finished above .500 in league play.

In Waiting

Two Panthers are sitting out the 2001-02 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Jose Winston, a former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball, is a transfer from Colorado. Winston was a high school standout at Milwaukee Vincent. Rob Sanders is a transfer from Toledo. Sanders sat out last season as a redshirt, and will have three years of eligibility remaining beginning next season.

Horizon League Tournament

The 2002 Horizon League Championship is set for March 1-5 in Cleveland, Ohio. UWM hosts the 2003 Horizon League Championship.

Up Next

The three-game homestand continues as Detroit visits Saturday at 7 p.m.