Feb. 27, 2004

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Game #27

Cleveland State (4-23, 0-15 Horizon)

at

UWM (17-9, 12-3 Horizon)

Saturday, Feb. 28 * 7 p.m. CST

Klotsche Center * Milwaukee, Wis.

Milwaukee Radio: WOKY (920 AM), Bill Johnson play-by-play

Milwaukee TV: None

Internet: Live audio and stats at uwmpanthers.com

Tickets: Available at all Ticket Master outlets, by phone at 414-276-4545 or at the Klotsche Center on game night.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee wraps up the 2003-04 regular season by welcoming Cleveland State to the Klotsche Center. Saturday's contest, which is Senior Night at UWM, tips off at 7 p.m. CST.

* Last Time Out

UWM nearly overcame a 21-point second-half deficit before falling, 83-76, to Manhattan last Saturday in a nationally-televised contest at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The Jaspers led 60-39 with under 13 minutes to play and still led by 17 with four minutes left. But the Panthers pulled within three with just over 30 seconds remaining before Luis Flores hit two free throws to help Manhattan hang on. Dylan Page led the Panthers with 25 points.

* What's On The Line

UWM is playing for its first-ever outright Horizon League regular season title tonight. The Panthers enter the game having already clinched a share of the crown 10 days ago when UIC won at UW-Green Bay. But, unless UIC loses to Butler Saturday, the Panthers will have to win to avoid sharing the title with the Flames.

* A Long Time Between Titles

This season's regular season Horizon League title is UWM's first in the Division I ranks and the first of any kind since going a perfect 8-0 in the Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference during the 1940-41 season. UWM had been close to breaking through in each of the last two seasons. In 2001-02, the Panthers were in first place after 13 games before losing two of three on the road. Then last year, UWM dropped a buzzer-beating heartbreaker on the final day of the regular season to Butler, giving the Bulldogs the crown.

* Who Has And Hasn't Won

With UWM winning the Horizon League title, it has eliminated its name from the list of current league schools who have not won a regular season league title in either the Horizon League or the MCC. Youngstown State, which joined the league just two years ago, joins Cleveland State and Wright State as the only league schools to not win a regular season crown. Butler had won the last four regular season titles - a streak that is being broken this season.

* Just Like Our Other Sports

The UWM men are the fourth Panther squad to win a Horizon League regular season title this season. The UWM volleyball team, men's soccer team and women's soccer team won titles this fall. The UWM women's basketball team will likely claim a second place finish in the Horizon League this season, adding to a stellar string of success by all of UWM's teams.

* Horizon League Bracketology

Some of the slots for the 2004 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship have been secured while others will not be decided until the final games of the regular season have been played. UWM knows it will be the number one seed for the first time in school history, while UIC clinched the number two seed with its win over Wright State Thursday. The bottom of the bracket is also set, with Youngstown State in the seventh slot, Loyola seeded eighth and Cleveland State ninth. The middle four spots remain up for grabs. Wright State and UW-Green Bay play Saturday night with the winner claiming the third spot. The loser, though, would fall to the fifth spot if Detroit wins at Youngstown State. On the other hand, if the Titans lose at Youngstown State, Detroit could fall to sixth if Butler wins at UIC. Butler will host the second round and semifinal action if it wins a first-round game March 2, or the tournament will move to Chicago if the Bulldogs fall. The championship game will also be played at Butler, or move to the highest remaining seed if the Bulldogs have been eliminated.

* Honors On The Way

UWM will find out Sunday which of its players are receiving post-season awards from the Horizon League. Balloting for slots on the two all-league teams, as well as the all-newcomer team and all-defensive team, closed Friday afternoon. The Panthers appear to have three top candidates for league honors in Dylan Page, Ed McCants and Joah Tucker. UWM has never had either the Player of the Year or the Newcomer of the Year in the league and, until last year, had never placed two players on the all-league first team.

* Senior Discount

Saturday's contest with Cleveland State is Senior Night at UWM, marking the final appearance by three players at the Klotsche Center and, possibly, the final game home game for the Panthers this season. Dylan Page, Kalombo Kadima and Nate Mielke are all in their final seasons at UWM. The Panthers have won four-straight Senior Night contests, including a memorable 81-78 win over UIC last season in which senior Clay Tucker hit the game-winning shot with under 30 seconds remaining.

* Senioritis

The contributions of this year's three seniors will be remembered for some time in the UWM basketball program. Along with being a part of UWM's first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament team from a season ago, the three seniors have led the Panthers to their first regular season Horizon League title this season. Entering tonight's contest, the trio has combined for 291 appearances in Panther uniforms, including 166 starts.

* The Long Collegiate Road

UWM's three seniors have all followed different paths in getting to tonight's Senior Night festivities. Kalombo Kadima is the most veteran of the group, having spent the last five years at UWM. Kadima started most of his first two seasons as a Panther before playing as a reserve in his junior year. Kadima redshirted last year. Dylan Page has played the last four seasons at UWM, though he was limited by injuries in his first two years before excelling in his final two campaigns. Nate Mielke was a transfer from Marshalltown Community College and sat out his first season at UWM before playing in each of the last three campaigns, including as a starter last season.

* Alumni Night

Along with a celebration of UWM's three seniors, Saturday also marks Alumni Night, with an alumni game scheduled for approximately 4 p.m.

* Don't Block The Exits!

Saturday's game at the Klotsche Center will give fans an updated look at the ongoing construction that is creating the new Klotsche Center addition, set to open in the fall of 2005. While no work is currently being done to the arena itself, numerous exit doors on the northeast side of the building have been closed, forcing UWM officials to limit the number of fans that enter the building. Eventually, the construction project will put a new soundsystem and air conditioning into the arena while creating new offices, locker rooms, an intramural gym and underground parking for the Klotsche Center.

* The People Show Up

With only a game at the Klotsche Center remaining on the regular season home schedule, the move to the U.S. Cellular Arena for this season can be considered a success. After averaging 3,448 fans in 11 games at the Klotsche Center a year ago during the regular season, UWM has averaged 4,341 in nine games at the Arena this year. Throw in the two Klotsche Center games to date, and UWM is averaging 3,949 fans - a 14 percent increase from a season ago. The crowd Jan. 31 against UW-Green Bay of 8,703 was the largest crowd ever for a regular season UWM game at the Arena while the crowd of 4,752 for ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday this past week ranks as the eighth-largest crowd of all-time for UWM at the Arena.

* Happy To Have A Break

For the first time since before Christmas, UWM had an entire week off this past week, with the Panthers not having played since last Saturday afternoon against Manhattan. Interestingly, the teams UWM has been fighting with at the top of the league standings have all received breaks from the schedule makers throughout the year. UIC has enjoyed two weeks off during league play, as has UW-Green Bay. Wright State wrapped up a week off Thursday and played just one game between Feb. 15 and Feb. 25.

* Taking Advantage Of The Time

With a full week between games, head coach Bruce Pearl was able to give his Panthers a little time away from practice. UWM went through a spirited, full-court workout Monday before taking Tuesday and Wednesday off. The Panthers then returned to the practice floor Thursday and Friday in preparation for Saturday's contest.

* Still More Time Off

One of the benefits of earning the top seed for the Horizon League Tournament is that UWM will enjoy another full week off before playing next Saturday in the semifinals. If the semis are played at Butler, the Panthers will likely depart Thursday. If the semis move to Chicago, UWM would likely depart on Friday morning.

* Lineup Change

Sophomore Chris Hill moved back into the starting lineup last Saturday against Manhattan, grabbing the lead point guard spot from Kalombo Kadima. Hill started the first 12 games of the season before giving way to Kadima, who started the next 13. Other than the change at point guard, UWM has changed its lineup just one other time this season. Mark Pancratz started for Ed McCants Dec. 3 at Prairie View A&M after McCants was late for a team function prior to the game.

* Ending A Slide

UWM has now lost three-straight games for the first time this season and for just the second time under Bruce Pearl. The Panthers also lost games #2, 3 and 4 of Pearl's tenure. Under Bruce Pearl, UWM is 21-6 in games following a loss. Plus, under Pearl, UWM has never lost three-straight league games.

* What's Gone Wrong

The numbers haven't lied in UWM's three-game losing streak. The Panthers, who still shoot 48.4 percent from the field for the year, have shot just 43.3 percent from the field in the last three games. That number includes just 28 percent shooting from three-point range. Meanwhile, opponents are shooting 49.7 percent from the field in the last three games, including 52.5 percent from three-point range. UWM has been outscored 96-42 from beyond the arc in its last three contests.

* Krazy About Klotsche

UWM will play the final of its three regular season games scheduled for the on-campus Klotsche Center Saturday against Cleveland State. The Panthers have already beaten Concordia-St. Paul and Youngstown State at Klotsche this season and have won 15-straight games on-campus. UWM is 43-9 at the Klotsche Center over the last five seasons.

* Holding Serve In The League

Home league losses have been few and far between for UWM in the last few seasons. In fact, UWM has won 17-straight regular season league games at home. The Panthers are 23-2 in regular season league home games under Bruce Pearl. The Klotsche Center dominance is a prevelent theme among the three UWM team sports that call Klotsche home. The volleyball, women's basketball and men's basketball teams have combined to go 90-11 in Horizon League contests at the Klotsche Center over the past five seasons, an amazing .892 winning percentage.

* Hoping To Get Hot Again

UWM enters Saturday's contest against Cleveland State with wins in 11 of its last 15 games despite the three-game losing streak. The Panthers had their nine-game winning streak snapped Feb. 5 at UIC. The streak was the second-longest streak in the school's Division I history and the longest under Bruce Pearl. Last year, UWM posted a pair of eight-game streaks. The longest winning streak in the school's Division I history is still a 10-game spell in 1992-93. UWM has posted winning streaks of five games or more three other times under Pearl in his two-plus season as the Panthers' coach. UWM has had league winning streaks of nine, eight and five games under Pearl while, prior to his arrival at UWM, the Panthers never won more than three-straight league games.

* Seeking 20 Again

Three more wins would give UWM its first back-to-back 20-win seasons since the early 1990's. It would also be just the sixth 20-win season in school history. Last year, UWM tied the all-time school record with 24 wins, equaling a mark set when the Panthers went to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 1989. UWM also won 23 games in the 1992-93 campaign, 20 games in the 1991-92 season and 20 games in the 1981-82 season.

* Winning On The Horizon

The Panthers have found plenty of success in league play over the past two-plus seasons, already adding 12 wins this year to the 13 wins last year and the 11 wins in the league the year before. Bruce Pearl has a 36-11 record in regular-season Horizon League contests in his two-plus years at UWM.

* Impressive Numbers

UWM head coach Bruce Pearl has moved to the top of the charts among Horizon League coaches. His 36-11 record in league games computes to a .766 winning percentage, easily the best among active coaches and a number that would put him near the top of all-time league coaches with at least three years in the league at season's end. Entering this season, Pete Gillen, who coached in the league at Xavier from 1985-1994, holds the top honor with a .769 winning percentage. Plus, Pearl has moved into the top-10 all-time in league wins, a list headed by Detroit's Perry Watson, who has 100 league wins in 10-plus seasons.

* Paging The All-District Honoree

UWM senior Dylan Page was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 11 First Team last week. Page, who leads the Horizon League in scoring and is fifth in rebounding, is now eligible for All-America consideration. Page is joined on the first team by an impressive group - Devin Harris of Wisconsin, Kris Humphries of Minnesota, Paul Davis of Michigan State and Travis Diener of Marquette. Cedrick Banks of UIC, Jitim Young of Northwestern, Mike Williams of Western Michigan, Mike Wilkinson of Wisconsin and Deron Williams of Illinois were named to the second team.

* Top 10 List

Dylan Page is in the Horizon League's top 10 in seven different categories entering Saturday's game. Page, who leads the league in scoring, ranks fifth in rebounding, sixth in field goal percentage, sixth in free throw percentage, seventh in three-point field goal percentage, eighth in three-point field goals made and third in blocked shots. He is looking to become the first UWM player to win League Player of the Year honors.

* Dylan Always Does It

After leading the way with 25 points Saturday, Dylan Page has now held or shared game-high scoring honors 19 times this season. He has been in double figures in scoring in all 26 games this season and in 59 of his last 61 contests while scoring 20 or more points 16 times this season. He has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week twice and has three double-doubles this season (five for his career).

* The Century Mark

Dylan Page continues to climb up the scoring charts at UWM, with his career total now standing at 1,281 points. His 23 points Jan. 8 against Butler sent him past the 1,000 mark for his career. Page is now one of just seven Panthers to have passed the 1,000-point barrier since UWM moved back to the Division I ranks in 1990 and he currently stands third in that same time period in scoring. Making Page's accomplishment particularly remarkable is that injury and illness limited him to just 176 points in his first two seasons as a Panther.

* Still Banged Up

Dylan Page sprained his left ankle at the end of UWM's game at UIC Feb. 5. He played with his left leg heavily wrapped some 40 hours later, scoring 10 points as the Panthers beat Wright State to hang on to first place in the Horizon League. Page, who only this week has started to participate in full-contact practices, has averaged 19.2 ppg in his five outings since, shooting 45 percent from the field and 28 percent from three-point range. The Panthers have been slowed in that time, going 2-3 in their last five games.

* A Successful Road

UWM may not have to play another true road game this season but, if they do, the Panthers will be able to look back on another reasonably successful road campaign in 2003-04. UWM went 7-7 in overall road games, including 5-3 in league road games. In three years under Pearl, UWM is 20-21 in true road contests, including 15-9 in league play, and 5-3 in neutral floor contests. In the seven years prior to Pearl's arrival, the Panthers were just 13-71 on the road and never won more than three games in a season. Also, prior to Pearl's arrival in Milwaukee, UWM was just 7-38 in regular season Horizon League road contest. And, UWM's road wins in the league have been impressive. After recording just two double-digit league road wins in seven seasons, the Panthers have posted 11 double-digit road league wins in the last three seasons, including five this year.

* Keeping An Eye On Others

All you have to do is check out the six teams UWM lost to in non-league play to know the Panthers played the toughest non-league schedule in school history. In fact, the six teams UWM lost to in non-league play have combined for a 112-38 record. Plus, in the latest AP poll, North Carolina State is ranked 12th, Southern Illinois 16th and Wisconsin 22nd.

* Playing Well On The Lead

UWM usually comes out a winner when it has the lead after 20 minutes. The Panthers are 16-2 this season when leading at the half. The only losses came at Santa Clara and at Youngstown State.

* Double Figure Figures

UWM can often count on at least two of its "Big 3" to reach double figures, with the remainder of the roster taking its turn in joining the group of players tossing in more than 10 points in a game. Dylan Page has scored in double figures in all 26 UWM games, while Ed McCants has been in double digits in 24 of 26 contests and Joah Tucker has reached double digits in 20 of 26 games. After that, four other players have combined for 17 double-digit outings, with Chris Hill and Adrian Tigert collecting six apiece, Kalombo Kadima tallying four and Nate Mielke one.

* Newcomer Of The Year?

Junior Ed McCants continues to make an immediate impact on the Panther rotation this season, tossing in 20 more points Saturday. The Paris JC transfer stands second on the team in scoring at 17.3 ppg, has scored 20 or more points 11 times and has been in double figures in all but two games this season. He currently sits fourth in the league in scoring, third in free throw percentage and 10th in field goal percentage. He is the leading candidate for Horizon League Newcomer of the Year.

* Providing Assistance

UWM leads the Horizon League in assists and gets its biggest boost from an unlikely source. Center Adrian Tigert leads the Panthers with 91 assists, 12 more than Chris Hill's 79. Tigert ranks seventh in the league in assists and is the only center in the top 15 in assists in the league.

* Even More Assistance

UWM's point guard tandem of Chris Hill and Kalombo Kadima splits time on the court, but when you put their numbers together you get quite a package. The two average 12.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 5.9 apg. Hill had six assists Saturday against Manhattan and each player ranks in the top 10 in the league in assists.

* National Numbers

UWM is in the latest NCAA statistical rankings (Feb. 24), with the Panthers standing 16th nationally in field goal percentage and 27th in scoring. Individually, Dylan Page ranks 18th in scoring while Ed McCants is 11th in three-point field goals per game and 26th in three-point field goal percentage.

* League Leaders

Some UWM players are at the top of the Horizon League statistical charts. Dylan Page stands first in the league in scoring and fifth in rebounding. In fact, UWM has three players in the top 10 in the league in scoring, with Ed McCants fourth and Joah Tucker ninth. Tucker is fifth, Page sixth and McCants 10th in field goal percentage while McCants is third in free throw percentage and first in three-pointers made. As a team, UWM is first in scoring, field goal percentage and assists.

* Notable Notes From Earlier This Year

Sophomore Chris Hill knocked down all 12 of his free throw attempts Feb. 14 at Youngstown State, becoming one of six Panthers to make all of his free throw attempts - while attempting at least 10 - since UWM returned to the Division I ranks in 1990. Derek Durham made all 13 of his free throw tries against Stetson during the 1995-96 season, while Hill equaled Shannon Smith's 12-for-12 effort in 1995 ... UWM tied a Division I school-record Feb. 7 by turning the ball over just five times in its win over Wright State. The Panthers have turned the ball over just five times on three other occasions since returning to the Division I ranks in 1990 - the most recent coming Feb. 24, 1994, against UW-Green Bay. Prior to Feb. 7, the fewest turnovers in a game for UWM under Bruce Pearl was seven at Wisconsin in the season opener last year ... Sophomores Joah Tucker and Adrian Tigert have both checked in with double-doubles this season. Tigert has two of them, including a 13-point, 14-rebound effort against UIC, while Tucker went for 17 points and 12 rebounds against Wright State ... Along with two-time honoree Dylan Page, Joah Tucker and Kalombo Kadima have each been honored as the Horizon League Player of the Week this season. Tucker was honored after opening his UWM career with a 22-point outing against Montana. Kadima was honored after scoring a career-high 22 points to help the Panthers beat UW-Green Bay ... Dylan Page leads the team with 32 blocks but Nate Mielke is right behind with 28. Mielke has 76 career blocks - the third-most by a Panther since 1992. Page has 69 career blocks, fourth on UWM's all-time Division I list ... UWM has shot 50 percent or better 12 times this season and 28 times in the two-plus seasons under Bruce Pearl. Two of the best outings this year were a 60.4 percent effort at Loyola Jan. 10 and a 59.2 percent mark Jan. 24 at Detroit ... When Dylan Page scored 26 points and Ed McCants added 21 Feb. 12 in the win over Loyola, it marked the seventh time this season the two each scored at least 20 points in the same game. Meanwhile, Page, McCants and Joah Tucker all eclipsed the 20-point mark in the Dec. 30 win over Idaho State, marking the first time since last February's win at Loyola that three Panthers scored 20 points or more in the same game.

* Lights ... Camera ... Action

Last Saturday's contest with Manhattan was UWM's 10th television appearance this season and marked the second time the Panthers appeared on national TV this year. UWM dropped a 77-71 decision at NC State on Fox Sports Net as part of the network's "ACC Game of the Week" package. UWM has also made four additional appearances on Fox Sports regional outlets and four appearances on Milwaukee's WMLW, TV-41. UWM's semifinal appearance in the Horizon League Tournament will be televised on Fox Sports North and other regional outlets while the Horizon League title game is on ESPN.

* Clear Channel On Your Dial

UWM and Clear Channel Broadcasting have signed a three-year agreement to place all Panther games on 920AM, WOKY, with a 15-minute pregame show and 15-minute postgame show. Bill Johnson returns for his fifth season as the voice of the Panthers. The station also airs "Bruce Pearl on Basketball," every Monday night from 7-8 p.m. at the Gasthaus in the basement of the UWM Union.

* Signing On The Dotted Line

Indianapolis prep standout Anthony Passley and junior college transfer Derrick Ford have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at UWM. Passley, of North Central High School, is a possible Mr. Basketball in Indiana. Ford was a Top 20 player in the state of Ohio as a high school senior and is a Top 70 JUCO prospect from Olney Central Community College in Illinois. UWM also has a pair of Division I transfers on its roster that will sitting out this season. Jason McCoy is a 6-foot-9 small forward from Rutgers while Derrick Wimmer is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Chicago State.

* Up Next

UWM has another full week off before playing in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament next Saturday. The Panthers will be the top seed in the tournament and will face either the fourth, fifth, eighth or ninth seed. UWM's game will likely be the first semifinal, which would mean a 4:30 p.m. CST tipoff. The championship game Tuesday would tip off at 8 p.m. CST.