March 8, 2004

Championship Game Notes in PDF Format
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Player Notes in PDF Format
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Game #29

UIC (23-7, 12-4 Horizon)

at

UWM (19-9, 13-3 Horizon)

Tuesday, March 9 * 8 p.m. CST

U.S. Cellular Arena, Milwaukee, Wis.

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

Milwaukee TV: ESPN - Dave Revsine and Bob Valvano

Internet: Live audio at uwmpanthers.com

Tickets: Tickets available through Ticket Master, either by phone, online or at Ticket Master outlets

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee looks to return to the NCAA Tournament for a second-straight year when it welcomes the University of Illinois at Chicago to the U.S. Cellular Arena for the Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship Game. The contest begins at 8 p.m. CST Tuesday and will be televised live on ESPN.

* Last Time Out

UWM locked down defensively to claim a 58-50 win over Detroit in the Horizon League semifinals Saturday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Panthers led at halftime only to fall down four points early in the second half. But UWM used a 9-0 to regain command and then hit 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch to claim the win. Ed McCants scored 20 points and Dylan Page added 18 to pace the Panthers.

* A Brief Look At The Season That Was

The 2003-04 regular season will go down as one of the better ones in UWM's basketball history. Looking to recover from the loss of seven seniors that helped the Panthers to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, UWM opened the year 6-5. But a 10-game Horizon League winning streak sent the Panthers to the top of the league standings and, despite a three-game losing streak, helped UWM win the outright Horizon League title.

* How The Tournament Has Broken Down

The 2004 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship has held to form, with the top two seeds claiming berths in the title game. In fact, with the new, two-year-old format favoring higher-seeded teams, the higher seed has won 10 of 15 tournament games played. This year's tournament has had two exceptions - eighth-seeded Loyola's win over fifth-seeded Wright State in the first round and sixth-seeded Butler's win over third-seeded UW-Green Bay in the second round.

* History Lesson

UWM is looking to become the first school since Butler in 2000 and 2001 to win back-to-back league tournament titles. Butler, Evansville and Xavier are the only three schools to ever win back-to-back league tournament titles.

* Horizon League History

UWM is the number-one seed in this year's tournament for the first time in school history. In fact, before Bruce Pearl took over as the Panthers' head coach, UWM had never mustered better than a fifth-seed in the league tournament. Under Pearl, UWM has been the third seed (2002), second seed (2003) and first seed (2004). All-time, UWM is 5-7 in the league tournament and will be playing in the title game for just the second time.

* Is It Good To Be Number One?

The top seed in the Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship has now advanced to the title game 19 times in the 25-year history of the tournament, winning 11 of those championship games entering tonight's contest. The last number-one seed to win the tournament was Butler in 2001, the final in a three-year streak of top seeds winning the league title.

* Counting On A Championship

This year's regular season Horizon League title is UWM's first in the Division I ranks. 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 was 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 finished second in the Horizon League this season, adding to a stellar string of success by all of UWM's teams.

* Why The Tournament Is Where It Is

With Butler losing Saturday night to UIC, UWM moved into the host role for the title contest by virtue of being the Horizon League regular season champion. Had the Bulldogs bested UIC Saturday, Tuesday's title tilt would be in Indianapolis. This is the final year where a league school holds hosting rights for the tournament. Beginning next year, the regular season champion will have the opportunity to host every game it plays in the post-season tournament.

* What's On The Line

The winner of the 2004 Horizon League Tournament receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, the only way a league school will qualify for the field of 65 this year. UWM is looking for its second-straight appearance in the "Big Dance," which would also be only the second in school history. UWM has never played in the NIT, which is the likely destination for the Panthers should they stumble in Tuesday's contest.

* Bring It Back On Downtown!

UWM's berth in the Horizon League championship games means a 10th game this season at the U.S. Cellular Arena in downtown Milwaukee. The Panthers returned most of their home games to the downtown arena this season after a wildly successful Horizon League Tournament a year ago. UWM drew over 17,000 fans for two tournament games last season and, with the move downtown this year, has seen attendance rise 15 percent. This year's schedule is part of a four-year agreement with the Wisconsin Center District. Plans call for UWM to play its entire schedule at the renovated downtown complex during the following three seasons. UWM has had success at the Arena of late, going 9-2 in its last 11 games. The Panthers played most of their home games at the Arena starting with the 1992-93 season through the 1997-98 season. UWM's first-ever appearance as the home team at the Arena came vs. Texas-El Paso on Dec. 13, 1971. UWM has played 116 games as the home team at the Arena, compiling a 62-54 record.

* Should Be Quite A Crowd

Tuesday night's championship game crowd at the U.S. Cellular Arena may be a record-setter. UWM's record crowd at the Arena is 10,115, set for last year's title game against Butler. The advance sales for the contest put UWM ahead of last year's pace and within site of its first-ever sellout at the Arena. With the configuration of the Arena for Tuesday, capacity will be near 11,000.

* Nicely Done At Home

UWM is happy to be home for the Horizon League Championship game, having won 25 of its last 27 home games, including 11 of 13 at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The Panthers have also won 20-straight games at home against Horizon League opponents - including two wins in the league tournament last year - and UWM is 25-2 against league opponents at home under Bruce Pearl.

* Seeking 20 Again

A win Tuesday in the Horizon League Championship would not only give UWM a second-straight NCAA Tournament berth, but it would also give UWM its first back-to-back 20-win seasons since the early 1990's. Plus, it would 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.

* Lights ... Camera ... Action

Tuesday's title contest will be UWM's 12th television appearance of the season, including three national TV dates. UWM faced Manhattan on ESPN2 during Bracket Buster Saturday and was on Fox Sports Net's ACC Sunday Night Hoops in December against North Carolina State. UWM has also made four additional appearances on Fox Sports regional outlets and four appearances on Milwaukee's WMLW, TV-41.

* Stunning Semifinal Performance

UWM didn't get a ton of offensive on Saturday in its semifinal win over Detroit, but the Panthers did receive plenty of hot shooting from junior Ed McCants. McCants led the way with 20 points, knocking in six three-point shots. He also blocked three shots in 34 minutes of action.

* Senior Stepping Up

Senior Nate Mielke knows his career at UWM is winding down and he stepped up with a big night on the boards Saturday. Mielke collected seven rebounds to go with two points and a blocked shot in 23 minutes.

* Making A Point

Sophomore Chris Hill, who just recently moved back into the starting lineup, played well when it counted Saturday. Hill scored 10 points - all in the final 10 minutes of action - helping the Panthers to claim the win. He made 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch and also grabbed six rebounds. Hill was part of a solid free throw shooting effort down the stretch, as the Panthers made 8-of-10 free throws in the final 83 seconds.

* Cold Shooting Doesn't Matter

UWM beat Detroit Saturday night despite some cold shooting from the field. The Panthers hit on just 38.6 percent of their shots, their lowest mark of the season. They hit on just 31.8 percent of their shots in the second half. The 58 points UWM scored were also the fewest in a win for the Panthers this season.

* But The Defense Does

UWM won the game Saturday because of one of its best defensive efforts in recent weeks. The Panthers limited the Titans to just 35.3 percent shooting from the field, while Detroit turned the ball over 16 times. UWM has now limited opponents to just 36 percent from the field in the last two games.

* Winning On The Horizon

The Panthers have found plenty of success in league play over the past two-plus seasons, adding 13 wins this year to the 13 wins last year and the 11 wins in the league the year before. Bruce Pearl has a 37-11 record in regular-season Horizon League contests in his three years at UWM, which computes to a .771 winning percentage. It's the best among active coaches with at least three years in the league.

* Simply The Best

Dylan Page capped off one of the best regular seasons in UWM history by winning Horizon League Player of the Year honors. The senior from Amherst, Wis., is the first Panther to ever win the award, voted on by the league's coaches, sports information directors and media. Among the reasons Page won - the best scoring average in the Horizon League, a top -10 ranking in six other statistical categories, 17 20-point-or-more outings and three double-doubles.

* Also Honored

Dylan Page wasn't the only Panther honored in the Horizon League's post-season awards. Junior Ed McCants was named the League's Newcomer of the Year and joined Page as a First-Team All-Horizon League selection. Sophomore Joah Tucker, a transfer from Bradley, also made the League's All-Newcomer Team.

* Page And Viall - An Honorable Pair

Along with Dylan Page being named the Horizon League's Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Maria Viall of UWM was named the Horizon League's Women's Basketball Player of the Year. It's the first time the same school has claimed both honors since the 1994-95 season, when Sherrill Ford and Penny Armstrong each won the awards for UIC. Brian Grant and Carol Madsen each won the awards in 1993-94 for Xavier.

* Keeping The Awards At Home

With Dylan Page winning player of the year honors and Ed McCants winning newcomer of the year honors, it's the first time since the 1993-94 season, and just the third time in league history, that the same school has captured both awards. Xavier's Brian Grant (player of the year) and Jeff Massey (newcomer of the year) combined for the feat in '93-'94, while Loyola's Alfredrick Hughes (POTY) and Carl Goldston (NOTY) did it in the 1983-84 campaign.

* Scoring Duo

Along with capturing the league's major honors and each garnering All-Horizon League First Team honors, Dylan Page and Ed McCants have teamed up to be one of the best scoring duos in the country. The two combine to average 37.8 ppg, tied for the eighth-best mark in the country. The duo of Mike Helms and Rawle Marshall of Oakland lead the way at 40.9 ppg.

* Senioritis

UWM's three seniors were honored last Saturday at the Klotsche Center, prior to the game with Cleveland State. Each 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, Dylan Page, Nate Mielke and Kalombo Kadima have led the Panthers to their first regular season Horizon League title this season. Entering Saturday's semifinal contest, the trio has combined for 294 appearances in Panther uniforms, including 167 starts. UWM's three seniors have all followed different paths in getting to their final seasons. 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. 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. Mielke was a transfer from Marshalltown CC and sat out his first season at UWM before playing in each of the last three seasons.

* Ending A Slide

UWM's win last Saturday over Cleveland State snapped a three-game losing streak by the Panthers, just their second three-game losing streak in three years under Bruce Pearl. The Panthers are 22-6 in games following a loss under Pearl and have still never lost three-straight league games in his tenure.

* Back On Track

Defense and rebounding seemed to be the two biggest woes for the Panthers during their three-game slide, but both areas were much improved last Saturday against the Vikings. UWM limited Cleveland State to just 36.7 percent from the field, including 32.3 percent in the second half. And, the Panthers outrebounded the Vikings, 51-35, including 19-10 on the offensive glass.

* Extra Contributions

UWM claimed its win over Cleveland State to close out the regular season in part because of extra contributions it had not been receiving of late. Mark Pancratz, who had played just nine total minutes over the previous four games, scored nine points in 14 minutes of action against the Vikings. Plus James Wright, only a spot player most of the season, scored four points and grabbed two rebounds in six minutes of action. Both players saw more action due to a shoulder injury to Rob Sanders.

* Providing Assistance

UWM leads the Horizon League in assists and that was never more obvious than last Saturday night against Cleveland State. The Panthers tallied 28 assists, one off a single-game school record. Kalombo Kadima led the way with seven assists while three other players had at least four.

* Getting Involved In Other Ways

Ed McCants is often one of UWM's top scorers but found other ways to contribute Saturday in the win over Cleveland State. McCants set a new career-high with eight rebounds, including five offensive boards. He also had five assists and two blocks. Along with ranking second on the team in scoring at 16.9 ppg, McCants is first on the team in steals, third in blocks, fourth in rebounding and fifth in assists.

* Happy To Have A Break

After going two months without a week off, UWM is enjoying some down time late in the season. The Panthers had a full week off before the regular season finale with Cleveland State and then enjoyed another week off before their Horizon League semifinal. Interestingly, the teams UWM had been fighting with at the top of the league standings have all received breaks from the schedule makers throughout the year. UIC enjoyed two weeks off during league play - plus the week off leading up to the semifinals - while UW-Green Bay also had two weeks off during the last two months.

* What They Were Recovering From

The time off allowed UWM a chance to fix some problems that cropped up during the three-game losing streak, a streak in which the numbers didn't lie. The Panthers, who shoot 48.4 percent from the field for the year, shot just 43.3 percent from the field in the three-game streak. That number included just 28 percent shooting from three-point range. Meanwhile, opponents shot 49.7 percent from the field in the three-game span, including 52.5 percent from three-point range. UWM was outscored 96-42 from beyond the arc in the three games.

* Hoping To Get Hot Again

UWM enters Tuesday's title contest with wins in 13 of its last 16 games despite a late, 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. 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.

* Winning On The Horizon

The Panthers have found plenty of success in league play over the past two-plus seasons, adding 13 wins this year to the 13 wins last year and the 11 wins in the league the year before. Bruce Pearl has a 37-11 record in regular-season Horizon League contests in his three years at UWM, which computes to a .771 winning percentage. It's the best among active coaches with at least three years in the league.

* Paging The All-District Honoree

UWM senior Dylan Page was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 11 First Team two weeks ago. 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. Page, who leads the league in scoring, ranks sixth in rebounding, sixth in field goal percentage, seventh in free throw percentage, fifth in three-point field goal percentage, eighth in three-point field goals made and fourth in blocks.

* Dylan Always Does It

After leading the way with 24 points last Saturday against Cleveland State, Dylan Page has now held or shared game-high scoring honors 20 times this season. He has been in double figures in scoring in all 28 games this season and in 61 of his last 63 contests while scoring 20 or more points 17 times this year. He has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week twice and has three double-doubles this season (five for his career).

* The 1,000-Point Mark

Dylan Page continues to climb up the scoring charts at UWM, with his career total now standing at 1,323 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.

* Lineup Change

Sophomore Chris Hill moved back into the starting lineup against Manhattan Feb. 21 and will likely remain in it the rest of the season. Hill started the first 12 games of the season before giving way to Kalombo 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.

* 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 123-43 record. Plus, in the latest AP poll, Southern Illinois is ranked 15th, North Carolina State 16th, Wisconsin 17th and Air Force 28th.

* Playing Well With The Lead

UWM usually comes out a winner when it has the lead after 20 minutes. The Panthers are 18-2 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 28 UWM games, while Ed McCants has been in double digits in 25 of 28 contests and Joah Tucker has reached double digits in 21 of 28 games. After that, four other players have combined for 19 double-digit outings, with Chris Hill collecting eight, Adrian Tigert six, Kalombo Kadima tallying four and Nate Mielke one.

* National Numbers

UWM is in the latest NCAA statistical rankings (March 1), with the Panthers standing 19th nationally in field goal percentage and 25th in scoring. Individually, Dylan Page ranks 18th in scoring while Ed McCants is 16th in three-point field goals per game.

* 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 sixth 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 ninth in field goal percentage while McCants is second in three-pointers made and third in three-point percentage. 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

* Up Next

Win or lose Tuesday night, the Panthers look to be playing in the post-season. NCAA Tournament play starts next Thursday, with the NIT starting as soon as Monday.