UWM Looks To Take Another Step Forward
Oct. 17, 2008
MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's basketball team has a clear idea of what it will take to make another step forward in its quest to return to the top of the Horizon League. After a 2007-08 season that saw numerous roster changes lead to an extended winning streak, the Panthers wound up with 14 wins overall and a fourth-place finish in the league. That meant a solid five-game improvement from 2006-07 to 2007-08. Another similar jump this year would likely land UWM in the thick of the league title chase, and the Panthers will look to develop in a wide variety of areas to make that next step. UWM is eyeing a stronger start than in past years, as well as an improvement during the final month of the season. The Panthers are also hopeful of making use of their versatility while also developing great depth. And, UWM will look to improve its field-goal shooting thanks to an influx of highly-regarded newcomers. But, most of all, the Panthers will look to build from the realization made during the 2007-08 season that often-cliched topics like team, effort and commitment actually do lead to success. "When all of the dust settled last year, we had a team," head coach Rob Jeter said. "That is the point we are building from. When you have to bring in a lot of new bodies over a few years, ultimately you want to get to the place we are now. We have a core of guys who have a passion for the program and a commitment to the program and to the system. We had to learn our lessons of maturity and togetherness and we've done that. Now we just have to remind them that, together, we can be a stronger group than if we are playing as individuals." The focus on this year's team will likely start in the backcourt, where the Panthers appear as deep as any squad in the league. Starters Ricky Franklin and Deonte Roberts both return, as does key reserve Deion James. Then, the Panthers added highly-respected junior college transfer Tone Boyle and boast the return of Avery Smith. Smith did not play last season after being dismissed from the team in November, but returns after remaining in school at UWM all of last year.
Smith averaged 15.5 points per game during the 2006-07 campaign while Franklin averaged nearly 10 points per contest a season ago. Roberts earned a spot on the league's all-newcomer team in averaging 7.0 points per contest, while James pitched-in with 7.1 points per contest off the bench. If those four simply matched their previous offensive output, the Panthers would get nearly 41 points per contest from their returning backcourt, not even considering the addition of newcomers. "With the addition of Avery, we're adding a first-team preseason all-league player from a year ago," Jeter said. "We're adding more depth at a position that is very important in our league. We feel pretty good about where we are in the backcourt." UWM will look to a wide variety of faces to fill its interior positions. Returnees Jason Averkamp and Anthony Hill provide experience on the inside while junior-college transfers Burleigh Porte and James Eayrs should provide a boost on both ends of the floor. Averkamp was pressed into extended action at the end of last season and scored 21 points against Valparaiso Feb. 25. Hill, meanwhile, showed flashes of development throughout the season and has the potential to be a regular offensive threat. Meanwhile, Eayrs set records as a scorer at the North Dakota State College of Science while Porte is known for his rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. "We knew we were going to need some inside help," Jeter said. "With Burleigh and James being two inside guys, we are definitely going to lean on those guys to anchor the inside knowing that Anthony Hill is just a sophomore and knowing that Jason Averkamp, after getting some significant minutes late in the year, is ready to help out as a junior. We're definitely going to be able to lean on those guys, and we were thin in that position anyway. There shouldn't be any issues with those guys being able to jump right in and be a factor." Two other returnees should provide additional depth. Charlie Swiggett started 12 games as a freshman and appeared in nearly every game off the bench last season. Kaylan Anderson has developed into a solid defensive reserve and can play a number of different positions in both the front and back court. But, UWM will also be introducing a large group of newcomers to the mix. In addition to Boyle, Eayrs and Porte, true freshmen Tony Meier, Ryan Haggerty and Riley Walker all join the team as scholarship players. It would come as a surprise to no one if a number of the newcomers made an impact, but at the same time they will have to beat out some experienced competition. "We do have some young men that have an opportunity to play," Jeter said. "But the best thing about building a program is that, although these freshmen are talented enough to play - and in the last two years probably would have played significant minutes - you have upperclassmen that can play, too. Even if you have talented freshmen coming in, their time should be limited because you have upperclassmen who have paid their dues and have matured and have gotten better. Plus they have that experience, and the way you can become a pretty good basketball player in our league - unless you are just an exceptional talent - is to have experience." UWM's hopes for a fast start will be tested as UWM sees Iowa State, Marquette and Wisconsin on successive weekends in November. But, Jeter wants to see the Panthers build their confidence through the early part of the year. "We are looking to improve on the beginning of our season," Jeter said. "Last year, we experienced a lot of the ups and downs early, and then we hit a streak where we were playing pretty good basketball. I think the beginning for us is where the maturity and the continuity really needs to come through. We need to have a better start. It is amazing if you have a better start how much that confidence can carry over early and into league play. We're hoping to have some confidence going into league play." And then there is the hope increased depth will lead to a strong finish. "We hit a stretch at the end where we kind of limped in with some injuries and such," Jeter said. "We would like to think we have addressed that with our depth. We need to be able to stay strong and not allow injuries to be as much of a factor." UWM also appears to have added personnel that could help it dramatically improve its shooting percentage from the field. Along with the addition of highly-regarded marksmen like Boyle, Haggerty, Meier and Eayrs, a number of the returnees showed signs of improved shooting during the second half of last season. "We've been able to go out and recruit to specific needs rather than trying to fill a lot of positions, and that has helped," Jeter said of UWM's quest to boost its shooting numbers. "Some of these guys returning had success late last year, and that helps. When you come back after having had success the previous year, you play with more confidence. There might be a game or even a series of games where your individual offensive efficiency isn't where you want it to be, but you know you've done it before and you know you can make the shots at this level. I think the confidence level of these guys is what should really show through and that is what is going to help us with our shooting." There is also UWM's quest for versatility. With an abundance of talented guards, the Panthers will field a small lineup at times. But, UWM has a number of frontcourt players - Averkamp and Eayrs in particular - who should be able to shoot consistently from the perimeter and add another dimension to the Panther offense. "At this level, especially, there is a tendency to go small," Jeter said. "It might be a wing man sliding down to play a power forward position or have a guy 6-foot-6 that can play both the wing and the power forward position. The versatility and the interchangeable parts are very important, and you see that a lot in the wing and guard play. I think the better teams are versatile and have guys that can play multiple positions, and that's what we are striving to be. We want to be a team that can put different combinations out there and make other teams adjust to us." The Horizon League's preseason poll picked the Panthers for a sixth-place finish, behind four teams with extensive experience and a fifth (Butler) that won the last two league crowns. But Jeter sees the Panthers having a great chance of being right on the heels of that group. "Looking at those teams picked above us, there is not a lot of separation between those teams," Jeter said. "There is not a lot of separation between a big group of us and it is going to be fun to battle, watch people get beat up and banged up on the road, and watch everyone try to hold their homecourt. It is going to be interesting to see what happens." The Panthers will have no shortage of challenges during the 2008-09 season. In all, UWM will play 10 games against postseason qualifiers and meet up with teams from the Big Ten, Big East and Big 12. The Panthers also face a difficult path in league play, with just one league home contest in February. "We have put together a competitive schedule that should challenge us," Jeter said. "There is good balance on the schedule because we'll play some teams from big conferences and then see some strong mid-major programs. I know our fans look forward to seeing us play Wisconsin and Marquette but I also know those are just two of the many difficult games we have." But first the Panthers will look to build on a solid off-season by making big strides during preseason practice. "We now have a core of guys that understand what we want and how we want to play," Jeter said. "It is really evident right now in some of the workouts. We have upperclassmen that are able to lead some of the younger guys and point them in the right direction." |
