Tone Boyle
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Panthers Open Regular Season At World Vision Classic
UWM faces Loyola Marymount, Cal Davis and Iowa State
Nov. 12, 2008
Games #1-3
Milwaukee (14-16 in `07-'08) @ World Vision Classic
Fri. Nov. 14-Sun. Nov. 16
Hilton Coliseum • Ames, Iowa
The Short List
• UWM opens the 2008-09 regular season with three games at the World Vision Classic in Ames, Iowa.
• The Panthers won both of their exhibition contests, beating the Milwaukee School of Engineering, 68-43, on Nov. 5 before knocking off UW-Parkside, 75-59, on Saturday night.
• Milwaukee was picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League, returning two starters and seven letterwinners from last year. Avery Smith, a preseason all-league honoree a year ago, returns to the team after being dismissed from the squad last November. Smith does have to sit out the first two games of the regular season after playing in a closed-door scrimmage during the preseason last year.
• UWM has nine newcomers on the roster. Junior college transfer Tone Boyle and true freshman Tony Meier each started during exhibition play.
On The Air This Weekend
All three games this weekend will air live on WISN (AM 1130), with Bill Johnson on the call. Pregame coverage starts 15 minutes prior to tipoff. There is no television coverage of any of this weekend's games, though Iowa State's athletics website - cyclones.com - will have live video of each game ISU plays in.
Ticket Time
Tickets for this weekend's games are available through the Iowa State Ticket Office at 1-888-478-2925. Meanwhile, tickets for all UWM home games are available through Milwaukee-area Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com and by phone at 414-276-4545. Prices are $20, $15 and $10, with UWM students admitted free.
Printable Game Notes
Jeter Pregame Podcast
• Games #1-3
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's basketball team begins play in the 2008-09 season with three games at the World Vision Classic in Ames, Iowa.
• Looking At The World Vision
The World Vision Classic field finds the Panthers joined by Loyola Marymount, Cal Davis and the hosts from Iowa State. The round-robin format features two games each day, with a tournament champion crowned at the end of action Sunday.
Friday, Nov. 14
Milwaukee vs. Loyola Marymount - 4:30
Iowa State vs. Cal Davis - 7:00
Saturday, Nov. 15
Iowa State vs. Loyola Marymount - 12:30
Milwaukee vs. Cal Davis - 3:00
Sunday, Nov. 16
Cal Davis vs. Loyola Marymount - 4:30
Milwaukee vs. Iowa State - 7:00
• Some Matchup History
UWM has never faced Cal Davis, is 1-1 all-time against Loyola Marymount and is 0-3 against Iowa State ... the two meetings with LMU happened during the 1960's, with the squads meeting in Los Angeles in 1967 and in Milwaukee in 1968 ... Milwaukee's three matchups with Iowa State have all come since 1995, and all three games have been played at the Hilton Coliseum ... the most recent meeting came in 2001, when ISU claimed a 71-62 victory ... that visit was part of UWM's appearance in the Cyclone Challenge, with the Panthers also claiming a win over Nebraska-Omaha in the tournament ... Milwaukee will be facing a team from the Big 12 for the first time since the 2006 NCAA Tournament, when the Panthers beat Oklahoma, 82-74, in a first-round matchup.
• In-Season Tourney Time
UWM will be taking part in an in-season tournament for the eighth time in the last 10 years. The most recent event the Panthers were a part of came in 2006, when UWM played host to the John Thompson Classic. Milwaukee beat Radford before falling to both Washington State and UAB. The last time the Panthers won an in-season event came in 2002, when Milwaukee claimed the title of the Pizza Hut Classic in Springfield, Mo., with wins over Florida International and Missouri State.
• For Openers
UWM is 7-3 in its last 10 season openers, with a closer look at the record showing the Panthers don't usually shy away from early-season challenges. In fact, those three losses have come to Iowa (2000-01), Wisconsin (2002-03) and Memphis (2005-06). Since Milwaukee returned to the Division I ranks in 1990, the Panthers are 10-8 in season openers. Rob Jeter is 2-1 in season openers and 1-2 in road openers as UWM's head coach.
• On The Road Again
The Panthers begin the 2008-09 season looking to reestablish a trend of success on the road. Milwaukee started that uptick last season, improving to 5-8 away from home after going 2-15 on the road during the 2006-07 campaign. In the four seasons prior to that, though, UWM averaged nearly nine road wins per season. The Panthers will actually start season with a pair of neutral site contests, their first in the regular season since a 2003 Cable Car Classic win over Idaho State. UWM has played five NCAA Tournament games on neutral courts in recent seasons, going 3-2 in those games.
• Exhibition Game #1
Ricky Franklin had 17 points and Anthony Hill added 12 as UWM captured a 68-43 win over the Milwaukee School of Engineering Nov. 5. The Panthers limited the Raiders to just 27.9 percent shooting from the field while pulling away over the final 11 minutes. Milwaukee was sluggish at times on offense, committing 17 turnovers. But the Panthers shot a solid 47.3 percent from the field in claiming the win. The Panthers led by as many 13 points in the first half, only to see the Raiders pull within five with 14 minutes to play. But, Milwaukee used a 12-1 run to regain control and was never threatened after that.
• Exhibition Game #2
Anthony Hill scored 18 points and had nine rebounds to lead UWM to a 75-59 win over UW-Parkside Saturday night. Milwaukee used 16 different players and had just one player on the floor for more than 22 minutes. The Panthers built a double-digit lead early in the second half and then were never threatened. Milwaukee also got 14 points from Avery Smith, 10 points from Tone Boyle and eight points and nine rebounds from Tony Meier. The Panthers had received stiff challenges from the Rangers in each of the past two seasons, with UWP beating UWM in 2006 and losing by just three points in 2007.
• Making Improvements
If the exhibition season is simply about learning and getting better, the Panthers passed the test of the 2008-09 exhibition campaign. Last Wednesday against MSOE, Milwaukee committed 17 turnovers and had only a plus-seven rebounding edge. Saturday against Parkside, the Panthers committed just nine turnovers while upping their rebounding margin to plus-19. In fact, UWM had 20 offensive boards in the win. On top of that, Milwaukee did a much better job of getting the ball in the lane offensively. The Panthers had 44 points in the paint in their win over Parkside Saturday after tallying 30 in the victory over MSOE.
• Studying The Starters
If UWM goes with the same starting lineup this weekend as it did during the two exhibition contests, the Panthers will be field a very young first five. That group has included true freshman Tony Meier along with sophomores Deonte Roberts and Anthony Hill. They have been joined by junior-college transfer Tone Boyle and senior Ricky Franklin. In fact, when you consider Franklin can still earn back an addition year of eligibility, the Panthers could have their entire opening-day starting lineup back again next season.
• About Anthony
The player who received the most attention following each of the exhibition games was sophomore Anthony Hill, who the coaches hope will develop into a consistent low-post threat for the Panthers. Hill scored 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the win over MSOE and then led the way with 18 poins and nine rebounds in the victory over Parkside. While Hill is in his second season in Milwaukee, he appears ready to receive the first extended playing time of his Milwaukee career. As a true freshman last season, Hill played in 23 games, averaging just 5.9 minutes per contest.
• Familiar Faces
The Panthers will take the floor in the 2008-09 season with two starters and a total of seven letterwinners returning from last season. The returning starters are Ricky Franklin and Deonte Roberts, while the other returnees include Anthony Hill, Kaylan Anderson, Deion James, Charlie Swiggett and Jason Averkamp. Both returning starters have honors under their belts from a season ago, as Franklin was a third-team all-state selection by Inside Wisconsin Sports while Roberts earned a spot on the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team.
• He's Back, Too
There is another familiar face back in the fold for the 2008-09 campaign, as Avery Smith returns to the Panthers' roster after missing the 2007-08 season. Actually, Smith was dismissed from the squad last November and then slowly worked his way back onto the team. He did appear in a closed-door scrimmage with IUPUI last season, meaning he had to appeal to the NCAA to restore his eligibility for this - technically a fifth - season. The NCAA did oblige, instituting a two-game penalty for Smith, which he will serve during the first two regular season games. Smith was the Panthers' leading scorer in 2006-07, averaging 15.5 points per game. He then was a preseason all-league selection last year before being dismissed.
• JUCO Junction
The Panthers have three junior college players on the 2008-09 roster that will hope to make an immediate impact on UWM's success. Guard Tone Boyle earned all-region honors at Highland Community College last season and started each of the two exhibition contests. James Eayrs should be a big contributor as well after scoring over 1,100 points in two seasons at the North Dakota State College of Science. Finally, Burleigh Porte should provide defensive and rebounding support on the interior after spending this past season at Olney Community College in Illinois. Porte did not play in the exhibition contests while attending to a death in the family.
• Baby-Faced
Three scholarship true freshmen are also on the roster for the 2008-09 campaign. The early leader of that group is Tony Meier of suburban St. Louis, who was in the starting lineup for each of the two exhibition games. Ryan Haggerty has also shown well during preseason practice after a strong career at Benet Academy in suburban Chicago. Meanwhile, Riley Walker suffered a shoulder injury early in preseason practice but did make an appearance in Saturday's win over Parkside.
• Laying In The Weeds
UWM is hoping to surprise the field in the Horizon League during the 2008-09 season. The Panthers were picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League, according to a poll of the league's coaches, sports information directors and media members. Cleveland State, last season's regular season and tournament runner-up, was picked to win the league crown. Wright State was picked second with UIC third and Green Bay fourth. Two-time defending champion Butler was selected fifth. Experience was definitely of value to league voters. Cleveland State returns four of five starters, including a pair of 2008 all-league performers in J'Nathan Bullock and Cedric Jackson. Wright State brings back three of five starters, including 2008 first-team all-league performer Vaughn Duggins. UIC also has three of its five starters returning, including all-leaguer Josh Mayo. And, Green Bay has all five starters back, including all-league performer Mike Schachtner. Butler did lose four of its five starters but returns all-league performer Matt Howard and has lost just five league games over the last two seasons.
• Other Insights
A number of other publications have also published their preseason picks for the Horizon League. UWM was actually picked eighth in three different publications, with The Sporting News, Lindy's and Athlon Sports all selecting the Panthers in that position. Two of those publications picked Cleveland State to win the league crown, while Lindy's selected Wright State as the eventual league champion.
• Something From The Scrimmage
James Eayrs scored 17 points and Deion James added 14 as the white squad beat the black squad, 73-64, at the annual Full-Court Club scrimmage Oct. 28 at the Klotsche Center. The white team led by five points at halftime and by as many as 10 in the second half before hanging on to the lead late. Eayrs scored 14 of his points in the second half. Charlie Swiggett added 11 points for the white team. True freshman Tony Meier, junior-college transfer Tone Boyle and veteran Ricky Franklin scored 15 points apiece for the black squad, which also got 11 points from sophomore Anthony Hill. The two teams combined for 17 made three-pointers.
• About The Schedule
Head coach Rob Jeter has put together another difficult schedule for the Panthers. UWM will play 10 games against postseason qualifiers and meet up with teams from the Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 this season. In fact, UWM has contests against BCS foes on each of the first three weekends of the regular season. The list of postseason qualifiers on Milwaukee's schedule this season includes Marquette, Wisconsin, Miami (Ohio), Bradley, Butler, Cleveland State and Valparaiso. January finds UWM home for seven of its 10 games while the Panthers are on the road for five of its seven contests in February.
• Job Changes
While Rob Jeter's full coaching staff returns in tact for a fourth-straight season, two of the people on the staff have switched positions. Ronnie Jones, who has spent the last three seasons as the director of basketball operations, will take over as the video coordinator. Meanwhile, Chip MacKenzie will become the operations director after three years in the video role.
• Ticket Time
Single-game tickets for UWM men's basketball games are on sale now. Advance tickets can be purchased through all Milwaukee-area Ticket Master outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 414-276-4545. Single-game tickets for men's games at the U.S. Cellular Arena are priced from $10-$20. Fans can also still purchase full season-ticket plans as well as five-pack ticket plans. For more information, contact the UWM Ticket Office at 414-229-5886.
• Looking Around The Cell
The U.S. Cellular Arena has taken on a number of new looks for the 2008-09 season. Most obvious is a new floor. The entire surface has been refinished and painted, with the newest Milwaukee Panthers' logo prominently on display at center court. The surface also includes the new men's three-point line, which is set at 20'9", a Horizon League logo in each free-throw lane and a handful of UWM logos on the sidelines. The U.S. Cellular Arena logo is also prominent on the floor. Among other changes planned at the U.S. Cellular Arena for this coming season is the relocation of the student section to the north end zone. Plus, upper level seats have been dressed in black and gold, adding more color to the Arena while creating a more intimate atmosphere.
• The Bright Lights Of TV
UWM will again spend plenty of time on television during the 2008-09 season. The Jan. 9 game between UWM and Green Bay will kickoff the brand-new Horizon League/ESPNU Game of the Week package. The game tips off at 8 p.m. CST and will be one of 17 games involving league schools on the ESPN networks during the coming season. The appearance by the Panthers in the package will mark the 20th national television appearance by UWM over the past six seasons. In addition to that game on ESPNU, UWM will again have its extensive local television package with Time Warner Sports. At least 10 games will be a part of that package, with the debut set for Dec. 11 at Miami (Ohio). The Panthers will also be on Time Warner Sports Nov. 22 when they take on Marquette, though that is not part of UWM's package of games. And, "The Rob Jeter Show" debuts Nov. 19 on TWS.
• Making (Radio) Waves
UWM returns to WISN (AM 1130) for a second-straight season. The coverage is part of a five-year agreement between UWM Athletics and Clear Channel Radio, which also provides coverage of the Panther women. UWM contests on WISN start with a 15-minute pregame show, while home games also include a live postgame show from Major Goolsby's in downtown Milwaukee. WISN also airs "Rob Jeter on Basketball" Mondays from 6-7 p.m. Bill Johnson returns for his 10th season as the voice of the Panthers.
• Summing Up The 2007-08 Season
An amazing series of ups and downs marked the 2007-08 season for the Panthers. After enduring a six-game losing streak from late November to mid-December, Milwaukee put together a six-game winning streak from late December until a loss at Butler Jan. 12. The winning streak marked UWM's first six-game win streak since Milwaukee won eight-straight from Dec. 17, 2005, to Jan. 11, 2006. After that run, the Panthers added a three-game winning streak and a three-game losing streak. Overall, UWM went 11-9 after opening the season 3-7.
• Quick Hits
The Panthers are now 52-20 in regular season and postseason contests at The Cell since their return in 2002-03 ... combining games at both the Klotsche Center and the U.S. Cellular Arena, UWM is now 57-14 in regular season Horizon League home contests over the last nine seasons ... UWM fielded six different starting lineups in 2007-08, though the Panthers used the same starting five over a stretch of 17 games until an injury to Marcus Skinner forced another change. Eight different players earned starts ... after its win Feb. 16, Milwaukee has now beaten its in-state rival from Green Bay 13 times in the last 18 meetings between the two schools. That streak includes wins in nine of the last 10 contests in Milwaukee, with UWM's average margin of victory nearly 17 points per game in those nine wins ... the Panthers rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to win a game four times during the 2007-08 season. The final comeback came Feb. 16 against Green Bay, when Milwaukee trailed by 12 points with 14 minutes to play before rallying for a 10-point win ... two simple stats pointed out the keys to winning for the Panthers in `07-'08. First, UWM finished 13-7 when it either won or tied the rebounding battle, while the Panthers were 1-9 when being outrebounded. Also, UWM was 12-4 when it scored 70 or more points but just 4-9 when allowing 70 or more.
• Up Next
UWM plays its home opener Nov. 19 against Upper Iowa at 7 p.m.
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