Tone Boyle
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Panthers Set To Open League Play Thursday Against Detroit
UWM hopes to snap three-game slide
Dec. 3, 2008
Game #8 - Detroit (2-3) @ Milwaukee (3-4)
Thurs. Dec. 4 • 7 pm
U.S. Cellular Arena • Milwaukee, Wis.
The Short List
• UWM returns to the U.S. Cellular Arena for a Thursday night contest with Detroit.
• The game is the Horizon League opener for both squads.
• The Panthers enter Thursday's game having lost three-straight contests, with losses to #15 Marquette and #25 Wisconsin in addition to a loss against Ball State.
• UWM has scored just 57.5 points per game in its last two outings after averaging almost 77 points per contest over its first five games.
• Tone Boyle (13.9 ppg) and Avery Smith (13.2 ppg) are UWM's leading scorers.
• Detroit is under the direction of first-year head coach Ray McCallum.
• The Titans enter play Thursday at 2-3, having claimed a home win over Saint Louis Saturday afternoon.
Printable Game Notes
Jeter Pregame Interview
• Game #8
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's basketball team opens Horizon League play with a Thursday night home contest against Detroit.
• Some Matchup History
The series between UWM and Detroit is knotted at 15-apiece and has been filled with a number of close games in recent memory. Just last season, the Panthers were down 14 points with 6:30 to play against the Titans at the U.S. Cellular Arena only to rally, with a Paige Paulsen three giving UWM a 55-53 victory. The two teams also played a pair of overtime games in 2006-07 and UWM overcame a late, 10-point deficit at Detroit during the 2005-06 campaign. Plus, Milwaukee beat Detroit, 59-58, in the 2005 league title game. The overall series with the Titans has worked its way to even thanks to a good run of success of late by the Panthers, who have won 11 of their last 14 meetings with Detroit.
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• For Openers In The League
UWM opens league play looking for its first win in its last three league openers, with losses to Youngstown State (2006-07) and UIC (2007-08) kicking off each of the last two seasons. Prior to the past two years, UWM won its league opener for six-straight years. In all, since joining the MCC/Horizon League, Milwaukee is 9-5 in league home openers and 6-8 in league openers overall.
• An Early Start In The League
For the seventh-straight season, UWM is opening its league schedule in December. For the second-straight season, though, the early start includes every league school, with the addition of Valparaiso to the league creating an 18-game schedule and increasing the need to dedicate an early-season weekend to league play. UWM has gone 4-4 in December league games, having won a single league game in four-straight seasons from 2002-03 through 2005-06 before dropping both of its December league games in each of the last two seasons.
• On The Homefront
UWM will be playing its third regular season home game of the season when Detroit visits the U.S. Cellular Arena. The Panthers are now 53-21 in regular season and postseason contests at The Cell since their return in 2002-03. If you combine games at both the Klotsche Center and the U.S. Cellular Arena, UWM is 57-14 in regular season Horizon League home contests over the last nine seasons.
• Franklin Update
UWM's Ricky Franklin was suspended by head coach Rob Jeter prior to the Nov. 29 contest at Wisconsin. Franklin has since returned to practice with the team, though his status for this weekend's games has not yet been determined. He is averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest.
• Last Time Out
Trevon Hughes scored a game-high 16 points as #25 Wisconsin claimed a 67-46 win over UWM Saturday morning at the Kohl Center. Tony Meier and Deonte Roberts scored 11 points apiece for Milwaukee, which started well on offense but fell cold over the final 30 minutes. Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft added 12 points apiece for the Badgers, who held the Panthers to a season-low offensive output. Tone Boyle added nine for UWM
• Offensive Slump
UWM has definitely shown signs of improvement on offense during the early season but the Panthers have hit a bit of a slump over their last two games. Milwaukee has shot just 36 percent from the field and is averaging 57.5 points per game in its last two outings. This comes after UWM shot nearly 45 percent and averaged 76.8 points per contest over the first five games of the year. Still, the Panthers have already scored 80 or more points three times in the first seven games of the season after doing it just three times all of last season. In 2006-07, UWM got to the 80 mark just once. And, the Panthers lead the Horizon League in scoring at 71.3 points per contest. UWM is also still shooting 42.7 percent from the field overall after shooting under 40 percent for the season in each of the last two years.
• Defense Holds The Key
The improved offense by the Panthers has been nice, but thus far the key to victory for UWM has come on the defensive end.In Milwaukee's three victories, opponents have shot just 37 percent from the field and averaged just 61 points per game. But, in UWM's four losses, opponents are shooting 49 percent from the field and averaging 82 points per game.
• A Charity Case
Another positive development on offense for the Panthers during the early season has come at the foul line. Not only is UWM getting there on a regular basis, but the Panthers are taking advantage of their opportunities. Milwaukee is averaging more than 21 free-throw attempts per game while converting 74.3 percent of its opportunities.
• Mega-Meier
Despite a battle with the flu during the early season, the Panthers are getting plenty out of true freshman starter Tony Meier. Meier tied for the team-lead with 11 points at Wisconsin Saturday and is averaging nearly eight points per game in the early season. He made quite the debut Nov. 14 in the win over Loyola Marymount, collecting 14 points while grabbing 12 rebounds. He became the first true freshman to record a double-double in his first appearance as a Panther in UWM's Division I history. Adrian Tigert had a double-double in his fifth game as a true freshman in 2001-02. Then, Meier followed that up with 10 more points Nov. 15. He missed the Nov. 16 game with the flu and then returned to the lineup Nov. 19 against Upper Iowa while continuing his progress toward being 100 percent.
• Setting The Tone
Junior college transfer Tone Boyle was expected to have an immediate impact on the Panthers this season and he certainly has so far. He led the way with 23 points in the Nov. 22 loss at Marquette, already his second 20-plus-point outing of the year. He is averaging a team-leading 13.9 points per game and is still shooting better than 40 percent from the field in spite of making just 5-of-20 from the field over his last two outings. He has also made a team-high 14 three-point field goals.
• A Hill To Climb
Sophomore Anthony Hill is already showing marked improvement from a season ago and is carrying the load as UWM's primary post threat. He scored a team-high 17 points last Tuesday night in the loss to Ball State despite being limited to 24 minutes by foul trouble. It was his third double-figure outing in seven games this season. Typically, the best way for opponents to slow Hill has been to get him in foul trouble, as in his four non-double-figure outings, he is averaging just over 15 minutes per game.
• All About Avo
Avery Smith hadn't played in a regular season game in 20 months when he took the floor Nov. 16 against Iowa State. Now he is doing a good job of shaking off any remaining rust. He already has a pair of 20-plus-point outings and stands second on the team at 13.2 points per game. Smith's story is becoming well-known, as he 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 served 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.
• Don't Overlook Deonte
With UWM's newfound success from three-point range and the return of Avery Smith, it can be easy to forget about Deonte Roberts, who was on the league's all-newcomer team a season ago. But, Roberts shared team-high scoring honors with 11 points at Wisconsin Saturday and the sophomore is shooting 52.9 percent from the field for the season. He is one of seven UWM players averaging 6.6 points per game or better.
• The Bench Is Bringing It
UWM's bench continues to make its mark. The Panthers have already had a pair of bench players reach double figures in the same game twice this season. Avery Smith and James Eayrs did it against Upper Iowa while Eayrs and Deion James did it in the season-opening win over Loyola Marymount. Some of the best outings by the bench this season include a 45-point effort against Upper Iowa and a 38-point outing against Marquette.
• Plenty Of Contributions
The Panthers have now had eight different players record a double-figure point outing already this season while Tone Boyle and Avery Smith each have a pair of 20-point efforts. Boyle, Smith, Ricky Franklin, Anthony Hill and Tony Meier have each reached double figures three times overall while Deion James and James Earys have done it twice this season. Three players are averaging double figures on the year.
• Lighting It Up
UWM has put together a few spectacular shooting efforts in the early season. The Panthers shot a stellar 60 percent from the field in the Nov. 19 win over Upper Iowa, making 30-of-50 from the field. The shooting mark is the fourth-best in Milwaukee's Division I history. It was also the best since the Panthers shot 60.6 percent from the floor against Prairie View A&M in the 2004-05 season opener. Milwaukee also shot 51.8 percent against Cal Davis Nov. 15, which was the best performance by the Panthers since they shot 56.8 percent in a victory over Youngstown State in February of 2006.
• A Look At The World Vision Classic
The Panthers went 2-1 in their three games at the World Vision Classic on the opening weekend of the season in Ames, Iowa. Milwaukee opened its season with an easy 75-51 win over Loyola Marymount, as Tone Boyle scored 20 points to lead the way. Then the next day, UWM dug itself a 24-point halftime hole before rallying for an 81-75 win over Cal Davis. In the final game of the event, the Panthers could not overcome a school-record 15 three-pointers by Iowa State as the Cyclones captured a 79-61 win. UWM was within four with under nine minutes to play but a final ISU run decided the outcome. Guards Tone Boyle and Ricky Franklin each put together strong performances, with both players earning spots on the all-tournament team. Boyle scored 20 points in his debut and wound up averaging 16.3 points per game in the three contests. Meanwhile, Franklin averaged 12.3 points, 4.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds over the three games.
• Comeback Kids
One of the most memorable games in recent Panther history came Nov. 15, as UWM rallied from a 24-point halftime deficit to beat Cal Davis, 81-75. The Panthers actually outscored the Aggies, 54-24, in the second 20 minutes, after trailing 51-27 at the break. The comeback is the largest in UWM's Division I history, besting the comeback from a 21-point second-half deficit against Virginia Tech in December of 2001. Last season, the Panthers actually made a pretty good habit of recording comeback victories. In fact, UWM rallied from double-digits down to win four times last year, including overcoming a 17-point deficit at Ball State and a 14-point deficit in the final 6:30 to beat Detroit.
• Familiar Faces
The Panthers are taking 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.
• JUCO Junction
The Panthers have three junior college players on the 2008-09 roster that all look like they can make an impact on UWM's success. Guard Tone Boyle earned all-region honors at Highland CC last season and is one of UWM's leading scorers so far this season. James Eayrs should be a big contributor 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 after spending this past season at Olney CC in Illinois.
• Baby-Faced
Three scholarship true freshmen are also on the roster for the 2008-09 campaign, though a pair are slated for redshirt seasons this year. Tony Meier of suburban St. Louis is becoming a regular in the starting lineup so far this year. Ryan Haggerty played well during preseason practice but is now scheduled to redshirt this season, leaving four years of eligibility. Meanwhile, Riley Walker will also redshirt this season after working through shoulder and knee injuries during the early season.
• 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 league, according to a poll of 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. 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.
• About The Schedule
Head coach Rob Jeter has put together another difficult schedule for the Panthers. UWM is playing 10 games against postseason qualifiers and UWM had 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.
• 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.
• 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 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 Cable Sports 32. At least 10 games will be a part of that package, with the debut set for Dec. 11 at Miami (Ohio). Most of those broadcasts will also be available nationally via ESPN Full Court and ESPN360.
• 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.
• Up Next
UWM returns to its homecourt Saturday, hosting Wright State at 2 p.m.
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