MILWAUKEE (October 5, 2015) – Head coach Rob Jeter and the Milwaukee men's basketball program took the floor at the Klotsche Center this afternoon for the first official practice of the 2015-16 season.  
 
Milwaukee, which closed out the 2014-15 season by winning seven of its final nine games, including each of its last four, hopes to carry that momentum into the 2015-16 season. The Panthers will face the challenge of replacing last year's leading scorer, team leader and starting point guard Steve McWhorter (14.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.6 apg), but Jeter and his staff welcome back nine letterwinners from a team that won 14 games overall, including nine in Horizon League action.
 
The Panthers usher in five newcomers, including guards JayQuan McCloud, Brock Stull and Derek Rongstad, who sat out last season. Also joining the mix is junior guard Jordan Johnson, a transfer from John Wood Community College, and true freshman guard Jeremy Johnson from Brooklyn Park, Minn.
 
A handful of veterans will be called upon to provide leadership this season, including seniors Matt Tiby, J.J. Panoske (7.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and J.R. Lyle (6.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg). Tiby, a Second Team All-Horizon League performer a season ago, is the team's leading returning scorer (13.3 ppg) and rebounder (7.8 rpg) and enters the 2015-16 campaign having scored in double figures in 21 consecutive outings. Also back in the fold are returning starters Akeem Springs (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Justin Jordan (5.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg).
 
Milwaukee will also benefit from the return of junior forward Austin Arians, who redshirted last season. One of the top three-point shooters in the Horizon League, the 6-foot-6 Arians contributed 11.1 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 2013-14 to help the Panthers earn a NCAA Tournament berth.
 
"I couldn't be more excited to get this group back on the floor to attempt another run at a Horizon League title," Jeter said. "This team worked incredibly hard during the spring and summer to be ready for this season.  Off the court, these young men have achieved high marks in the classroom, posting a perfect APR score and a 3.0 grade point average and continue to be tremendous representatives of the University and city of Milwaukee."
 
Milwaukee will tune up for the 2015-16 season by hosting Parkside in an exhibition game at Klotsche Center November 5. Fans can get a sneak peek at the team at the annual Black & Gold Scrimmage October 29.