MILWAUKEE - With all the pieces in place this year, it looks to be the turnaround season head coach Ric Cobb's Panthers have been working towards. For the first time since taking over the helm of the UWM program, Cobb's roster lists only his recruits -- a group that includes a young and experienced squad of returnees, as well as a handful of new talent.
"For the first time I finally have all of the players I've wanted in the program," said Cobb. "And I think our strength this season will be the experience this team has and its ability to play cohesively as a unit."
Last season, Cobb's young team gave glimpses of its potential success, beginning each game strong and keeping up with each of its opponents throughout the first half. With four of its five starters returning, UWM looks to return stronger in the 1998-99 campaign than it has in years. The future is here and will revolve around a bright sophomore class that last year, as freshmen, accounted for 47 percent of the Panthers' total scoring and more than half of its starting line-up.
This 1998-99 campaign marks the return of the Panthers' home court to the UWM campus. After playing a majority of home games for the past six years in the Wisconsin Center located in downtown Milwaukee, the team will return to the Klotsche Center in the heart of the UWM campus. The newly-renovated Klotsche Center opens this season with the addition of new chair-back seating and an increased capacity of 5,000.
"One of the biggest strengths for the 1998-99 season is our return to campus," said Cobb. "It's going to give us a better sense of home court, while bringing more student and administrative support to our games. I think this move is going to be a tremendous asset to the program."
The Sophomore Class
The Panthers boast a group of baseline players -- all who were freshmen last year and all who are returning starters -- that will be a key to the Panther's success in 1998-99. Each member of this sophomore threesome ranked among UWM's top four scorers last season and was led by MCC All-Newcomer team selection Damion Ninkovic (C, 6-8, 235) who averaged 9.0 ppg and a team-high 6.1 rpg. His scoring led the Panthers last season in eight games and he had a career-high and team-high 24 points against MCC Champion Detroit on Jan. 29. His skills on defense don't lack either, grabbing the team's most rebounds in 12 games last season, including a team-high 12 rebounds against Wright State on Jan. 22.
Just behind Ninkovic in scoring is Chad Angeli (C, 6-9, 230), who was the only Panther to start in all 27 games last season, and Jared Hardwick (G/F, 6-5, 210). Angeli averaged 8.8 ppg and 3.9 rebounds last year while Hardwick posted 8.6 ppg, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
Rounding out the sophomore class is Reggie Wheeler (G, 6-5, 195), who played in more than half of last year's games and averaged 2.9 ppg, and Donte Jackson (G, 6-1, 180), who averaged 1.1 ppg and 1.1 assists in 13 games and one start.
"This outstanding sophomore class already has played a lot of quality minutes," said Cobb. "Their experience will make us very competitive in the MCC. With this class on board, the future of UWM men's basketball looks bright."
The Junior Class
The returning juniors include Danny Johnson (G, 6-2, 160), and walk-ons Bryan LaFave (F, 6-7, 200) and Tim Guilette (F, 6-5, 185). Johnson, who played in all 27 games last season with five starts and averaged 2.8 ppg, is expected to be a major contributor in every game this year. LaFave and Guilette, both who have worked hard over the summer, are expected to see some quality minutes this season and should be solid contributors to the team.
"The junior class is perhaps my smartest group of players," said Cobb. "And Danny Johnson, in particular, is a leader both on and off the court. We expect him to understand everything we're doing and need little review in game-day situations."
The Senior Class
Returning to the Panther line-up are seniors Cyrus Caldwell (G, 6-1, 170), Larry Treadwell (G, 6-4, 190) and Keith Seigel (F, 6-7, 215). This group will need to show leadership and discipline for this young team to succeed. But this shouldn't be a problem for this group of seasoned veterans. Caldwell started all but one game last season, averaging 8.0 ppg, a team-high 4.7 apg and 2.7 rpg, while both Treadwell and Seigel saw their share of starts, averaging 5.1 ppg and 3.7 ppg respectively. Last year, Seigel's 3.0 rpg was ranked fourth on the Panther roster and only looks to get better in '98-99.
"One of the biggest challenges this team faces in '98-99 will be how fast everyone blends in together," said Cobb. "It is this group of seniors that will need to bring the new guys on much faster and I look to this group to show the leadership necessary in our quest for the MCC Championship."
The Newcomers
Cobb set out to strengthen the Panther backcourt by bringing in three solid guard recruits: junior college transfers Shawn Fountain (G, 5-10, 175, Jr.) and Roy King (G, 6-0, 180, Jr.), and freshman Ronnie Jones Jr. (G, 5-9, 165).
Fountain averaged 12 points, 6.1 assists and 4.2 steals last year at Owens Junior College in Toledo, Ohio. He shot 58 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range last year, helping his team to a 27-6 record and a final ranking of second in the final NJCAA II poll.
"Shawn brings the leadership that we need on the floor," Cobb said. "He makes sound decisions as a point guard, which is necessary to run a successful basketball team. He is a very good all-around athlete."
King averaged 20.4 points as a freshman at Kaskaskia Junior College in Centralia, IL and 18.6 points and 4.6 assists as a sophomore.
"Roy is a very tough competitor who will help us on both ends of the floor," Cobb said. "He is a good shooter from the perimeter and he can take it to the basket with authority."
Jones, the only freshman in the group, averaged 19.5 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds a game as a senior point guard at Las Vegas High. He also added 2.2 steals a game and connected on 3.0 three-pointers a game. He shot 40 percent from three-point range as a senior.
"Ronnie has a great feel for the game," Cobb said. "He has outstanding court awareness and knowledge of the total game. He will definitely be one of our three-point threats."
"We feel we strengthened our backcourt to be competitive in the MCC," Cobb continued. "We felt our need was for guards, and these three are a great blend to go with our returning frontcourt players."
Add to that list redshirt freshman Kyle Kickert (C, 6-7, 245), and the Panthers look to have an experienced group of newcomers that should have an immediate impact on the team.
The Midwestern Collegiate Conference
The MCC is a conference known for its success in men's basketball. With three of its members going to the NCAA tournament last year, it remains one of the toughest basketball conferences in college athletics. With the outstanding roster of players UWM boasts in 1998-99, Cobb is confident his team will work its way up the MCC ranks.
"The key to winning the MCC Championship is you must win all of your home games and split your games on the road," said Cobb. "Whoever does that will win the MCC title next year and with this group of outstanding, young players, I believe we have a good shot at accomplishing that goal this season."
The Non-Conference Schedule
Just like last year, the Panthers face another series of tough non-conference opponents in 1998-99, including road games against Northwestern, Marquette, Wisconsin-Madison, Indiana State, Western Michigan and Western Illinois. Cobb looks forward to this tough schedule to help give his players plenty of experience entering conference play.
"A tough non-conference schedule prepares your team for the rugged MCC conference," explained Cobb. "This schedule is vital our player's growth and to success in the MCC."
