Feb. 28, 2005

MILWAUKEE - Senior Ed McCants of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has been named the 2005 Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Year, the league office announced today. Plus, UWM head coach Bruce Pearl was named the league's coach of the year for the third time in his four years in Milwaukee, and junior Joah Tucker joined McCants on the All-Horizon League First Team.

McCants ranks second in the league in scoring while standing first in three-point field goals made, seventh in assists and 11th in three-point field goal percentage. He led UWM in scoring and steals and passed 1,000 points in his Milwaukee career during Saturday's win at Cleveland State.

McCants posted a number of stellar outings throughout the year, including a 38-point effort against Detroit. He has scored in double figures in 19-straight games and has passed 20 points in 11 of those games during the streak. He has also made a three-point basket in every game this season and led the Panthers in scoring 12 times. McCants is a two-time award-winner, having won League Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-league honors last season.

"Newcomer of the Year, Player of the Year, 1,000 points in two years, two regular season championships and he's going to graduate on time with a degree in psychology ... it just doesn't get much better than that," Pearl said. "When one of your hardest workers is also one of your best players, it really helps the team. Ed has a great deal of affection for UWM and cares a great deal about his place in its sports history."

Tucker was left off the all-league teams a season ago but earned first-team honors this time around. He is sixth in the league in scoring and sixth in rebounding, while ranking in the top 15 in the league in steals, assists and free throw percentage. He averaged 15.9 ppg in league contests while adding 6.2 rpg. Tucker has led UWM in scoring 11 times and in rebounding nine times this season. He has three double-doubles to his credit, including a 21-point, 14-rebound night in the title-clinching win over Butler Feb. 16.

"Joah Tucker is one of the most versatile players in the country," Pearl said. "There were several games this year when Joah put the team on his back and carried us to victory. Joah's career at UWM is a great example of the ability to stay home, get an education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and realize your dreams and aspirations."

Pearl led the Panthers to their second-straight Horizon League regular season title and to a school-record 14 league wins. UWM's four-game margin in the league standings is the largest for a league champ since the 1995-96 season, and the Panthers set school records for overall road wins (11) and league road wins (7).

Pearl surpassed 300 career wins during the season, becoming the second-fastest active coach to reach the milestone. His record after 100 games at UWM was the best of any coach in the school's 109-year basketball history and his 82-37 mark at the school gives him the second-best winning percentage and fourth-most wins in school history.

But Pearl deflects credit for UWM's success during his tenure to the players, and to his coaching staff of Tony Jones, Ken Johnson, Jason Shay, Kendrick Moore and manager Jason Schneider.

"You're only as good as the people you surround yourself with," Pearl said. "I've congratulated my coaching staff once again for their excellent work, and they deserve all of the credit while receiving little of the recognition. Tony Jones has been a great counselor to me. He is wise and intelligent and has treated this job like it was his. He is as ready as any assistant coach in the country to be a head coach.

"Ken Johnson is one of the hardest working, most loyal assistants I've ever been around. He is a great role mode for our players. Jason Shay has a very good understanding of the game. He landed his first major recruit this year in Ryan Childress and I anticipate many more to come. Kendrick Moore has a great knowledge of the game for such a young coach. His relationship with the players and his ability to communicate and understand what we expect of them is very valuable. And Jason Schneider, our senior manager ... it's hard to believe someone who is an engineering major, with all that degree requires, could find the time to dedicate so much to this University and the team."

Over the last four seasons, UWM has had a strong hold on the league's awards. Along with Pearl winning three coach of the year awards, a UWM player has won each of the last two player of the year awards, while the Panthers have placed two players on the all-league first team in each of the last three seasons. Pearl credits that success, in part, to keeping his coaching staff together.

"Tom Davis spoke to the fact that he admired Dean Smith in many ways, with one thing being the way he kept his coaching staff together," Pearl said. "When he had Bill Guthridge, Roy Williams, Eddie Fogler and Phil Ford together, they were very successful year in and year out. Our players and these coaches are why this program has been so successful."

Pearl also credits players on UWM's squad that did not win league honors but have played key roles in the success.

"Since I've been in the league, this is the strongest class of newcomers across the board," Pearl said. "I thought Boo Davis (of UWM) and A.J Graves (of Butler) were both very deserving, as were all of those that did make the team. If there was an all-league team for the last three minutes of a game, Chris Hill would be on the first team. There isn't a team in the league that wouldn't want Adrian Tigert. He consistently does all of the little things to make us go. But, there's not a guy on my team that cares less about individual awards and numbers than Adrian. Plus, James Wright is our best defensive player and that's where we've made our biggest improvement this year. He's led us with his understanding and toughness and he'd make my all-defensive team."

The Panthers, who won their second-straight regular season league title to earn the top seed and hosting rights, have won seven-straight contests and 15 of their last 16.