Milwaukee at Arkansas Game Notes (pdf)

MILWAUKEE (5-7) at ARKANSAS (8-2)
DECEMBER 22, 2014 – 8 P.M. CT
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – BUD WALTON ARENA
ESPNU – WISN (1130 AM)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• Milwaukee continues its five-game road swing when it visits Arkansas Monday night. The Panthers, who won 10 true road games a season ago, are still seeking their first true road victory of 2014-15.
 
• A win at Arkansas would be the Panthers' first over a power conference opponent since December 5, 2011, when they toppled DePaul. At the time, the Blue Demons were members of the Big East, which was then considered a power conference.
 
• Defense has keyed the Panthers' wins this season as they are surrendering only 55.8 ppg and limiting opponents to just 37 percent (103-for-279) from the field. In defeats, those figures jump to 77.3 ppg and 49 percent (183-for-371) from the field.
 
• Mondays have been fine with Milwaukee this season as the Panthers are 2-0 on the opening day of the traditional work week.
 
• Guard Steve McWhorter is having an incredible senior season and through games of December 20 was the only player to rank in the top nine in the Horizon League in scoring (14.8 ppg), rebounding (6.3 rpg) and assists (3.3 apg). The 6-foot-2 fifth-year senior is trying to become the first Panther since Clay Tucker in 2001-02 (17.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.0 apg) to lead the team in scoring, rebounding and assists.
 
• Milwaukee has prevailed the last 10 times it has held an opponent to fewer than 60 points, with the last loss coming at Wright State (53-51) on January 5, 2013. The Panthers have limited opponents to fewer than 60 points in each of their five wins this season.
 
ABOUT THE RAZORBACKS
Since dropping back-to-back games at Iowa State and Clemson earlier this month, Arkansas has rattled off back-to-back victories versus Dayton and Southeast Missouri State. The Razorbacks, who earlier this season were ranked in the Top 25, are 6-0 at Bud Walton Arena this season and are averaging 83.5 points per game, a figure that ranks among the top 15 in NCAA Division I. Sophomore forward Bobby Portis is the team leader in scoring (16.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg) and is shooting a sizzling 58 percent (70-for-121) from the field and 62 percent (8-for-13) from three-point land. Guards Michael Qualls (14.4 ppg) and Anthlon Bell (10.7 ppg) also score in double figures for Arkansas.
 
SERIES STUFF
This is the first-ever meeting between Milwaukee and Arkansas, but the Panthers are making their second trip to The Natural State in the last three years. Two seasons ago, UWM dropped a 59-43 decision at UALR in the Hoops for Hope Classic. The Panthers are 1-5 all-time against current members of the Southeastern Conference and are playing their second SEC team this season. Milwaukee raised the curtain on the 2014-15 season by dropping an 83-73 decision at Auburn on November 14. The program's lone victory over an SEC foe came on March 17, 2005, when the Panthers stunned Alabama, 83-73, in Cleveland, Ohio in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
SPRINGS FEVER
Akeem Springs has been hampered by a hand injury that has impacted his play for the better part of the last month. However, the transfer from Northern Illinois University appears to have turned the corner with his performance in the Panthers' victory against Montana last Sunday. Springs came off the bench to register 14 points, on 4 of 7 shooting, in only 20 minutes of action, for his best output since dazzling with 21 points in the season opener at Auburn. In four true road tilts this season, the 6-foot-4 sophomore guard has put up 9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 1.7 apg. He is contributing 9.5 ppg and shooting 42 percent (5-for-12) from the field and 75 percent (3-for-4) from three-point range in the last pair of outings after managing just 1.5 ppg on 5 percent (1-for-19) shooting from the field in his previous four appearances.
 
FROM THE HARDWOOD TO THE GRIDIRON
Former Milwaukee forward Demetrius Harris has joined the likes of former college basketball players Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham and made a career as a tight end in the National Football League. The 6-foot-7 Harris, who starred at UWM for two seasons (2011-13), was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad last year before earning a spot on the active roster this season. Before breaking his foot in pregame warm-ups on November 9, he had appeared in eight games this year and caught three passes for 20 yards. Harris averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game at Milwaukee in 2012-13 and is the first Panther to play in the NFL since 1983.
 
START ME UP
Slow starts have plagued the Panthers in their last two road contests at SIU Edwardsville and DePaul. Milwaukee has been slow out of the gate in each of those games, shooting a combined 31 percent (19-for-61) from the field and 16 percent (3-for-19) from three-point range in the first period of those contests.
 
TIBY TIME
The Panthers' emotional leader, Matt Tiby appears to be back on track after a bit of a slow start. Over the last five outings, the 6-foot-8 forward is pitching in 13.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.8 apg and shooting 41 percent (20-for-49) from the field after managing 7.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.6 apg and 34 percent (14-for-40) through the first seven contests. A 2015 Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League selection, the Urbandale, Iowa native recorded six double-doubles a year ago and scored in double figures on 24 occasions, five times topping the 20-point mark. Last month, Tiby was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List. The award is presented annually to the NCAA Division I Mid-Major Player of the Year and Tiby is one of three Horizon League players - Keifer Sykes (Green Bay) and Tyler Lewis (Cleveland State) are the others - on the watch list. Tiby is averaging 9.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg through 12 games this season and has scored in double figures six times, including four times in the last six outings. He has scored in double digits in three consecutive contests and is contributing 15.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 2.7 apg in the last three outings. In 10 career December games Tiby is chipping in 13.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.4 apg. With 13 points and 10 boards versus Montana on December 14, he registered his second double-double of the season and Milwaukee is now 7-1 in his career when he totals 10 or more points and rebounds. Tiby, who scored a season-high 17 points and pulled down five rebounds versus No. 5 Wisconsin on December 10, has hit 6 of his last 9 (.667) three-point attempts after opening the year 6-for-24 (.250).
 
STEVIE WONDERFUL
Redshirt senior Steve McWhorter is having an outstanding start to the 2014-15 campaign. McWhorter has scored in double digits on 23 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 16-7 in those contests. A starter in all 46 of his appearances as a Panther, McWhorter registered his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 boards at SIU Edwardsville on December 20. He has hit at least one three-pointer in each of the last 11 games and has scored in double digits in 10 of the last 11 outings. A winner in every sense of the word, in three seasons on active rosters at both Indiana State and Milwaukee, McWhorter has helped his team reach the postseason on three occasions (2 NCAA, 1 CIT). He is accounting for 16.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.6 spg in Milwaukee's wins this year and in his last five appearances away from home is tallying 16.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.6 spg and shooting 47 percent (31-for-66) from the field. Milwaukee is 0-2 this season when he has failed to score at least 10 points. After averaging 7.8 ppg last season, McWhorter leads the Panthers with 14.8 ppg this year.
 
CODY CONTRIBUTES
With Austin Arians on the sidelines as a redshirt this season, sophomore Cody Wichmann has shouldered more of a load and has responded in fine fashion after logging only 6.8 minutes and 2.4 ppg a year ago. The 6-foot-5 guard has knocked down at least one three-point field goal in all but one game this year and is shooting 43 percent (21-for-49) from beyond the arc. Wichmann, who did not commit a turnover in the first four games of the season and has coughed the ball up just four times in 280 minutes of action, has hit 16 of his last 36 (.444) three-point attempts, and in his career Milwaukee is 6-0 when he scores in double digits. His play has helped Milwaukee to victory this season as he is contributing 8.6 ppg and knocking down 48 percent (14-for-29) of his field-goal tries and 50 percent (11-for-22) of his three-point attempts in UWM's wins. In a November 29 victory versus Concordia-St. Paul, he registered his first career double-double with 13 points and 11 boards. He came into that game with just 13 rebounds this season. Wichmann has scored 10 or more points in three of the Panthers' six home games this season.
 
K.C. MASTERPIECE
Kansas City, Mo., native J.R. Lyle has shown an ability to score in bunches this season. The 6-foot-2 guard has scored in double digits on four occasions and his 16-point performance against Montana on December 14 was his best since a season-high 19-point output against IUPUI on November 19. The junior has rebounded from a brief slump to record 9.0 ppg on 43 percent (16-for-37) shooting in the last five contests after producing just 4.0 ppg on 21 percent (3-for-14) accuracy in his previous three outings. Lyle, who is averaging 8.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg and 1.5 spg, while shooting 48 percent (14-for-29) from the field in four true road games this season, is accounting for 9.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 1.2 apg in his last 13 starting assignments dating back to last season. He totaled 10 points against SEC foe Auburn in the season opener.
 
SITTING THIS ONE OUT
Four Panthers will sit out the 2014-15 season - freshmen Derek Rongstad and Brock Stull, sophomore Scotty Tyler, who is a transfer from Idaho State University, and junior Austin Arians, who averaged 11.1 ppg and shot a team-best 37 percent (65-for-177) from three-point range a year ago.
 
ON THE PRAHL
Redshirt freshman Brett Prahl is starting to come into his own and has been a key contributor off the bench, averaging 4.8 ppg and 3.3 rpg, while connecting on 75 percent (9-for-12) of his field goal attempts in four true road games. After producing 2.7 ppg and 1.9 rpg in seven games in November, Prahl, who totaled a season-high eight points against Wisconsin on December 10, is springing for 4.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg in December. He has been impressive against the best competition, averaging 6.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg and shooting an amazing 89 percent (8-for-9) from the field against power conference foes.
 
JORDAN RULES
Freshman guard Justin Jordan brings some interesting bloodlines to the Milwaukee program. The Davidson, N.C., native is the son of Larry Jordan and the nephew of former NBA great, six-time NBA champion, Hall of Famer and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan. In the season opener at Auburn, Justin showed the poise of a veteran, totaling 11 points, three rebounds and three assists off the bench to become the first Panther true freshman since Tony Meier in 2008 to score 10 or more points in a season opener. That effort earned him Horizon League Freshman of the Week honors. Jordan, who has committed only four turnovers in his last seven appearances, is coming off an eight-point performance at SIU Edwardsville on December 20. Milwaukee is 3-2 this season when he scores seven or more points and in six games away from home, Jordan is producing 6.5 ppg and shooting 56 percent (15-for-27) from the field and 56 percent (5-for-9) from long distance.
 
PANOSKE PRODUCES
Forward J.J. Panoske has had a productive first month of the 2014-15 season and carries averages of 7.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg and 0.9 bpg into Monday's game at Arkansas. The 6-foot-10 junior, who has started all 12 games this year, has scored in double figures on four occasions and Milwaukee is 2-2 in those contests. A native of Brodhead, Wis., Panoske is pitching in 10.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg over the three outings and has knocked down 12 of his last 14 (.857) attempts from the foul line. He totaled a season-high 12 points at SIU Edwardsville Saturday night and in three games versus power conference foes this season is tallying 9.0 ppg.
 
HOW SWEET IT WAS
The 2014-15 season marks the 10-year anniversary of Milwaukee's magical run to the NCAA Sweet 16. Led by the play of Ed McCants, Joah Tucker and Adrian Tigert, the Panthers knocked off Alabama and Boston College in the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national runner-up Illinois. Two members of Rob Jeter's current staff - Chris Hill and Allan Hanson - were on that Sweet 16 squad. Milwaukee finished the year with a 26-6 overall record and a No. 23 ranking in the final ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Poll.