Milwaukee at South Dakota Game Notes (pdf)

MILWAUKEE (5-8) at SOUTH DAKOTA (5-8)
DECEMBER 28, 2014 – 2 P.M.
VERMILLION, S.D. – DAKOTADOME
WISN (1130 AM)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• After winning 10 true road games in 2013-14, Milwaukee is still in search of its first of the 2014-15 campaign. Sunday's game at South Dakota is the third consecutive road game for the Panthers, who are 1-6 away from Milwaukee this season, including neutral site contests.
 
• A quick look at the numbers shows that the Panthers are surrendering 69.5 points per game this season, but if you take away four games versus power-conference opponents (Auburn, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and Arkansas), the figure drops to 62.4 ppg.
 
• 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 78.1 ppg and 49 percent (213-for-438) from the field.
 
• Milwaukee is 4-2 this season when it knocks down eight or more three-point field goals.
 
• Guard Steve McWhorter is having an incredible senior season and through games of December 22 was the only player to rank in the top 10 in the Horizon League in scoring (14.7 ppg), rebounding (6.3 rpg) and assists (3.1 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 COYOTES
After opening the 2014-15 season with five straight losses, South Dakota has won five of its last eight outings, including each of the last two. Sunday's game will be just the fourth at the DakotaDome for the Coyotes, who are 2-1 at home this season. Senior guards Brandon Bos (16.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Tyler Larson (15.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg) lead the Coyotes and are the only two players averaging double-digit points for USD, which puts up 70.9 points per game. South Dakota is coming off  67-62 victory over Montana, a team Milwaukee defeated, 73-58, on December 14.
 
SERIES STUFF
Milwaukee and South Dakota are meeting for the first time since 1972 and the teams have only met on two previous occasions, with the Panthers coming away with a victory each time. This is Milwaukee's first trip to Vermillion since February 28, 1972, when it escaped with an 89-84 victory in the first-ever meeting between the schools. The Panthers are also making their first trip to the state of South Dakota since December 11, 2010, when they knocked off South Dakota State, 82-70. Milwaukee is 29-29 all-time versus current members of the Summit League and a month ago dropped a 69-66 decision to Oral Roberts at the MGM Grand Main Event in Las Vegas.
 
SPRINGS FEVER
Earlier this season, Akeem Springs was hampered by a hand injury that impacted his play for the better part of a month. However, the transfer from Northern Illinois University appears to have turned the corner with his play off the bench over the last three contests. In the Panthers' victory against Montana on December 14, 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 five true road tilts this season, the 6-foot-4 sophomore guard has put up 8.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.6 apg. He is contributing 9.3 ppg and shooting 44 percent (7-for-16) from the field and 57 percent (4-for-7) from three-point range in the Panthers' last three outings after managing just 1.5 ppg on 5 percent (1-for-19) shooting from the field in his previous four appearances. Springs, who pitched in nine points, five rebounds and three assists at Arkansas on December 22, has buried 12 of his last 15 (.800) tries from the charity stripe after opening the year by hitting 9 of his first 17 (.529) foul shots.
 
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 three road contests - at Arkansas, SIU Edwardsville and DePaul. Milwaukee has struggled out of the gate in each of those games, shooting a combined 31 percent (27-for-87) from the field and 19 percent (6-for-32) from three-point range in the first period.
 
TIBY TIME
The Panthers' emotional leader, Matt Tiby has rebounded from a slow start to show the form that made him one of the top forwards in the Horizon League a season ago. Over the last six outings, the 6-foot-8 forward is pitching in 13.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.8 apg and shooting 40 percent (24-for-60) 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 10.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg through 13 games this season and has scored in double figures seven times, including each of the last four outings. He is contributing 15.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.5 apg in his last two road games and has knocked down 21 of his last 24 (.875) attempts from the free throw line. In 11 career December games Tiby is chipping in 13.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg and 2.5 apg. With 13 points and 10 boards versus Montana, 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 13 (.462) three-point attempts after opening the year 6-for-24 (.250).
 
STEVIE WONDERFUL
Redshirt senior Steve McWhorter is having an outstanding 2014-15 campaign. McWhorter has scored in double digits on 24 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 16-8 in those contests. A starter in all 47 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 12 games and has scored in double digits in 11 of the last 12 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 earlier this season poured in a career-high 21 points versus Oral Roberts. 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 14.7 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 (23-for-53) 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 299 minutes of action, has hit 18 of his last 40 (.450) 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. Defenses have keyed on Wichmann of late, limiting him to 3.4 ppg in 28 percent (5-for-18) shooting from beyond the arc in the last five contests after he went for 10.7 ppg on 57 percent (8-for-14) shooting from long distance in the previous three outings.
 
K.C. MASTERPIECE
Kansas City, Mo., native J.R. Lyle, who missed the Arkansas game with a foot injury, 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 his last five appearances 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 nine points against Summit League foe Oral Roberts earlier this year.
 
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.
 
PANTHERS GET CHARITABLE
Milwaukee has reversed its fortunes at the foul line, shooting a healthy 75 percent (150-for-199) over the last nine contests. Through the first three games of 2014-15, the Panthers knocked down just 55 percent (36-for-65) of their charity throws. J.J. Panoske (.826) is one of four Milwaukee players shooting 75 percent or higher from the free throw line this season.
 
ROAD WOES
Milwaukee averaged 70.5 ppg and shot 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range in its first two true road games this season, but has mustered just 57.0 ppg on 33 percent shooting from the field and 16 percent from downtown in the last three road outings.
 
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. Milwaukee is 3-2 this season when he scores seven or more points and in the Panthers' wins, he is tallying 5.4 ppg and shooting 42 percent (5-for-12) from three-point land.
 
PANOSKE PRODUCES
Forward J.J. Panoske has developed into a productive force at the offensive end of the floor this season after averaging just 3.2 ppg in 2013-14. The 6-foot-10 junior, who has started all 13 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 10.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg over the last four outings and has knocked down 17 of his last 19 (.895) attempts from the foul line, including each of the last 11. He totaled a season-high 12 points at SIU Edwardsville on December 22 and in the last three road games is tallying 9.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.3 apg and 1.0 bpg.
 
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.