Milwaukee vs. Youngstown State Game Notes (pdf)

MILWAUKEE (5-12, 0-3) vs. YOUNGSTOWN STATE (9-10, 0-4)
JANUARY 14, 2015 – 7:30 P.M.
MILWAUKEE, WIS. – UWM PANTHER ARENA
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WISN (AM 1130)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• Milwaukee looks to get back on the winning track when it hosts Youngstown State Wednesday evening in the middle game of a three-game homestand. The Panthers are seeking their first Horizon League victory of the season and are attempting to put an end to a six-game losing skid.
 
• Offense has been the name of the game when these two teams have hooked up recently and the Panthers have averaged 79.3 points per game and shot 46 percent (51-for-110) from the field in their last four meetings with the Penguins. Overall, Milwaukee has shot the ball better in its last two outings, connecting on 45 percent (44-for-98) of its field-goal attempts after sinking just 33 percent (71-for-214) in the previous four games.
 
• Defense has keyed the Panthers' wins this season as they are surrendering only 55.8 points per game and limiting opponents to just 37 percent (103-for-279) from the field. In defeats, those figures jump to 79.6 ppg and 50 percent (343-for-680) from the field.
 
• Matt Tiby has scored in double figures in each of the last eight games, the second-longest stretch of his career, surpassed only by a 12-game run, November 30, 2013 - January 18, 2014. Over those last eight outings, the junior forward is notching 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
 
• 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 PENGUINS
Youngstown State has dropped four straight games and six of its last eight and is coming off of an 82-67 setback at Green Bay Sunday night. Sophomore guard Marcus Keene leads the Penguins with 16.2 points per game and 57 percent of his field-goal attempts have come from three-point range, from which he is shooting 41 percent (55-for-134). Six-foot-10 junior Bobby Hain pitches in 15.3 ppg and leads YSU with 8.1 rpg, while senior guard Shawn Amiker adds 11.4 ppg and 6.3 rpg for a team that ranks second in the Horizon League in scoring offense with 72.6 ppg. Milwaukee and Youngstown State share a couple of nonconference opponents as the Penguins knocked off both UMKC (66-63) and South Dakota (87-79) while the Panthers split those two contests, defeating the Kangaroos (65-56), but falling to the Coyotes (84-60).
 
SERIES STUFF
Wednesday's game will be the 36th meeting between Milwaukee and Youngstown State, with the Panthers holding a commanding 24-11 advantage in the all-time series. The Penguins have claimed five of the last six meetings between the teams, however. Last season, the teams split the season series, with the home team prevailing in each contest. Milwaukee kicked off Horizon League play last January by holding on for an 82-76 victory over the Penguins behind 27 points from Jordan Aaron, while Steve McWhorter pitched in 17 points. The Panthers are 12-5 all-time versus Youngstown State in Milwaukee. When the teams last met on February 20, 2014 in Youngstown, Ohio, the Penguins received 35 points from Kendrick Perry, to offset a 28-point night from Milwaukee's Austin Arians, en route to an 88-83 victory in overtime.
 
SPRINGS FEVER
Earlier this season, Akeem Springs was hampered by a hand injury that impacted his play for the better part of a month. Now healthy, the transfer from Northern Illinois has been a key contributor of late and is averaging 14.5 ppg and shooting 55 percent (11-for-20) from the field in the last two games. Springs, who has knocked down 9 of his last 18 (.500) attempts from three-point territory, tossed in 18 points against Green Bay on January 9 for his best output since erupting for 21 points at Auburn in the season opener on November 14. He is contributing 10.1 ppg and shooting 48 percent (21-for-44) from the field and 50 percent (9-for-18) from three-point range in the Panthers' last seven outings after managing just 1.5 ppg on 5 percent (1-for-19) shooting from the field in his previous four appearances. Springs has buried 22 of his last 28 (.786) tries from the charity stripe after opening the year by hitting 9 of his first 17 (.529) foul shots. He returned to the starting lineup on January 4 at Detroit for his first starting nod since December 7 versus DePaul and responded with 11 points, five boards and a pair of assists. In nine starts this season, Springs is tallying 8.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 1.4 apg and in Milwaukee's last two home games is going for 16.0 ppg and shooting 50 percent (10-for-20) from the field and 67 percent (4-for-6) from long distance.
 
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. On February 22, the first 1,000 fans to arrive for Milwaukee's game versus Cleveland State will receive a free Demetrius Harris bobblehead.
 
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 eight outings, the 6-foot-8 forward is pitching in 15.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.4 apg and shooting 43 percent (37-for-87) from the field after managing 7.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.9 apg and 37 percent (21-for-57) through the first nine 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. Earlier this season, 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 11.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg through 17 games this season and has scored in double figures 11 times, including in each of the last eight outings. He is contributing 13.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg and 2.5 apg in his last four home games and has knocked down 42 of his last 50 (.840) attempts from the free throw line. With 13 points and 11 boards versus Green Bay on January 9, he registered his fourth double-double of the season and Milwaukee is now 7-3 in his career when he totals 10 or more points and rebounds. Tiby, who scored a season-high 20 points and ripped down nine boards at Detroit on January 4, has hit 9 of his last 25 (.360) three-point attempts after opening the year 6-for-24 (.250). He got off to a hot start in Horizon League play a year ago, averaging 15.7 ppg and 6.3 rpg, while draining 51 percent (28-for-55) of his field-goal tries through the first half dozen conference contests. In a pair of games against the Penguins a season ago, Tiby accounted for 8.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg.
 
STEVIE WONDERFUL
Redshirt senior Steve McWhorter is closing out his collegiate career in fine fashion. McWhorter, who has played all 80 minutes in Milwaukee's last two games, has scored in double digits on 27 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 16-11 in those contests. A starter in all 52 of his appearances as a Panther, McWhorter matched a career high by pouring in 21 points against Green Bay on January 9. He has hit at least one three-pointer in 15 of the team's 17 games this season and has scored in double digits in 14 of the last 16 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 the last pair of contests has dished out 10 assists and committed only three turnovers. Milwaukee is 0-3 this season when he has failed to score at least 10 points. After averaging 7.8 ppg last season, McWhorter leads the Panthers with 14.5 ppg this year, and he is posting 16.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.1 apg and 1.0 spg, while shooting 51 percent (38-for-74) from the field and 42 percent (15-for-36) from three-point land at home in 2014-15. Last season versus Youngstown State, the Racine, Wis., native collected 11.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 6.0 apg and 2.5 spg and shot 57 percent (4-for-7) from three-point land.
 
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 three games this season and is shooting 36 percent (27-for-72) from beyond the arc. Wichmann, who has coughed the ball up just eight times in 411 minutes of action this season, scored 10 points at South Dakota on December 28 in his first-ever starting nod. In his career, Milwaukee is 6-1 when he scores in double digits. His play has helped the Panthers 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. Defenses have keyed on Wichmann of late, limiting him to 3.9 ppg on 23 percent (9-for-40) shooting from beyond the arc in the last nine contests after he went for 8.9 ppg on 51 percent (18-for-35) shooting from long distance in the previous eight outings. Dating back to last season, the Pulaski, Wis., native has connected on 11 of his last 13 (.846) attempts from the foul line.
 
K.C. MASTERPIECE
Kansas City, Mo., native J.R. Lyle, totaled 15 points, three assists and four steals and hit 6 of 10 shots from the field in Milwaukee's overtime loss at Youngstown State last season. The 6-foot-2 guard has scored in double digits on five occasions this season and has knocked down 5 of his last 12 (.417) tries from beyond the arc. The junior, who has knocked down 21 of his last 30 (.700) attempts from the charity stripe, averaged 11.3 ppg in three games from December 7-14, but since injuring his foot against Montana on December 14, has mustered just 4.4 ppg in his last five appearances. Lyle is accounting for 8.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 1.2 apg in his last 17 starting assignments dating back to last season.
 
PANTHERS GET CHARITABLE
Milwaukee has reversed its fortunes at the foul line, shooting a healthy 76 percent (213-for-281) over the last 14 contests. Through the first three games of 2014-15, the Panthers knocked down just 55 percent (36-for-65) of their charity throws.
 
DISCOMFORT OF HOME
UWM Panther Arena has not provided much of an advantage for the Panthers in their last two games there. In losses to Wisconsin and Green Bay, opponents have averaged 86.0 ppg and shot 59 percent (69-for-118) from the field and 48 percent (15-for-31) from three-point range. In its first four games at Panther Arena, UWM limited foes to 59.8 ppg and 37 percent (84-for-229) accuracy from the field and 33 percent (19-for-57) from beyond the arc.
 
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.
 
PANOSKE PRODUCES
Forward J.J. Panoske has developed into a productive player 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 14 games this season, has scored in double figures on five occasions. A native of Brodhead, Wis., Panoske is shooting 50 percent (11-for-22) from the field in the last five contests after knocking down 35 percent (18-for-52) of his shots in the previous seven outings and has drained 23 of his last 25 (.920) attempts from the foul line, including each of the last 17. He totaled 10 points and five boards against Green Bay on January 9 and is pitching in 9.7 ppg and 4.7 rpg in the Panthers' last three home games. In four career appearances versus Youngstown State, he is producing 10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 1.3 bpg, while shooting 52 percent (15-for-29) from the field and as a freshman in 2012-13, posted 15.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg against the Penguins.
 
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.