Milwaukee at Oakland Game Notes (pdf)

MILWAUKEE (7-12, 2-3) at OAKLAND (7-12, 2-2)
JANUARY 22, 2015 – 7 P.M. ET
ATHLETICS CENTER O'RENA – ROCHESTER, MICH.
ESPN3
WISN (AM 1130)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• After stringing together back-to-back victories at home, Milwaukee travels to Rochester, Mich., to face Oakland in search of its first true road win of 2014-15. Thursday's game is the second in a busy stretch that will see the Panthers play five contests in 12 days to close out the month of January.
 
• Milwaukee has closed out its last two wins in strong fashion, shooting a remarkable 62.5 percent (25-for-40) from the field, 50 percent (7-for-14) from three-point territory and 79.2 percent (19-for-24) from the foul line in the second half of the last two games.
 
• Defense has keyed the Panthers' wins this season as they are surrendering only 54.6 points per game and limiting opponents to just 36.4 percent (142-for-390) from the field. In defeats, those figures jump to 79.6 ppg and 50.4 percent (343-for-680) from the field.
 
• Milwaukee is 5-2 this season when knocking down eight or more three-point field goals.
 
• Speaking of defense, in Milwaukee's 67-41 victory over Wright State Tuesday night, the Panthers put the clamps down on the Raiders, holding them to 27.5 percent shooting (14-for-51) from the field. That figure is the lowest allowed by UWM since Wright State was held to 25.5 percent (13-for-51) on January 12, 2012. In addition, the 41 points scored by Wright State Tuesday evening is the fewest allowed by Milwaukee since that same game against the Raiders on January 12, 2012 (38 points).
 
• Milwaukee has won its last 11 games when holding the opposition to fewer than 60 points. The Panthers have surrendered more than 60 points just once in their wins this season.
 
ABOUT THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Oakland comes into Thursday's game riding a two-game winning streak thanks to wins versus Green Bay (69-66) and Albion (83-68). The Golden Grizzlies, who rank second in the Horizon League with 71.9 points per game, own wins over two of the top teams in the conference (Green Bay and Valparaiso) and overall, they are 6-3 at home this season. Sophomore point guard Khalil Felder leads Oakland with 16.7 ppg and tops the Horizon League with 7.4 apg. Senior post man Corey Petros adds 13.7 ppg and ranks first on the team with 7.9 rpg and a .587 (105-for-179) field-goal percentage. 
 
SERIES STUFF
Milwaukee and Oakland are meeting for the 10th time in a series that traces its roots to the 1969-70 season. The Panthers are 3-1 all-time against the Golden Grizzlies in Rochester, Mich., and last season erased an 11-point first-half deficit to earn an 84-75 victory at the Athletics Center O'rena. Five players scored in double figures for Milwaukee, which shot 50 percent from the field, led by Steve McWhorter, who tallied 17 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists. Matt Tiby recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards, while Kyle Kelm pitched in 15 points and seven rebounds. Milwaukee earned a sweep of the season series last year by notching an 86-64 victory in Milwaukee on February 2, 2014, as Jordan Aaron poured in 23 points to lead the Panthers, who connected on 57 percent of their field-goal attempts.
 
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 14.0 ppg and shooting 55 percent (22-for-40) from the field in the last four games. Springs, who has knocked down 10 of his last 24 (.417) attempts from three-point territory and scored in double figures in three of the last four outings, just missed out on his first career double-double when he totaled nine points and a career-best 13 rebounds against Wright State Tuesday night. He is contributing 10.9 ppg and shooting 50 percent (32-for-64) from the field and 41.7 percent (10-for-24) from three-point range in the Panthers' last nine 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 26 of his last 33 (.788) 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 11 starts this season, Springs is tallying 9.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 1.4 apg and in Milwaukee's last four road games is going for 8.5 ppg and shooting 52.6 percent (10-for-19) from the field and 40 percent (4-for-10) from long distance. In Horizon League play, he is accounting for 11.8 ppg and shooting 52.3 percent (23-for-44) from the field.
 
FROM THE HARDWOOD TO THE GRIDIRON
Former Milwaukee forward Demetrius Harris has joined the likes of one-time 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 10 outings, the 6-foot-8 forward is pitching in 15.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.3 apg and shooting 44.4 percent (48-for-108) 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 ranks third in the conference with 7.5 rpg and tops it in League contests only with 9.4 rpg. 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 11.6 ppg and 7.5 rpg through 19 games this season and has scored in double figures 13 times, including in each of the last 10 outings. He is contributing 18.0 ppg, and 9.0 rpg in two League road games and has knocked down 45 of his last 53 (.849) attempts from the free throw line. With 13 points and 12 boards versus Youngstown State on January 14, he registered his fifth double-double of the season and Milwaukee is now 8-3 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 registered a double-double in five of the last 12 games. 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 League action this season, he is putting up 14.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg and shooting 48 percent (25-for-51) from the field.
 
STEVIE WONDERFUL
Redshirt senior Steve McWhorter is closing out his collegiate career in fine fashion. After averaging 7.8 ppg last season, the Racine, Wis., native leads the Panthers with 14.4 ppg in 2014-15. McWhorter, who is shooting 50 percent (8-for-16) from three-point land in Milwaukee's last three games, has scored in double digits on 29 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 18-11 in those contests. A starter in all 54 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 17 of the team's 19 games this season and has scored in double digits in 16 of the last 18 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 15.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 4.0 apg in Milwaukee's wins this year and in the last three contests has dished out 19 assists and committed only five turnovers. Milwaukee is 0-3 this season when he has failed to score at least 10 points. In a January 14 victory over Youngstown State, he recorded his third double-double of the season by collecting 16 points and a career-high 12 assists with only one turnover. His 12 helpers are the most by a Panther since Kaylon Williams dished out a dozen assists at Western Michigan on January 3, 2012. In the last five games he has tallied 15.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 5.6 apg, while shooting 51 percent (24-for-47) from the field. McWhorter posted 14.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.0 apg and shot 61.5 percent against Oakland last season.
 
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 is shooting 39 percent (33-for-84) from beyond the arc and scored a career-best, 15-point performance against Youngstown State on January 14.  In that game, Wichmann connected on 5 of 6 tries from beyond the arc as he totaled the most points by a Panther off the bench since J.R. Lyle dropped in 15 points against Youngstown State on February 20, 2014. Prior to his impressive showing against YSU, Wichmann had missed his previous eight three-point attempts and knocked down just 12 of his previous 40 (.300) triple tries. Wichmann, who has coughed the ball up just nine times in 459 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 7-1 when he scores in double digits. His play has helped the Panthers to victory this season as he is contributing 9.7 ppg and knocking down 52.6 percent (20-for-38) of his field-goal tries and 54.8 percent (17-for-31) 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. Dating back to last season, the Pulaski, Wis., native has connected on 11 of his last 13 (.846) attempts from the foul line. He had 13 points at Oakland last season.
 
WHITE HOT
Junior Trinson White came off the bench to pump in seven points in only eight minutes of playing time against Wright State Tuesday night. The 6-foot-5 junior, who has hit eight of his last nine foul shots, is pitching in 4.4 ppg and shooting 50 percent (6-for-12) in Milwaukee's wins. His seven points versus Wright State was his most since November 29 against Concordia-St. Paul (12 points).
 
PANTHERS GET CHARITABLE
Milwaukee has reversed its fortunes at the foul line, shooting a healthy 76.3 percent (238-for-312) over the last 16 contests. Through the first three games of 2014-15, the Panthers knocked down just 55.4 percent (36-for-65) of their charity throws.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE VISION
Both Steve McWhorter (16 points, 12 assists) and Matt Tiby (13 points, 12 rebounds) recorded double-doubles in Milwaukee's 77-62 victory against Youngstown State last week. That marked the first time since December 22, 2013 that multiple Panthers notched double-doubles in the same game. That night, Kyle Kelm (24 points, 12 rebounds) and Tiby (14 points, 11 boards) achieved the feat in a victory over Alabama State.
 
JORDAN RULES
True freshman Justin Jordan put up his best performance since the season opener when he dropped in a season-high 17 points versus Wright State earlier this week. The 6-foot-3 guard, who is the nephew of former Chicago Bulls guard, Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan, has seven assists and just one turnover in the last four contests and he is contributing 12.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 2.5 apg, while shooting 66.7 percent (8-for-12) from the field in the last pair of outings. Jordan's 17 points are the most by a Milwaukee freshman since Austin Arians collected 17 points versus Loyola Chicago on January 30, 2013. In the Panthers' wins, Jordan is contributing 7.3 ppg and shooting 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from beyond the arc.
 
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 16 games this season, has scored in double figures on five occasions. A native of Brodhead, Wis., Panoske is shooting 50 percent (16-for-32) from the field in the last six contests after knocking down 35 percent (18-for-52) of his shots in the previous seven outings and has drained 25 of his last 29 (.862) attempts from the foul line. He totaled seven points and a season-high eight boards, his most since November 26, 2013, (8 vs. Judson) against Wright State on January 20. With two blocks against Wright State Tuesday night, Panoske moved into a tie with Craig Greene (1990-93) atop the UWM all-time list with 87 rejections.
 
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.