Milwaukee at Valparaiso Game Notes (pdf) 

MILWAUKEE (7-13, 2-4) at VALPARAISO (18-4, 5-2)
JANUARY 26, 2015 – 7:05 P.M. CT
VALPARAISO, IND. – ATHLETICS-RECREATION CENTER
ESPN3
WISN (AM 1130)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• A winner in two of its last three contests, Milwaukee looks to get back on the winning track when it travels to Valparaiso Monday night. The Panthers, who are in search of their first true road win of 2014-15, are seeking their first win in Valparaiso since 2011 as they wrap up a brief, two-game road trip.
 
• Over the last three outings, Milwaukee is allowing just 56.3 points per game and limiting opponents to 40.7 percent (66-for-162) from the field and 37.2 percent (16-for-43) from three-point territory. In their previous four games, the Panthers surrendered 82.5 ppg and saw foes connect on 53.7 percent (130-for-242) from the field and 43.1 percent (25-for-58) from beyond the arc.
 
• 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 78.5 ppg and 50.6 percent (370-for-731) from the field.
 
• Milwaukee is 5-2 this season when knocking down eight or more three-point field goals.
 
• In the two meetings between Milwaukee and Valparaiso during the 2013-14 regular season, the Panthers shot just 32 percent (39-for-122) from the field and 23.4 percent (11-for-47) from three-point range.
 
• 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.
 
• The Panthers had a great fall in the classroom posting a 3.078 team GPA for the Fall 2014 term.
 
ABOUT THE CRUSADERS
Valparaiso had a five-game winning streak snapped Friday night with a 51-50 loss at Green Bay. The Crusaders, who were picked to finish fourth in the Horizon League race, lead the circuit in scoring offense (72.3 ppg) and rank second in scoring defense (60.0 ppg). Sophomore forward Alec Peters leads a potent Valpo attack with 17.4 points per game and also shares the team lead with Vashil Fernandez with 6.1 rpg. Freshman guard Tevonn Walker adds 10.5 ppg and junior guard Darien Walker contributes 10.1 ppg for Valpo, which is 8-1 at home this season, with the lone loss coming at the hands of New Mexico (63-46). 
 
SERIES STUFF
Valparaiso owns a 16-12 advantage in the all-times series with Milwaukee and has prevailed in five of the last six meetings between the teams. Although the Panthers dropped both contests in the regular-season series a year ago, they earned the win when it mattered most - in the second round of the Horizon League Championship in Green Bay, Wis. In that game, Milwaukee jumped out to a 15-2 lead and never looked back en route to a 74-57 victory as four players scored in double figures, led by Jordan Aaron, with 20 points. Milwaukee has dropped five of its last six games against Valpo at the Athletics-Recreation Center and is seeking its first win there since a 57-55 decision on December 29, 2011.
 
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 over the last month and is averaging 13.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg and shooting 51 percent (26-for-51) from the field in the last five games. Springs, who has knocked down 10 of his last 27 (.370) attempts from three-point territory and scored in double figures in four of the last five outings, just missed out on his first career double-double when he totaled nine points and a career-best 13 rebounds against Wright State on January 20. He is contributing 10.8 ppg and shooting 48 percent (36-for-75) from the field and 37 percent (10-for-27) from three-point range in the Panthers' last 10 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 10 of his last 12 (.833) tries from the charity stripe after opening the year by hitting 27 of his first 41 (.659) 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 12 starts this season, Springs is tallying 9.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 1.4 apg and in Milwaukee's last two road games is going for 10.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg and shooting 50 percent (9-for-18) from the field. In Horizon League play, he is accounting for 11.5 ppg and shooting 49.1 percent (27-for-55) 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 11 outings, the 6-foot-8 forward is pitching in 14.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.4 apg and shooting 45.4 percent (54-for-119) 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 sits second in League contests only with 9.0 rpg. Tiby is averaging 11.7 ppg and 7.5 rpg through 20 games this season and has scored in double figures 14 times, including in each of the last 11 outings. He is contributing 16.3 ppg, and 8.3 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 13 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 14.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg and shooting 50 percent (31-for-62) from the field. In three career meetings with Valparaiso, Tiby has put up 18.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 1.3 apg, while knocking down 54.5 percent (12-for-22) of his field-goal tries, including 42.9 percent (3-for-7) from long range. The junior forward is accounting for 16.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg and 2.5 apg in Milwaukee's last four road games.
 
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 14.2 ppg in 2014-15. McWhorter, who has converted his last 10 attempts from the foul line, has scored in double digits on 30 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 18-12 in those contests. A starter in all 55 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 18 of the team's 20 games this season and has scored in double digits in 17 of the last 19 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 6.7 apg to go with 12.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg. 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. During his current six-game streak with double-figure scoring, McWhorter is posting 14.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 5.7 apg. Over his last 10 games away from home (including neutral site contests), he is contributing 14.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 4.0 apg.
 
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 39.3 percent (33-for-87) from beyond the arc and scored a career-best 15-points 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 11 times in 478 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 marksmanship 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.
 
WHITE HOT
Junior Trinson White came off the bench to pump in seven points in only eight minutes of playing time against Wright State on January 20. 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 76.2 percent (246-for-323) over the last 17 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 on January 14. 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 on January 20. 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 eight assists and just three turnovers in the last five contests and he is contributing 8.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 2.0 apg, while shooting 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from the field in the last three 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 17 games this season, has scored in double figures on six occasions and is coming off of a season-high, 15-point performance at Oakland, his best output since totaling a career-best 16 points at Youngstown State on February 15, 2013. A native of Brodhead, Wis., Panoske is shooting 54.8 percent (23-for-42) from the field in the last eight 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. 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.