Game Notes vs. Detroit (pdf)

MILWAUKEE (5-10, 0-1) AT DETROIT (6-9, 0-1)
JANUARY 4, 2015 – 12 P.M. CT
DETROIT, MICH. – CALIHAN HALL
AMERICAN SPORTS NETWORK – WCGV-TV (My 24 in Milwaukee)
WISN (AM 1130)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• Milwaukee will try to put an end to a four-game losing skid when it travels to Detroit for a Sunday matinee. The Panthers are still in search of their first true road win of 2014-15 and have dropped their last three games by an average of 27.0 points. Milwaukee has surrendered 80 or more points in three straight outings for the first time since Feb. 19-26, 2011, though it went 2-1 in that stretch.
 
• Dating back to last season, the Panthers have emerged victorious in three of their last four road games versus Horizon League foes, counting league tournament contests. Included in that stretch is a regular-season victory at Detroit (68-62) along with wins at Green Bay (73-66, OT) and Wright State (69-63) in the 2014 Horizon League Championship.
 
• 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 79.3 ppg and 49 percent (279-for-560) from the field.
 
• J.R. Lyle has torched Detroit in his brief career and in his last two meetings with the Titans is putting up 15.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.0 apg and 1.5 spg, while shooting a robust 65 percent (13-for-20) from the field and 56 percent (5-for-9) from three-point range. In just his second career start last February 27, the junior guard poured in 20 points, on 9 of 15 shooting, and added three assists, a rebound and a steal in Milwaukee's 68-62 victory over Detroit at Calihan Hall.
 
• 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 TITANS
After opening the season by winning six of its first nine games, Detroit has dropped its last half dozen games, including a 70-57 decision at Wright State Friday night. The Titans have also lost consecutive games at Calihan Hall for the first time since February 27 and March 1, 2014, when they came up on the short end versus Milwaukee and Green Bay, respectively. Senior forward Juwan Howard, Jr., leads Detroit and tops the Horizon League with 18.9 points per game, while redshirt freshman Paris Bass ranks second on the club with 10.5 ppg and leads the way with 5.9 rpg. As a team, the Titans have defended the perimeter well, holding opponents to just 32 percent shooting (104-for-321) from three-point range.
 
SERIES STUFF
Milwaukee and Detroit meet for the 44th time in a series that dates back to 1995 and the Panthers own a slim 23-20 edge in the all-time series. The Titans have claimed for of the last six meetings between the teams, and a season ago, the teams split their regular-season matchups, with the road team winning each game. When the teams last met, in the opening round of the Horizon League Championship last season in Milwaukee, the Panthers led by as many as 21 points and held on for an 83-73 victory behind 51 percent shooting. Five players scored in double digits for UWM, led by Jordan Aaron's 16 points, while Steve McWhorter added 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Milwaukee is 8-11 all-time versus the Titans in the Motor City but has won four of the last six games at Calihan Hall.
 
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 appears to have turned the corner with his play off the bench over the last five 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 seven true road games this season, the 6-foot-4 sophomore guard has put up 8.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 1.6 apg. He is contributing 8.4 ppg and shooting 42 percent (10-for-24) from the field and 54 percent (7-for-13) from three-point range in the Panthers' last five 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 11 points, five rebounds and a block at South Dakota on December 28, has buried 17 of his last 21 (.810) 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.
 
DYNAMITE VERSUS DETROIT
In its last two meetings with Detroit, Milwaukee has averaged 75.5 ppg and shot 53 percent (51-for-96) from the field, including 38 percent (15-for-39) from three-point territory en route to a pair of wins. The Panthers also are shooting 79 percent (34-for-43) from the foul line in their last pair of games against the Titans.
 
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 13.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.8 apg and shooting 40 percent (34-for-84) 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. 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 10.8 ppg and 6.9 rpg through 15 games this season and has scored in double figures nine times, including in each of the last six outings. He is contributing 15.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg and 2.5 apg in his last four road games and has knocked down 31 of his last 35 (.886) attempts from the free throw line. With 15 points and 14 boards, the second-highest total of his career, at South Dakota, he registered his third double-double of the season and Milwaukee is now 7-2 in his career when he totals 10 or more points and rebounds. Tiby, who scored a season-high 17 points versus No. 5 Wisconsin on December 10, has hit 7 of his last 19 (.368) 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.
 
STEVIE WONDERFUL
Redshirt senior Steve McWhorter is having an outstanding 2014-15 campaign. McWhorter has scored in double digits on 25 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 16-9 in those contests. A starter in all 49 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 14 games and has scored in double digits in 12 of the last 14 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 0-3 this season when he has failed to score at least 10 points. After averaging 7.8 ppg last season, McWhorter leads the Panthers with 14.3 ppg this year, and in three games versus Detroit last season contributed 11.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.0 apg and 3.0 spg, while shooting 55 percent (12-for-22) from the field. He has managed 11.3 ppg on 35 percent (21-for-60) shooting in Milwaukee's last six games after going for 16.2 ppg on 53 percent (53-for-101) shooting through the first nine contests of the 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 (at SIU Edwardsville) this year and is shooting 40 percent (27-for-67) from beyond the arc. Wichmann, who has coughed the ball up just seven times in 363 minutes of action this season and three times in the last six games, 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 4.7 ppg on 28 percent (9-for-32) shooting from beyond the arc in the last seven contests after he went for 10.7 ppg on 57 percent (8-for-14) shooting from long distance in the previous three outings. Dating back to last season, in his last two appearances versus Detroit, the Pulaski, Wis., native is springing for 8.5 ppg and shooting 63 percent (5-for-8) from the field and 60 percent (3-for-5) from long range.
 
K.C. MASTERPIECE
Kansas City, Mo., native J.R. Lyle, who missed the Arkansas game with a foot injury, has returned to action. The 6-foot-2 guard has scored in double digits on four occasions this season and his 16-point performance against Montana on December 14 was his best since a season-high 19-point output against IUPUI. The junior, who has knocked down 20 of his last 28 (.714) attempts from the charity stripe, is contributing 9.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg and 1.6 apg, while shooting 56 percent (19-for-34) from the field in his last five regular-season Horizon League appearances. Lyle is accounting for 8.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg and 1.1 apg in his last 15 starting assignments dating back to last season. He has scored in double figures in each of the last two games against Detroit.
 
PANTHERS GET CHARITABLE
Milwaukee has reversed its fortunes at the foul line, shooting a healthy 77 percent (183-for-239) over the last 11 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 (.840) is one of four Milwaukee players shooting 75 percent or higher from the free throw line this season.
 
WHERE DID THE "O" GO?
During its current four-game losing streak, Milwaukee has shot just 33 (71-for-214) from the field and 21 percent (19-for-91) from three-point territory, while averaging 56.8 points and 16.0 turnovers. In the first 11 games of 2014-15, UWM averaged 65.7 ppg and shot 43 percent.
 
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. 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 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 8.3 ppg and 3.8 rpg over the last six outings and has knocked down 19 of his last 21 (.904) attempts from the foul line, including each of the last 13. He totaled a season-high 12 points at SIU Edwardsville on December 20 and is pitching in 5.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg and shooting 50 percent (5-for-10) from downtown in his career versus Detroit.
 
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.