Milwaukee vs. Detroit Game Notes (pdf)

MILWAUKEE (8-14, 3-5) vs. DETROIT (11-12, 4-4)
JANUARY 31, 2015 – 4 P.M. CT
MILWAUKEE, WIS. – UWM PANTHER ARENA
TIME WARNER CABLE SPORTSCHANNEL
ESPN3 (subject to blackout)
WISN (AM 1130)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• Milwaukee looks to match its longest home winning streak from a season ago when Detroit pays a visit to UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena Saturday afternoon. The Panthers have won their last three home games and are coming off a 71-65 victory over UIC Thursday night.
 
• During halftime of Saturday's game versus Detroit, Milwaukee will honor the 2004-05 team on the 10-year anniversary of it reaching the NCAA Sweet 16. That squad, which posted a 26-6 overall record, knocked off Detroit, 59-58, in the Horizon League Championship game, at UWM Panther Arena (then known as U.S. Cellular Arena).
 
• Defense has keyed the Panthers' wins this season as they are surrendering only 55.9 points per game and limiting opponents to just 37.2 percent (165-for-444) from the field. In defeats, those figures jump to 78.1 ppg and 51 percent (397-for-779) from the field.
 
• Milwaukee is 5-2 this season when knocking down eight or more three-point field goals.
 
• Milwaukee, which has won six of its last eight home games, is averaging 71.7 points per game and shooting 50.6 percent (75-for-148) from the field during its current three-game winning streak at Panther Arena.
 
• 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 twice in eight 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 TITANS
Detroit halted a two-game losing skid with a 93-87 overtime victory against Youngstown State Thursday night. Senior forward Juwan Howard, Jr., who totaled a team-high 22 points against Youngstown State Thursday evening, leads the Titans with 17.8 points per game, while freshman Paris Bass, who went for 18 points and 14 boards versus the Penguins, pitches in 12.1 ppg and 6.1 rpg. Detroit is the top three-point shooting team in the Horizon League at 37.8 percent (160-for-423) and the Titans are 7-2 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
 
SERIES STUFF
Milwaukee and Detroit are meeting for the 45th time in a series that dates back to 1995. The Panthers hold a slim 23-21 edge in the all-time series and the teams have split their last four meetings. When the teams met at Calihan Hall in Detroit earlier this month, the Titans used a 13-0 first-half run to gain control of the contest and earn an 83-67 victory thanks to 26 points, six rebounds and five assists from Juwan Howard, Jr. Matt Tiby totaled a season-high 20 points to lead the Panthers. UWM is 14-8 all-time against the Titans in Milwaukee and has won seven of the last 10 games there. The last time the Panthers and Titans tangled in Milwaukee, UWM shot 51 percent from the field and led by as many as 21 points in an 83-73 victory in the opening round of the Horizon League Championship on March 4, 2014. Jordan Aaron scored a team-high 16 points to lead Milwaukee, which saw five players score in double figures.
 
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 11.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg and shooting 47.6 percent (30-for-63) from the field in the last seven games. Springs, who has ripped down 7.0 rpg in the last four contests and scored in double figures in five of the last seven 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 10.1 ppg and shooting 45.9 percent (40-for-87) from the field and 32.2 percent (10-for-31) from three-point range in the Panthers' last 12 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 33 of his last 44 (.750) 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 14 starts this season, Springs is tallying 8.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 1.4 apg and in Milwaukee's last five home games is going for 14.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg and shooting 52.1 percent (25-for-48) from the field, including 35.7 percent (5-for-14) from three-point range. In Horizon League play, he is accounting for 10.3 ppg and shooting 46.3 percent (31-for-67) from the field. Springs is collecting 11.0 ppg and 10.5 rpg in Milwaukee's last two games at Panther Arena.
 
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 13 outings, the 6-foot-8 forward is pitching in 15.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.2 apg and shooting 43.8 percent (64-for-146) 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 second in the conference with 7.6 rpg and sits second in League contests only with 9.0 rpg. Tiby is averaging 12.1 ppg and 7.6 rpg through 22 games this season and has scored in double figures 16 times, including in each of the last 13 outings. He is shooting 47.4 percent (37-for-78) from the field in the last seven outings and has knocked down 59 of his last 68 (.867) attempts from the free throw line, including 19 of the last 20 (.950). With 19 points and 13 boards versus UIC on January 29, he registered his sixth double-double of the season, matching his total from a year ago, and Milwaukee is now 9-3 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 six of the last 15 games. In League action this season, he is putting up 15.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg and shooting 46.1 percent (41-for-89) from the field. The junior forward is accounting for 14.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg and 1.8 apg in Milwaukee's last four League home games. His streak of 13 consecutive games with 10 or more points is the longest run by a Panther since Tone Boyle rattled off 10 or more points in 14 straight contests in 2008-09.
 
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 12 of his last 21 (.571) attempts from the field, has scored in double digits on 32 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 19-13 in those contests. A starter in all 57 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 19 of the team's 22 games this season and has scored in double digits in 19 of the last 21 outings. A winner in every sense of the word, in three previous 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 15.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 4.0 apg in Milwaukee's wins this year and in the last five contests has dished out 5.8 apg. 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 eight-game streak with double-figure scoring, McWhorter is posting 14.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 5.4 apg, while knocking down 50.6 percent (39-for-77) of his field-goal attempts.  Over his last five home games, he is contributing 15.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 5.0 apg and shooting at a 54.9 percent clip (28-for-51) from the field, including 47.8 percent (11-for-23) from long distance.
 
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 38.3 percent (36-for-94) 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 tossed in 12 points in a win versus Detroit in the opening round of the Horizon League Championship last season, has hit 9 of his last 13 (.692) triple tries at home. Five of his six double-digit-scoring performances this season have come at Panther Arena, where he is shooting 53 percent (26-for-49) from the field and 54 percent (20-for-37) from three-point land. In his career, Milwaukee is 8-1 when he scores in double digits. His marksmanship has helped the Panthers to victory this season as he is contributing 9.0 ppg and knocking down 52.2 percent (24-for-46) of his field-goal tries and 57.1 percent (20-for-35) 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 13 of his last 15 (.867) attempts from the foul line.
 
MAKE SHOTS, WIN GAMES
Milwaukee, which has won seven of the last eight games in which it has shot at least 50 percent from the field, is posting 72.0 ppg and hitting 49.7 percent (97-for-195) from the field and 42.4 percent (31-for-73) from three in its last three victories.
 
PANTHERS GET CHARITABLE
Milwaukee has reversed its fortunes at the foul line, shooting a healthy 76.2 percent (275-for-361) over the last 19 contests. Through the first three games of 2014-15, the Panthers knocked down just 55.4 percent (36-for-65) of their charity throws.
 
JORDAN RULES
True freshman Justin Jordan registered his best performance since the season opener when he dropped in a season-high 17 points versus Wright State on January 20. Jordan's 17 points are the most by a Milwaukee freshman since Austin Arians collected 17 points versus Loyola Chicago on January 30, 2013. The 6-foot-3 guard, who is the nephew of former Chicago Bulls guard, Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan, is averaging 8.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 1.8 apg, while shooting 48 percent (12-for-25) from the field in the last four contests. In the Panthers' last three home games, the Davidson, N.C., native is contributing 10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, and shooting 58.8 percent (10-for-17) from the field and 55.6 percent (5-for-9) from three-point range. He has scored in double digits in two of the last four games and in Monday's loss at Valparaiso tallied all 11 of his points in the second half. In Milwaukee's wins, Jordan is putting up 7.1 ppg and converting 47.6 percent (10-for-21) of his triple tries.
 
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 19 games this season, has scored in double figures on six occasions recently put together 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 48.1 percent (26-for-54) from the field in the last 10 contests after knocking down 35 percent (18-for-52) of his shots in the previous seven outings and has drained 27 of his last 31 (.871) attempts from the foul line. With two blocks against Wright State on January 20, Panoske moved into a tie with Craig Greene (1990-93) atop the UWM all-time list with 87 rejections. He is pitching in 6.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 2.7 bpg in three career home games against 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.