Game Notes (pdf)

Milwaukee (4-3) vs. Central Michigan (2-2)
Gulf Coast Showcase
Nov. 25, 2015 – 12 p.m. ET
Germain Arena – Estero, Fla.
Video: Gulf Coast Showcase You Tube
Radio: WISN (AM 1130)
 
 
THE OPENING TIP
• Milwaukee will try to salvage a win at the Gulf Coast Showcase when it takes on Central Michigan Wednesday. The Panthers are looking to avoid their first three-game losing skid since dropping six consecutive contests, December 20, 2014 - January 9, 2015. Milwaukee's three losses this season have come by a combined 15 points and its two setbacks at the Gulf Coast Showcase have come by a collective seven points.
 
• Wednesday, the Panthers conclude a grueling season-opening stretch that featured eight games in 13 days. Making that opening stretch even more difficult to navigate was that seven of those eight contests were played away from UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, where Milwaukee went 10-4 a season ago. Over the first 13 days of the 2015-16 season, Milwaukee will have traveled a total of 7,450 miles and played in four states. A year ago, the Panthers were quite busy at the outset of the season, playing seven games in 16 days. Following Wednesday's game against Central Michigan, Milwaukee will play just two games over the next 17 days.
 
• Milwaukee's 92 points yesterday versus Duquesne were its most scored in a game since a 95-88 overtime victory versus IUPUI on February 23, 2013. It also marked just the ninth time the Panthers have scored 90 or more points in the Rob Jeter era and the first time they have lost such a game under Jeter's direction.
 
• Off the court, the Panthers had a phenomenal year in 2014-15, achieving high marks in the classroom, while also earning the Horizon League's Community Outreach Award after performing nearly 1,000 hours of community service. Milwaukee men's basketball players posted a team grade point average over 3.0 during the 2014-15 academic year and the team's total of four individuals on the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll was the highest in the conference. Continuing with the academic theme, Milwaukee placed two student-athletes - Evan Richard and Cody Wichmann - on the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court and the Panthers also posted a perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) score.
 
SERIES STUFF
Milwaukee and Central Michigan are meeting for the 24th time in a series the Chippewas lead, 12-11, though the Panthers have claimed five of the last six outings. This is the first time the teams have hooked up since the Panthers collected a 74-71 victory in Milwaukee on December 19, 2007. In that contest, Paige Paulsen scored a team-high 22 points to lead the Panthers to victory, while current Milwaukee director of basketball operations Allan Hanson totaled seven points and four rebounds. As a head coach, Jeter is 1-1 against Central Michigan.
 
ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas have lost two straight games after opening the year with consecutive victories. Central Michigan has played its first four games without the services of starting guard Chris Fowler, but Rayshawn Simmons has picked up the slack, averaging team highs of 16.5 points and 5.8 assists per game. CMU is shooting just 29.9 percent (38-for-127) from three-point range and 51.4 percent of its field goal attempts this season have come from beyond the arc.
 
TIBY TIDBITS
Senior Matt Tiby, the Panthers' emotional leader and a Second Team All-Horizon League pick a year ago, has picked up where he left off last season. Over the last four outings, Tiby is contributing 16.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg and 2.0 apg. He has posted a double-double in two of the last four outings and in four of his last eight dating back to last season. At No. 18 Notre Dame last week, Tiby totaled 16 points and 13 rebounds, then collected 14 points and 13 boards against Trinity International. Milwaukee is now 11-5 in his career when he totals 10 or more points and rebounds. The Urbandale, Iowa native has scored 10 or more points in 26 of the last 28 outings and in yesterday's loss to Duquesne, erupted for a career-best 29 points, the most by a Panther since Jordan Aaron tallied 30 points at Green Bay on February 8, 2014. Over the final 21 games of 2014-15, the 6-foot-8 forward pitched in 15.6 ppg and 8.6 rpg after managing 7.8 ppg and 6.0 rpg through the first nine contests. A 2015-16 Preseason First Team All-Horizon League selection, Tiby's seven double-doubles in 2014-15 were the most by a Panther in a single season since Adrian Tigert had nine in 2005-06. A starter in each of the 72 games in which he has appeared during his Milwaukee career, Tiby is accounting for 16.8 ppg and 7.5 rpg in his last four neutral-site appearances. Tiby has converted 6 of his last 10 (.600) three-point attempts after opening the year just 2-for-12 (.167) from three-point land.
 
SPRINGS FEVER
Akeem Springs has elevated his play over the last five outings, and is averaging 14.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 2.2 apg, while shooting 53.1 percent (26-for-49) from the field and 55.0 percent (11-for-20) from triple territory. In the first two games of 2015-16, the junior guard managed 7.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg, but shot only 37.5 percent (6-for-16) from the field and 33.3 percent (2-for-6) from long distance. He was impressive at both ends of the floor in Milwaukee's victory at Santa Clara on November 15, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double since February 10 against Oakland (13 points, 10 boards), and in last Tuesday's game at No. 18 Notre Dame equaled a career high with 21 points. The transfer from Northern Illinois has scored in double figures in 16 of his last 24 contests and the Panthers are 7-4 in the last 11 games in which he has scored 10 or more points. Springs has buried 18 of his last 22 (.818) tries from the charity stripe. He contributed 12.3 ppg and 5.9 rpg in Milwaukee's wins in 2014-15 and over the final four outings of the year, shot 55.3 percent (21-for-38) from the field and 46.2 percent (6-for-13) from three-point land, while averaging 15.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg. A starter in 22 consecutive contests, the Waukegan, Ill., native is accounting for 16.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and is shooting 52.4 percent (22-for-42) from the field and 57.9 percent (11-for-19) from long distance in his last four games played away from home. He is averaging 14.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.5 apg in two contests at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
 
PANOSKE PRODUCES
J.J. Panoske has come into his own since mid-February of last season and over his last 12 games is pitching in 10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 1.7 bpg, while shooting 49.5 percent (51-for-103) from the field and 43.9 percent (18-for-41) from beyond the arc. Already the Panthers' Division I career leader with 109 blocked shots, the 6-foot-10 forward, who has helped Milwaukee to an 8-4 record over the last 12 games, has found life to be good at neutral sites, where he is contributing 9.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.0 bpg this season. Last season's team leader in free throw percentage (.857), the Brodhead, Wis., native has drained 31 of his last 34 (.912) attempts from the foul line. He has connected on 19 of his last 43 (.442) attempts from beyond the arc and since the start of the 2014-15 season, Milwaukee is 6-2 when he drains two or more treys. After opening the 2015-16 season by hitting just 7 of his first 17 (.412) field goal attempts, the senior forward has buried 21 of his last 41 (.512) field goal tries. Against Lipscomb on November 14, Panoske ripped down a career-best 15 rebounds, the most by a Panther since Matt Tiby corralled 17 versus Oakland on February 2, 2014, and added 12 points for his first career double-double. He also swatted five shots against the Bisons. Against Murray State on November 23, he produced 12 points, seven boards and three blocks. In Milwaukee's four wins this season, Panoske is accounting for 10.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg and is knocking down 53.3 percent (16-for-30) of his field goal attempts.
 
AUSTIN'S POINTS POWER PANTHERS
Junior Austin Arians has picked up where he left off in 2013-14 when he established himself as one of the premier shooters in the Horizon League. The 6-foot-6 forward, who redshirted the 2014-15 season, has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 appearances and in yesterday's loss to Duquesne contributed a season-best 21 points, his most since a career-best, 28-point effort at Youngstown State on February 20, 2014. Named MVP of the Cable Car Classic after putting up 15.3 ppg, Arians had 19 points at Notre Dame November 17. Through seven games, he leads ranks second on the team with 15.0 ppg and is shooting 38.3 percent (23-for-60) from long range. In 2013-14, he connected on 36.7 percent (65-for-177) of his tries from three-point range en route to 11.1 ppg. Milwaukee has registered a 20-8 record the last 28 times the Stoughton, Wis., native has scored in double digits. Arians has gotten off to a fast start this season, much like he did in 2013-14 when he totaled 10 or more points in 10 of the team's first 11 games. He ranks third in the Horizon League with 3.3 threes per game and has drained at least on three-pointer in 11 straight appearances. His seven boards against Duquesne yesterday are his most since January 30, 2014, when he pulled down eight versus Wright State.
 
ON THE DEFENSIVE
In its four wins, Milwaukee has limited opponents to 62.2 ppg and 44.2 percent (96-for-217) shooting from the field. However, in three losses, the Panthers have yielded 82.7 ppg and seen foes sink 54.2 percent (91-for-168) of their field goal attempts.
 
CODY'S CONTRIBUTIONS
Cody Wichmann came off the bench to produce a career-best 17 points, hitting all five of his three-point attempts, in only 13 minutes of action in the Panthers' victory over Trinity International last Friday. Milwaukee is now 9-2 in his career when he scores in double figures. The 6-foot-5 junior has now knocked down six of his last seven attempts from beyond the arc and since starting the year just 1-for-5 (.200) from three-point land, has buried eight of his last 11 (.727) shots. Over the last six contests, Wichmann is pitching in 5.8 ppg and is converting 63.1 percent (12-for-19) of his field goal tries and 64.3 percent (9-for-14) of his long-range attempts. With Austin Arians on the sidelines in 2014-15, Cody Wichmann shouldered more of a load and responded in fine fashion after logging only 6.8 minutes and 2.4 ppg as a freshman in 2013-14. In addition to leading the team in three-point field goals made (47) and three-point field goal percentage (.402) a season ago, Wichmann pitched in 6.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 1.1 apg, while appearing in all 30 contests. Five of his seven double-digit scoring performances last season came at Panther Arena, where he shot 53.7 percent (36-for-67) from the field and 53.8 percent (28-for-52) from three-point land. His marksmanship helped the Panthers to success in 2014-15 as he contributed 7.2 ppg and knocked down 50.7 percent (34-for-67) of his field goal tries and 52 percent (26-for-50) of his three-point attempts in Milwaukee's wins. Dating back to the 2013-14 season, the Pulaski, Wis., native has connected on 18 of his last 23 (.783) attempts from the foul line. He is on track to earn his accounting degree in less than four years.
 
JORDAN RULES
Junior Jordan Johnson, a transfer from John Wood Community College, has made an immediate impact as the team's starting point guard, replacing 2015 Second Team All-Horizon League selection Steve McWhorter, who graduated last spring. The lightning quick 5-foot-9 Johnson is contributing 9.5 ppg and 11.0 apg over the last pair of outings and put together an 11-point, 10-assist performance at No. 18 Notre Dame last week. His 8.4 apg ranks second in the Horizon League and fourth in the nation through games of November 24. The 2014-15 NJCAA First Team All-American dished out a season-best 13 assists versus Duquesne yesterday, the most by a Panther since Kaylon Williams had a school-record 14 helpers at UIC, February 12, 2011.
 
Former Milwaukee forward Demetrius Harris (2011-13) is once again on the active roster for the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. The first Panther to play in the NFL since 1983, Harris played two seasons at Milwaukee and helped the team to a College Basketball Invitational appearance in 2012 before putting up 9.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 2012-13. Last season, the 6-foot-7 Harris appeared in eight games as a tight end for the Chiefs and hauled in three passes for 20 yards before suffering a season-ending foot injury during warm-ups against Buffalo in early November.
 
GOTTA GET BACK IN TIME
The 2015-16 season marks the 10-year anniversary of one of the best years in Milwaukee basketball history. Led by the play of Joah Tucker, Boo Davis and Adrian Tigert, the Panthers knocked off Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Florida. Two members of Rob Jeter's current staff - Chris Hill and Allan Hanson - were on that team, which won a NCAA Tournament game for a second consecutive season. Milwaukee finished the 2005-06 season with a 22-9 record in Jeter's first season as the Panthers' bench boss.
 
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Milwaukee went 10-4 at home last season and has won seven of its last eight games at UWM Panther Arena. Over that eight-game stretch, the Panthers have lit up the scoreboard for 71.1 ppg, while shooting 47.8 percent (205-for-429) from the field and a healthy 42.4 percent (67-for-158) from three-point territory.
 
THREE-MENDOUS
In last week's loss at Notre Dame, the Panthers shot a blistering 66.7 percent (14-for-21) from beyond the arc. Over the last four outings, Milwaukee is knocking down 10.8 triples per game.
 
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE
As a team, Milwaukee is shooting a robust 78.8 percent (119-for-151) from the foul line in its last eight contests dating back to last season. Milwaukee nearly set a single-season school record by draining 73.7 percent (434-for-589) of its free throw attempts in 2014-15 for the second-best accuracy rate in Division I program history. That percentage placed the Panthers tied for 32nd in the nation and tied with UIC for the top spot in the Horizon League. Milwaukee matched a single-game school record for free throw accuracy by sinking all 22 of its attempts in the regular-season finale at Youngstown State on February 28, 2015. The Panthers had twice previously connected on all of their foul shots in a game (minimum 10 attempts) - versus Green Bay (20-for-20) on January 9, 2009 and against Youngstown State (15-for-15) on January 7, 2008. Through seven games this year, Milwaukee is converting 75.2 percent (97-for-129) of its charity tosses, a figure that ranks third in the Horizon League. After getting to the foul line just 8.0 times in the previous two outings, the Panthers attempted 37 freebies versus Duquesne on Tuesday.
 
THAT 70s SHOW
Milwaukee, which has scored 71 or more points in each of its first five contests of the 2015-16 season, has now prevailed in 12 of its last 15 games when scoring 70 or more points.
 
MILWAUKEE MOMENTUM
Dating back to the 2014-15 campaign, the Panthers have won 11 of their last 16 games. Last week's 86-78 loss at No. 18 Notre Dame halted Milwaukee's seven-game winning streak, the program's longest since the 2010-11 season.
 
CABLE CAR CLASSIC CHAMPS
Milwaukee captured the tournament title by going 3-0 at the season-opening Cable Car Classic hosted by Santa Clara. This marks the third straight season the Panthers have won an in-season tournament title, as they claimed the middleweight division of the 2014 MGM Grand Main Event a year ago and the NIU Showcase in 2013-14.