Milwaukee vs. Valparaiso Game Notes (pdf) 

MILWAUKEE (10-15, 5-6) vs. VALPARAISO (23-4, 10-2)
FEBRUARY 15, 2015 – 1 P.M. CT
MILWAUKEE, WIS. – UWM PANTHER ARENA
ESPN3
WISN (AM 1130)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• One of the hottest teams in the Horizon League, Milwaukee, which has won three of its last four games overall, hosts Valparaiso Sunday afternoon in its penultimate home game of the 2014-15 season. The Panthers bring a five-game winning streak at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena into the showdown with Valpo and are looking for their first winning streak of six or more games on their home floor since the 2008-09 campaign.
 
• The Panthers have finished their last four games in strong fashion, shooting an impressive 55.3 percent (63-for-114) from the field and 50 percent (24-for-48) from three-point range in the second half of those contests en route to a 3-1 record. In the first halves of those four contests, Milwaukee has converted just 33.6 percent (38-for-113) of its shots from the field, including 40.6 percent (13-for-32) from downtown.
 
• Milwaukee has been a different team when playing at home, where it has posted a 9-3 record this season, surpassing its total number of wins on its home floor in 2013-14 (7). During their current four-game winning streak at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, the Panthers are averaging 75.4 points per game and shooting 49.4 percent (128-for-259) from the field, 44.8 percent (43-for-96) from beyond the arc and 76.4 percent (78-for-102) from the foul line.
 
• The Panthers have shot lights out from beyond the arc of late, connecting on 46.3 percent (37-for-80) of their three-point attempts in the last four games, compared to 10 percent (4-for-40) in their previous two outings. Milwaukee's 13 treys against Oakland on February 10 were the most since February 2, 2014 against Oakland (13).
 
• Milwaukee is 7-3 this season when it knocks down eight or more three-point field goals.
 
ABOUT THE CRUSADERS
Valparaiso comes into Sunday's game having won 10 of its last 11 contests, including each of the last five. Friday night, Valpo earned a pivotal win, topping preseason Horizon League favorite Green Bay, 63-59 in Valparaiso, Ind., behind 20 points from Tevonn Walker. The Crusaders lead the Horizon League in both field goal percentage (.469) and field goal percentage defense (.379), while ranking second in the conference in scoring offense (72.5 ppg) and scoring defense (60.7 ppg). Sophomore forward Alec Peters is the team leader in both scoring (17.1 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg) and is in the discussion for Horizon League Player of the Year accolades. Guards Tevonn Walker (11.3 ppg) and Darien Walker (10.3 ppg) also average double-figure points for head coach Bryce Drew's squad. Valpo has won three of its last four road games and is 11-3 overall away (6-3 in true road games) from the Athletics-Recreation Center this season.
 
SERIES STUFF
Milwaukee and Valparaiso are meeting for the 30th time in a series that dates back to the 1976-77 season. The Crusaders possess a 17-12 edge in the all-time series and have won six of the last seven meetings between the teams, including a 73-48 decision at the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind., on January 26. Valpo raced out of the starting blocks to a 30-5 lead in that game and never looked back as Alec Peters scored a game-high 24 points for the Crusaders, who connected on 56.3 percent (27-for-48) of their field-goal attempts, including 60 percent (6-for-10) from three-point territory. Matt Tiby led all Panthers with 15 points. Milwaukee is seeking its first win at home against Valpo since a 79-76 victory on February 16, 2011. Valpo is shooting 52.2 percent (71-for-136) from the field in its last three meetings with Milwaukee.
 
SPRINGS FEVER
Fully recovered from a broken hand that hampered his shooting for the better part of the first month of the 2014-15 season, Akeem Springs has been a force at both ends of the floor recently and in Milwaukee's last four outings is accounting for 15.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.0 apg and 1.5 spg, while shooting 45.8 percent (22-for-48) from the field and 71.4 percent (15-for-21) from the foul line. The 6-foot-4 guard, who transferred from Northern Illinois, has scored in double figures in eight of the last 10 contests and is coming off his first-ever double-double output (13 points, 10 rebounds) against Oakland on February 10. He is contributing 11.4 ppg and shooting 45.7 percent (58-for-127) from the field and 33.3 percent (14-for-42) from three-point range in the Panthers' last 15 outings after managing just 6.0 ppg on 24.6 percent (17-for-69) shooting from the field in his previous eight appearances. Springs has buried 43 of his last 59 (.729) tries from the charity stripe after opening the year by hitting 9 of his first 17 (.529) foul shots. Springs has scored in double digits in six of the last seven home games and is posting 15.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg and shooting 48 percent (36-for-75) from the field in the last seven outings at Panther Arena. He is contributing 11.0 ppg and 6.2 rpg in Milwaukee's wins. Springs owns a 6.5 assist-to-turnover ratio (13-2) in the last three contests and in Milwaukee's first meeting with Valpo this season was held scoreless.
 
VALUING THE ROCK
In its last three home games, Milwaukee has averaged just 9.0 turnovers per game after committing 28 total turnovers in its previous two outings at Panther Arena. The Panthers are 5-1 this season when they have 10 or fewer turnovers. 
 
TIBY TIDBITS
The Panthers' emotional leader, Matt Tiby has been consistently producing great numbers for the last two months. Over the last 16 outings, the 6-foot-8 forward is pitching in 15.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 1.9 apg after managing 7.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.9 apg through the first nine contests. A 2015 Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League selection, the Urbandale, Iowa native ranks tied for second in the conference with 7.7 rpg and sits tied for first in League contests only with 8.9 rpg. Tiby and Anton Grady (Cleveland State) are the only two players to rank among the top five in the League in both scoring and rebounding in conference play. Tiby is averaging 12.6 ppg and 7.7 rpg through 25 games this season and has scored in double figures 19 times, including in each of the last 16 outings. He is shooting 47.7 percent (51-for-107) from the field in the last 10 outings and has knocked down 34 of his last 38 (.895) attempts from the free throw line. With a career-high-tying 22 points and 12 boards at Green Bay on February 5, he registered his seventh double-double of the season, surpassing his total from a year ago (6), and Milwaukee is now 9-4 in his career when he totals 10 or more points and rebounds. The seven double-doubles are the most by a Panther in a single season since Adrian Tigert had nine in 2005-06. In League action this season, he is putting up 15.5 ppg and 8.9 rpg. In four career meetings with Valpo, Tiby has victimized the Crusaders to the tune of 17.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 1.0 apg, while shooting 51.5 percent (17-for-33) from the field. He had 15 points and five boards at Valpo on January 26 and last season poured in a season-best 22 points in a road game against the Crusaders. He has scored in double figures in nine consecutive home games, averaging 13.9 ppg and 9.1 rpg during that stretch. His current streak of 16 straight games with double-digit points is the longest by a Panther since Joah Tucker in 2005-06 (27 games). Tiby has knocked down four of his last six three-point attempts after making just 1 of his previous 20 (.050). In the last two games, he is pitching in 16.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg.
 
STEVIE WONDERFUL
Redshirt senior Steve McWhorter has saved his best season for his last. After averaging 7.8 ppg last season, the Racine, Wis., native leads the Panthers with 14.0 ppg in 2014-15.  McWhorter, who totaled 17 points, nine assists, five boards and four steals against Oakland on February 10, has scored in double digits on 34 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 21-13 in those contests. A starter in all 60 of his appearances as a Panther, McWhorter has a 2.61 assist-to-turnover ratio (60-23) over the last 10 contests. He has scored in double digits in 21 of the last 24 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 16.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 4.7 apg in Milwaukee's wins this year and had 12 points and five assists at Valparaiso last month. Milwaukee is 0-4 this season when he has failed to score at least 10 points this season. 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. McWhorter has scored in double digits in seven straight home games (16.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.7 apg, 1.9 spg) and has played all 40 minutes in five of the last 10 contests. Over the last seven home games, McWhorter has drained 54.8 percent (40-for-73) of his field goal attempts and 46.4 percent (13-for-28) of his triple tries. His six steals versus Detroit on January 31 are the most by a Panther since Larry Treadwell had a half dozen thefts against Butler on February 9, 1998. McWhorter is putting up 16.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 7.5 apg, 5.0 spg and is shooting 54.5 percent (12-for-22) from the field in Milwaukee's last two games at Panther Arena.
 
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. Over the last four outings, Wichmann is putting up 10.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.3 apg and 1.3 spg and shooting 50 percent from the field (14-for-28) and 57.9 percent (11-for-19) from three-point territory. In his previous three games, Wichmann mustered 1.7 ppg on just 11.1 percent (1-for-9) shooting from the field and downtown. The 6-foot-5 guard is shooting 40.4 percent (44-for-109) from beyond the arc and scored a career-best 15-points against Youngstown State on January 14.  In the last five games at Panther Arena, Wichmann is averaging 9.4 ppg off the bench and shooting a sizzling 57.1 percent (16-for-28) from the field and 63.6 percent (14-for-22) from three-point range. Five of his seven double-digit-scoring performances this season have come at Panther Arena, where he is shooting 51.6 percent (33-for-64) from the field and 52 percent (26-for-50) from three-point land. In his career, Milwaukee is 8-2 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 52.6 percent (30-for-57) of his field-goal tries and 56.8 percent (25-for-44) 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 14 of his last 17 (.824) attempts from the foul line. Wichmann has committed only 13 turnovers in 587 minutes this season.
 
PANTHERS GET CHARITABLE
After a slow start, Milwaukee has reversed its fortunes at the foul line, shooting a healthy 75.7 percent (321-for-424) over the last 22 contests. Through the first three games of 2014-15, the Panthers knocked down just 55.4 percent (36-for-65) of their charity throws. At 73 percent, Milwaukee ranks second in the Horizon League and 42nd in the nation in free throw percentage through games of February 12.
 
JORDAN RULES
At a time when a lot of freshmen hit a wall, Justin Jordan is playing his best basketball of the season. In Milwaukee's last four games at Panther Arena, he is pitching in 11.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, and shooting 55.6 percent (15-for-27) from the field and 52.9 percent (9-for-17) from beyond the arc. Jordan's season-high 17 points against Wright State on January 20 were 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 8.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg and 2.0 apg, while shooting 45.5 percent (20-for-44) from the field in the last seven contests. He has an admirable 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio (15-7) at home this season and Milwaukee is 7-3 when he scores seven or more points. In Milwaukee's wins, Jordan, who has scored in double figures three times in the last seven games, is putting up 8.0 ppg and converting 48.4 percent (15-for-31) of his triple tries. He has knocked down nine of his last 11 attempts (.818) from the foul line. When Milwaukee and Valpo met last month, he scored 11 points, all of which came in the second half.
 
GOING THE EXTRA LYLE
Like backcourt mate Akeem Springs, J.R. Lyle was slowed this season by an injury, but appears to be back at full strength if the last two games are any indication. The junior guard is contributing 13.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.5 apg and 2.5 spg, while connecting on 75 percent (9-for-12) of his field goal attempts and 71.4 percent (5-for-7) of his triple tries in the last two outings. In his previous four appearances, Lyle pitched in 0.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 1.3 apg and 0.5 spg, while missing all six of his attempts from the field. Lyle, who has scored in double figures off the bench in each of the last two games, is coming off of a 15-point performance against Oakland, his best output since going for 16 points versus Montana on December 14.
 
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.