The Milwaukee men's basketball team closes out the regular season schedule with an exciting in-state rivalry matchup Saturday evening, primed for a national television audience against Green Bay. The contest will also be "Senior Day" as the program honors its senior members prior to tipoff. The second installment of the yearly "Battle of I-43" against the Phoenix is set to tip-off at 5 PM nationally on ESPNU with Jordan Bernfield and David Padgett on the call and will have live statistics available. It will also feature the "Educators Credit Union Milwaukee Panther Men's Basketball Radio Broadcast", which will air on 101.7 FM The Truth and streaming services. Scott Warras is on the call for his eighth season as the voice of the Panthers and all links are posted on the MKE website. Fans can be a part of the "Teddy Bear Toss" which is set to happen by bringing a teddy bear or buying one ($1 at the arena) that day. UWM students will also have free food available, courtesy of Chick-fil-A.

LOOKING AT THE PHOENIX
Green Bay was coming off a challenging campaign a year ago, finishing just 3-29 overall and 2-18 in Horizon League play before parting ways for new leadership. The Phoenix then hired Sundance Wicks as the program's next head coach in March. Wicks came to the Phoenix after three seasons as an assistant coach at Wyoming. The team then underwent a roster transformation in the offseason - of GB's 15 rostered players, three are returners, six are transfers, and six are incoming freshmen. It has been quite a year-one transformation, as the squad enters play Saturday at 18-12 overall (despite dropping three of past four) and 13-6 in Horizon League play - just one game out of first place after spending much of the season at the top of the standings. At 18 wins, the Phoenix has won more games than the past three seasons (16) combined and the team can earn a share of the regular-season title with a victory Saturday and a loss by Oakland (would create a three-way tie at the top at 14-6). Newcomer Noah Reynolds leads the offense, averaging 19.7 points a game (good for third in the league). The two-time league player of the week shoots 50.9 percent from the floor and adds 3.7 rebounds per contest, but has missed recent time with injury. Elijah Jones is second at 8.3 ppg, tied with David Dougles Jr. in scoring. Jones grabs 6.7 boards a game, seventh in the HL.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game will be the 74th meeting between the in-state rivals and Green Bay holds a 42-31 edge in the all-time series (37-31 at the NCAA DI level) that dates back to 1971. The Phoenix recently had the upper hand for a stretch, winning eight of 10 prior to the start of the 2020-21 campaign. Since that time, Milwaukee claimed five in a row including four of them on the road (both games were played back-to-back in Green Bay during the COVID season) before getting upset in the final meeting in the series last year, an 80-79 overtime loss (GB also earned the win in game one earlier this winter during this season). The 81-67 victory in game one last year extended MKE to its first-ever five-game win streak in the series.

LAST TIME OUT
Milwaukee scored the final six points of the night and held IUPUI scoreless on its final six attempts from the field to claim a 75-70 victory Wednesday night at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
 
The Panthers (16-14, 11-8 Horizon League) dug out of a deep early 15-point hole against the Jaguars (6-24, 2-17 Horizon League) by halftime and then closed with a punch, going 6-for-6 from the free throw line while not allowing anything on the other end to pick up the comeback road victory, extending their winning streak in the all-time series to eight in a row.
 
BJ Freeman led the way with a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, finishing with 20+ points for the sixth game in a row – the longest such stretch for an MKE player since the 1994-95 campaign. Freeman went 8-for-8 from the line on the night, including four of the final six in the last minute of regulation, putting his team ahead for good on a pair of makes with 46.7 seconds left.
 
Faizon Fields was next with 14 points, adding eight rebounds and a career-high four steals. Fields was 8-of-10 at the line, including a pair that extended the lead from one to three at 73-70 with 12 seconds left.
 
Erik Pratt rounded out the team members in double-figures, scoring 13. Jlynn Counter led the Jaguars with 15 points, one of four players in double-figures.

AN APPLE A DAY?
The Panthers have been very unlucky on the injury front this season, losing numerous key players for extended lengths of time due to the injury bug of one type or another.
On that list includes:
0 - Pierce Spencer - has not played this season
3 - Zach Howell - out for season since Dec. 9
10 - BJ Freeman - missed 7 of first 13 games
13 - Langston Wilson - missed 3 games in Dec.
25 - Aaron Franklin - out Dec. 22 to Feb. 23
27 - Dominic Ham - out Dec. 3 to Jan. 26
34 - Darius Duffy - out for season since Jan. 25

LINEUP LOWDOWN
The starting five for the Panthers so far this season has seen quite the variety as a result of the injury situation, as the team has now used 18 different lineups this season. That is a similar approach to last winter, when Bart Lundy used 16 different lineups in the 33 contests. A look across the NCAA sees no other team with as many lineups this winter, with Eastern Michigan (17) the only program one behind through Feb. 24. Detroit Mercy, Sienna, and Kansas City have 15.

THE SPRINT TO THE END
It has been a thrilling conclusion to the Horizon League regular season as eight teams have winning records at the moment and just 4.0 games separates first place from eighth place. It's even tighter from slots three through eight, as six teams are within 1.5 games of each other. However, Milwaukee (11-8) is locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of Saturday's outcome. Green Bay (13-6) can still clinch a share of the title but will be No. 2 seed with a win or the No. 3 seed with a loss. Finishing in a top four spot brings with it a bye in the first round of the postseason.

THE ROAD TO 1,000
In just two seasons, BJ Freeman has been put his stamp on his Panther career, with his 19.0 ppg career scoring average the highest for any player since Shannon Smith averaged 18.5 per game from 1994 to 1996. Freeman went over 1,000 career points in the Black & Gold in spectacular fashion, going off for a season-high 38 points against Purdue Fort Wayne (he needed 34 going into the game). In doing so, Freeman becomes the 30th player in program history to do so wearing a Panther uniform, with the most recent to join the list coming from Jalen Johnson last year and Te'Jon Lucas back in February of 2020 (both of those players were transfers into the program). The most recent to hit the mark in MKE-only games was Matt Tiby in 2016, finishing with 1,332 points (in three seasons). Throw in Freeman's 436 points from his freshman campaign at Dodge City Community College and he will be approaching 1,500 in his collegiate career very shortly as well. One final note: Freeman is also the FASTEST to accomplish the feat in program history, doing so in just 53 games. The runner up? Ed McCants, who reached his 1,000 in his 58th game as a Panther when he scored 21 points against Cleveland State back on February 26, 2005.

THE 38 WAS GREAT
BJ Freeman finished with a season-high 38 points against Purdue Fort Wayne Feb. 25, scoring 23 of those in the second half to help spur the MKE comeback victory. The 38-point outburst was second in his career only to his epic 43-point outing against Stetson in the postseason last year. It also ranks high in program history, coming in as the ninth-most (tie) in a game all-time, last done by Ed McCants against Detroit Mercy in January 2005. Freeman added another entry in the record book in the process, as his 15 made field goals ties the program record, done three other times - most recently by Clay Tucker at Wright State (2/27/03), a game in which Tucker netted an even 40. Freeman was selected as the Horizon League Player of the Week for his efforts - marking the second time this season (also Feb. 5) and the fifth of his career. That number is noteworthy, as BJ becomes the first player in program history to earn league honors five times, topping the four that Dylan Page (2000-04) received in his MKE career.

DEFEND THIS HOUSE
In his two years as Milwaukee's head coach, Bart Lundy has been proven very difficult to beat at home, especially against Horizon League opponents. Last season, the Panthers went 9-2 against HL foes (8-2 regular season plus a win over Wright State in the postseason), falling only in a pair of overtime games. This season? MKE sits at 7-2 in such games, again with the two losses coming in ... you guessed it ... overtime - making Lundy 17-4 in league meetings at home, with a perfect 17-0 mark in games that finish in regulation.

ON A ROLL
Earlier this season, Kentrell Pullian scored 20-or-more points in four games in a row (ending vs. Oakland Jan. 6), becoming just the second player since January of 2006 to do so (BJ Freeman went for 20+ in six in a row last year). Now, Freeman is right there again, having scored 20+ in his past six games. Back in 2006, the scoring spree of four was last accomplished by Joah Tucker. With Freeman at six once again, it marks the longest since Shannon Smith put together a stretch of eight consecutive games during the 1994-95 campaign (23/38/27/25/24/36/24/22 starting with game three of the year). In addition, BJ's dozen 20-plus point games this year are the most for a Panther since Joah Tucker and Ed McCants each had 13 such scoring efforts back in the 2004-05 season. Freeman put together a brilliant month of February, averaging 25.0 ppg, scoring an even 200 in eight contests.

THE BLOCK PARTY: PART II
A year ago, the Panthers smashed the all-time season block record, led by Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Ahmad Rand. Well, the former standard just got passed again, as the MKE defense heads into play Saturday at 134 blocks on the season. While the 186 of last year is out of reach, this season will finish as the clear No. 2 all-time.
1. 186 blocks in 2022-23
2. 134 blocks this season
3. 125 blocks in 2017-18
4. 119 in 2021-22
5. 118 in 2003-04

PLAY TO THE BUZZER
Under Bart Lundy, the team has proven adept at never giving up, starting last year when the Panthers recorded victories when down nine or more points on six different occasions - three times by double-figures. In fact, the only team in the country with more was East Carolina, who accomplished the feat down 10+ points on four occasions.

If it sounds familiar this year, it's because it is ... MKE overcame a 15-point deficit against IUPUI Feb. 28, marking the fifth time this season they have dug out of double-figures to record a victory.

The lines for the Panthers are below:
19 points (37-18) vs. Cleveland State, 1/12/24
15 points (19-4) at IUPUI, 2/28/24
12 points (21-9) at UC Davis, 12/9/23
11 points  (31-20) at Cleveland State, 2/14/24
10 points (57-47) vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, 2/25/24

BRINGING THE DEEEEE-FENSE
The Panther defense has been very tough recently, holding each of its opponents under 40 percent from the floor over a span of five consecutive games from Jan. 25 to Feb. 8 (Detroit Mercy .386/Oakland .378/Purdue Fort Wayne .319/IUPUI .367/YSU .397). That consecutive streak may have been broken Feb. 10, but the team was at it again the next outings versus Cleveland State (.371) to make it six of the past eight. If you take a look at those past 11 games, the defense has limited its opponents to an overall shooting percentage of just .398 (294-of-737). Now while the team recently pulled off a similar feat in the first four games of last season (MSOE/Purdue/Cardinal Stritch/Iowa State), the last time as many as four was done prior to Bart Lundy's arrival was back in December of 2015. Taking it further, the last time such a streak hit five straight games you have to go all the way back to the start of the 2004-05 campaign when Milwaukee opened 6-0 and held each opponent to .400 or less from the floor.

ROCKING THE REBOUNDS
The Panthers rank second in the Horizon League in rebounds per game, with their total of 38.8 coming in just behind YSU at 40.2. It's been a common theme of late, as a year ago Milwaukee broke the school record for rebounds per game at 39.1 - eclipsing a record that has been in place for 30 years. The team will have a good shot to finish as No. 2 or a new No. 1 on the list this season.
1. 2022-23: 39.1 rebounds per game
2. 2023-24: 38.8
3. 1992-93: 38.4

CLEANING THE GLASS
Faizon Fields put together a career-best effort against Oakland Jan. 27, setting new highs with his 21 points (was 17 against Southern Miss.) and with 16 rebounds (was 12 & 10 were offensive) while posting the second double-double of his career. The 16 rebounds was just off the school record of 18 (set by Nathan Schrameyer against SEMO back in March of 1995) and were also the most in a game for a Panther since DeAndre Abram collected 16 against UIC back on Jan. 17, 2019 - over 4 years and 150 games ago. He didn't stop there ... he followed that up his very next outing with a team-high 12 rebounds in the victory at Purdue Fort Wayne Feb. 1 and then collected 12 more against IUPUI Feb. 4. That marked three straight games of 10+ rebounds by a Panther for the first time since Bryce Nze accomplished the feat at the end of January in 2018. Faizon then made history against Youngstown State Feb. 8, adding another 16 caroms to run the streak to four - no player had ever pulled off that feat, as the only other time even three had ever been done in the MKE Division I era was back in February of 2007 by Adrian Tigert. You have to go back to January of 1990 - the year before Milwaukee was NCAA DI - to find a streak of more, when Randy Doss went for 10+ rebounds in six games in a row. Fields has been on nice stretch since the calendar turned 2024 - in the past 16 games, he has averaged 11.1 points and 8.1 rebounds a night, shooting 56.9 percent (62-of-109) from the floor while adding 17 blocks. He added what was his team-leading fifth double-double of the season (13 pts/10 reb) against Youngstown State Feb. 23.

WELCOME BACK AARON!
Aaron Franklin returned to the court for the first time since December 22, missing 15 games due to injury. He subbed in early against Youngstown State Feb. 23 and it looked like he didn't miss a beat. Franklin finished 3-3 from the floor, scoring seven points while grabbing nine boards in 28:32 of action.

LIVING IN THE 90's
The offense really picked up the pace once the New Year approached and the team is averaging 80.1 points in league contests overall. In fact, with 91 against Wright State Dec. 31 and 95 more points against Oakland Jan. 4, it marked the first time the MKE offense had hung 90-or-more points in back-to-back games of any kind since the start of the 2019-20 campaign. That season, they went for 110 against Western Michigan (Nov. 9 in 3OT) and followed it up with 103 more the next contest against Wisconsin Lutheran (Nov. 12).  A deeper dive shows it was actually the first time the team had scored 90+ in consecutive Horizon League contests in over 20 years. The last time that happened? Back in February of 2002 when the Panthers claimed victories over Youngstown State (96-76 on 2/9/02) and Wright State (94-68 on 2/14/02). Three in a row of 90+ had never happened in league play, last occurring during the 1992-93 campaign (94 against Northeastern Illinois 12/3/92, 91 versus Alcorn State 12/7/92, and 98 against Parkside 12/9/92) while the team played an independent schedule.

PRATT ENTERS THE "CHATT"
Erik Pratt continues to excel, reaching that next level after enjoying a breakout game against Chattanooga Dec. 22. Pratt led the way with 29 points, easily topping his former career-best of 18 set earlier this season. He also set a career-high with nine rebounds (was 4) and made 6-of-13 shots from distance. In fact, it was the fourth different time he has reset his career-high this season going from 12 points (Providence) to 17 (St. Thomas) to 18 (UC Davis) to the 29 against the Mocs. Pratt followed that up with a 27-point encore in the win over Robert Morris Dec. 29. Heading into play against Green Bay, Pratt has averaged 14.5 points over the past 22 games (second-best on the team), shooting 40.9 percent (113-of-276) from the floor, 36.6 percent (56-of-153) from downtown, and 76.0 percent (38-of-50) from the free throw line, and has scored 20+ four times. For comparison, Pratt had a per-game scoring average of just 6.0 ppg prior to the game at St. Thomas December 6.

THOSE COMEBACK CATS!
The Panthers overcame a 19-point deficit in the victory against Cleveland State Jan. 12, claiming the 88-80 decision after trailing by a score of 37-18 with 5:41 to go in the first half. Bart Lundy can now boast two of the top five biggest comebacks in program history, adding to the epic 23 points they erased against Northern Kentucky in late January last season. The only four better than CSU are below.

24 points on March 2, 2021: Down 24 at 72-48 with 6:26 to play before one of the most improbable comebacks of all-time (it was the second-largest deficit EVER overcome in NCAA history over the final 5 minutes of a game). DeAndre Gholston sent it to OT with a 3 with 1.8 seconds left and MKE beat Wright State, 94-92.
24 points on November 15, 2008: The Panthers topped UC Davis, 81-75. That day, the team made up a 24-point halftime deficit, trailing 51-27, with a 54-point second half.
23 points on January 28, 2023: MKE picked up the amazing 75-74 victory despite trailing, 47- 24, just before halftime. BJ Freeman led the way as a 28-4 run flipped the contest on its head.
21 points on December 8, 2001: The Panthers trailed Virginia teach by a score of 58-37 with 10:27 left before storming back and earning an 80-78 OT win behind 29 points from Clay Tucker.

LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR!
The Panthers and Oakland went to double overtime Jan. 27, the first multi-OT contest for Milwaukee since February 2, 2021 - also against Oakland. Three players played over 40 minutes in the contest, led by a career-best 47:37 by Kentrell Pullian. His 48 minutes goes into the record book and marks a tie for the fourth-most played in a game in school history.
1. 52: Darius Roy vs. Western Michigan (11/9/19)
2. 50: Josh Thomas vs. Western Mich. (11/9/19)
3. 49: Te'Jon Lucas vs. Oakland (2/20/21)
T4. 48: DeAndre Gholston vs. Oakland (2/20/21)
T4. 48: Pullian vs. OU (1/27/24)
*Darius Roy did not start the WMU contest

CAPPING THE COMEBACK
Elijah Jamison played a big role in the comeback victory against Cleveland State Jan. 12, scoring 18 of his career-high 20 points in the second half as the team charged back. Jamison went 6-10 from the floor and 6-8 from the line to finish with the new career-best, topping the 19 he scored twice last season (against North Park in December and Wright State in March). He waited all of one game to do it again, resetting his high with a team-leading 22-point outing at Northern Kentucky Jan. 18. He also set collegiate bests with 7 made FG and 5 made 3's against the Norse.

JEEPERS MR. WILSON!
Langston Wilson recently scored in double-figures in three straight contests, topped by the first double-double of his NCAA career when he finished with 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds against Cleveland State Jan. 12. The 13 points was just off his just off his career-best of 14 (vs. Luther earlier this season), while the 14 boards topped the 12 he recorded against Wyoming back in December of 2021. He went 5-8 from the field against CSU, adding a couple of blocks and slam dunks. He joined BJ Freeman (14 points/10 rebounds), giving MKE a pair of teammates with a double-double in the same game for the first time since February 20, 2021. That day, Te'Jon Lucas (21 pts/13 asst) and Amir Allen (12 pts/12 reb) teamed up to send the Panthers past Oakland in double OT, 89-87.

ON THE MARK
Prior to injury, newcomer Darius Duffy was making field goals at a very high clip, leading the team at an eye-opening 73.1 percent (38-of-52) and had missed just ONE SHOT from the floor in 2024 (he was 90% at 9-of-10 since Jan. 1). While he won't have enough attempts to qualify for rankings, for perspective, the Horizon League leader was at 56.2 percent and the NCAA leader was 71.6 percent when Duffy was hurt. The school record he would have been chasing is 66.4 by Brett Prahl in 2016-17.

GETTING TO THE LINE
In a recent stretch to close out 2023, the Panthers did a brilliant job of getting to the free throw line. The team shot 37 total free throws against Chattanooga Dec. 22 (making 26), the most attempts by the team since shooting 51 against Western Michigan (11/9/19 in 3OT). With 30 more free throw tries against Robert Morris, it marked the first time MKE had 30+ attempts from the charity stripe in back-to-back games since the 2015-16 campaign (23-33 against Green Bay 1/29/16 followed by 26-34 vs. Wright State 2/4/16). They did it again versus Oakland Dec. 4, converting on 26 of 35 on the night to mark three times in four games overall. Two days later, the Panthers came up just short when they connected on 85.7 percent of 28 attempts, making 24.

SPREAD THE WEALTH
Despite falling just short on the scoreboard against Oakland Jan. 4, the Panthers pulled off a unique feat that had not been seen in over eight years when, count 'em, six players finished the night in double-figures. Against the Golden Grizzlies, Kentrell Pullian led the way with 21, while Faizon Fields (17), BJ Freeman (15), Elijah Jamison (13), Langston Wilson (12), and Erik Pratt (11) all came through with double-figure point totals. That marked the first time the team had more than five players in double-figures since a 125-74 victory over Judson back on December 13 of 2015. That night, seven players contributed double-figures, with JJ Panoske and Akeem Springs leading the way with 22. In addition, Brock Stull (18), JayQuan McCloud (12), Austin Arians (11), Matt Tiby (10), and Cody Wichmann (10) all contributed to the huge 125 total. The Panthers followed that up with five more in double-figures against Detroit Mercy the very next game. In addition, the 60 points the Panthers netted in the second half against the Golden Grizzlies also go into the record book, tied for the second-most after intermission in program history (trailing only the 61 the team recorded against UIC in January of 2003 and tied with the 60 MKE put up against Wright State in February of 1991.

FROM DOWNTOWN!
The Panthers not only connected on a season-high 53.3 percent from three-point range against Wright State Dec. 31, but, in making 16 triples, came withing striking distance of the school record. That mark sits at 18, set in a game that went four overtimes against UIC back in January of 2001.
18 vs. UIC on 1/11/01
17 vs. Colorado on 12/30/01
16 vs. Wright State on 12/31/23
16 vs. Youngstown State o 2/9/02
16 vs. Detroit on 1/1/11

THE 20-20-20 CLUB
Erik Pratt and Kentrell Pullian each scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games earlier this winter (Pratt 27 against RMU/29 against Chattanooga ... Pullian 28 against RMU/26 vs. the Mocs). A pair of teammates had not accomplished that feat in 80 games - last done by DeAndre Gholston and Te'Jon Lucas at the tail end of the 2020-21 campaign. That season, Lucas had 22/Gholston 20 against IUPUI Feb. 25 followed by Gholston 31 and Lucas 25 in the epic postseason overtime victory over Wright State March 2 of that year. Against Wright State Dec. 31, Pullian finished with 20 and BJ Freeman led the way with 23, marking the third straight outing a pair of teammates went for 20+ points - something that had not happened for the MKE offense this century. With Faizon Fields recently scoring 20+, the Panthers now have six players this season that have crossed the 20-point threshold (Freeman, Pratt, Jamison, Pullian, Browning, Fields). That marks the most since five did so in the 2018-19 campaign (Darius Roy, Carson Warren-Newsome, Jake Wright, DeAndre Abram, Vance Johnson).

A WELL-PACKED WHIRLWIND
The Panthers saw it all throughout the 2023 portion of the season, playing games away from UWM Panther Arena in six different states (Rhode Island/Colorado/Florida/Wisconsin/Minnesota/California) while traveling close to 12,000 miles (11,817). The team also played contests in all four mainland time zones in the United States for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign. That year, the Panthers played North Carolina State in the Eastern time zone, Wisconsin, Valparaiso and Prairie View A&M (Texas) in the Central, Santa Clara (and Idaho State on a neutral court) in the West, and Air Force in the Mountain time zone.

ALMOST ERROR-FREE
The Panthers set a program record against Luther College Nov. 17, finishing the evening with just three turnovers - including none in the second half. The nearly-perfect care of the ball broke the former mark of four turnovers set twice - originally against Butler (2/16/2005) and then most recently against Washington State (11/11/2006).

JUMP RIGHT IN
After missing the opener, BJ Freeman made his season debut an eye-opener, recording the third double-double of his MKE career with 33 points and 10 rebounds at Providence Nov. 11. The 33 points marked the fourth outburst of 30-plus points for Freeman, who netted a career-best 43 against Stetson in March, as well as 31 against Cleveland State in February and 30 against Youngstown State in January. He also went 11-for-11 from the free throw line against the Friars, tying for the fifth-most FT makes in a game in school history in which a player hits 100 percent. Freeman also holds that school record at 17-of-17 set last year at Northern Kentucky in January. It's the first 30-point double-double for a Panther since Te'Jon Lucas recorded 31 points and 10 boards in an 81-80 overtime victory over Cleveland State back in January of 2021.

PULLIAN PULLIAN
Kentrell Pullian picked a nice time to post his first double-double as a Panther, leading the charge against Stout Nov. 6 with 16 points and a team-high (and career-best) 12 rebounds. In fact, he collected a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards in the second half alone. The last Panther to record a double-double in a season opener was Patrick Baldwin Jr. in 2021-22 (21 pts/10 reb vs. North Dakota). The last player prior to that was Brock Stull (13 pts/11 reb) in the opener against MSOE of the 2016-17 campaign.

BIG FIRST IMPRESSION
Learic Davis joined the list of Panthers to start a season opener as a freshman when he was in the lineup against Stout Nov. 6. That made him the third frosh in the past five years, joining Patrick Baldwin Jr. (2021-22), and CJ Wilbourn (2019-20). Prior to that, it hadn't happened since August Haas in the opener in the 2016-17 season opener against MSOE.

AND WE'RE OFF
A couple of different looks to the season opener, which saw Milwaukee playing its opening game of the season at home for the fifth time in the past 11 years. The team is now 21-13 in season openers since returning to the NCAA Division I ranks full-time in 1990-91, which includes a 75-60 victory at North Dakota to start the 2021-22 campaign as well as a big 102-46 win over MSOE last year. In all, the team is 28-6 in that same span in home openers (while 15-1 in season openers at home), claiming wins in 21 of the past 24 (13 in a row at one point). Also, the Panthers have not lost the season opener when it was played at home since dropping an 80-79 decision to Platteville in November of 1994 (have won the previous 15 in that scenario).

LEAGUE LIFTOFF
Milwaukee broke a recent skid in Horizon League openers three years ago, topping Green Bay (68-65) after having dropped the initial game in conference each of the prior six, dating back to an 82-76 victory over Youngstown State in 2013-14. Since joining the MCC/Horizon League, Milwaukee is now 15-15 in league openers following the result against Green Bay this year.

HE FLIPPED THE SCRIPT
It was certainly a great debut campaign for head coach Bart Lundy a year ago, resulting in the first 20-win season for the program in seven years, MKE's first postseason appearance in nine years, and the first postseason victory for a Milwaukee squad in 17 years after it knocked off Stetson in the first round of the CBI. At 22 wins, Lundy tied the high-water mark for a first-year coach in program history; that standard belonging to Rob Jeter, who claimed 22 wins in 2005-06. A deeper dive into year No. 1 shows just how great it was. A year prior, MKE stood 10-22 after 32 games. Fast-forward to last year and the squad was 21-11 at that point (finishing 22-12). With the victory over Cleveland State Feb. 25, the Panthers reached the 20-win plateau for the 11th time in the school's NCAA Division I era and, with 14 league wins, equaled the high-water mark of 14 conference victories set during a 14-2 slate in 2004-05. The Panthers also finished an impressive 15-3 in home games, tying the program mark for most victories on their home court (15-0 in 2004-05). The 22 total wins also mark a tie for the fourth-most in a season in program history.

Expectations are certainly high around the program this season, starting with Milwaukee's spot in the Horizon League preseason poll. The Panthers were selected to place second according to the results of the Under Armour preseason poll conducted by the League's head coaches, SIDs and media members - their highest ranking in over a decade. National organizations are taking notice as well, with respected polls such as Lindy's (No. 1), Blue Ribbon Yearbook (No. 2), HoriZone (No. 2), The Almanac (No. 2). Field of 68 (No. 3), and Mid-Major Central (No. 3) all considering the Panthers to be a Top 3 team this season. In addition, BJ Freeman was named to the Preseason All-Horizon League First Team.

TAKE THAT NEXT LEVEL
If you take a look at the next level and take a peak nationally, Lundy directed his team to a 12-win improvement over the prior year, finishing as the 10th most-improved team in the NCAA (22 wins up from 10 in 2021-22 / to determine games improved, add the difference in victories between the records to losses difference & divide by two).

1. Southern Mississippi 25-8 from 7-26 (+18)
2. Florida Atlantic 35-4 from 19-15 (+13.5)
3. College of Charleston 31-4 from 17-15 (+12.5)
4. Duquesne 20-13 from 6-24 (+12.5)
5. Marshall 24-8 from 12-21 (+12.5)
6. Northwestern State 22-11 from 9-23 (+12.5)
7. Missouri 25-10 from 12-21 (+12)
8. Fairleigh Dickinson 21-16 from 4-22 (+11.5)
9. Grambling 24-9 from 12-20 (+11.5)
10. Milwaukee 22-12 from 10-22 (+11)

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
One season removed from starting a new campaign with just four returners (and 13 newcomers), the faces will look much more familiar to the Panther fans this winter. At the top of the list is four returning starters, losing only Ahmad Rand to graduation from the regular cast of starters. The roster will have four members who started 20 or more games last season, led by Kentrell Pullian who started 27 times in playing all 34 games. He is followed by BJ Freeman (26 starts in 32), Elijah Jamison (24 of 34), and Markeith Browning II (20 of 29). Heading into the 2021-22 season, the Panthers were returning just 11.8 percent of their points (among the lowest in the nation) and 17.5 percent of their rebounds. This season, those numbers are 63.7 percent of points (1,696/2,659) and 55.6 percent of rebounds (740/1,330). To help matters, the MKE offense returns its top three leading scorers from a year ago in Freeman (18.2 ppg), Pullian (10.6 ppg), and Browning (9.6 ppg).

MILWAUKEE THE MELTING POT
In today's world of college basketball, change is still inevitable. This season, Milwaukee welcomes 10 new faces, broken down into four freshmen (3 true freshmen; Learic Davis from NCAA DI Tennessee State) and six transfers (including four NCAA Division I transfers in Pierce Spencer/Nicholls State, Erik Pratt/ Texas A&M, Langston Wilson/Washinton, and Faizon Fields/Old Dominion). That brings the total number of student-athletes on the roster to 18. The background stretches far and wide ... and actually across the country with the list including an impressive 13 states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. Overall, there are only nine programs at the NCAA Division I level to be represented by 10 or more states.
The Top 5 is listed below.
Navy – 13 states (*27 players on the roster)
Milwaukee – 13 states
Missouri – 12 states
Youngstown State – 11 states
VMI – 11 states

GET OUT THOSE ERASERS
Along the way last season, the team rewrote the Milwaukee record book, setting new program records in total points (2,659), blocks (186, which also was fourth in the NCAA), field goals made (944), field goals attempted (2,062), total rebounds (1,330), and rebound average (39.1, good for 15th in the NCAA), while leading the Horizon League in with a .408 field-goal defense (893-2,187) that finished as the second-lowest in school history.
Points: 2,659; record was 2,618 set in 2015-16
FG made: 944 was 879 set in 2015-16
FG attempted: 2,062 was 1,950 set in 2016-17
Total rebounds: 1,330 was 1,241 set in 2009-10
Rebound average: 39.1 was 38.4 set in 1992-93
Blocks: 186 was 125 set in 2017-18
The blocks standard was arguably the most impressive mark to fall, eclipsing the former standard by nearly 50 percent while finishing fourth in the nation at the NCAA Division I level. The Panthers led the Horizon League by over 50 (Robert Morris was runner-up at 135) and MKE had five of the top 20 shot-blockers in the league led by Ahmad Rand (first with a school-record 72 rejections) and Moses Bol (seventh with 33).

Not to be done there, the team added entries into the program ledger for scoring average, field-goal percentage, field-goal percentage defense, and free-throw percentage.
*FG Defense of .408 (893-2,187) finished second
*Field-goal % of .458 (944-2,062) was third
*Free-throw % of .740 (504-681) was fourth
*Scoring average of 78.2 ppg finished fifth

THIS IS 40
BJ Freeman did it all against Stetson March 19 of last year, lighting up the Hatters for a career-high 43 points. His output set a new CBI single-game record and tied for the second-most points in a game in school history, trailing only the school-record 50-point performance of Von McDade back in December of 1990. It was the first 40-point outing for a Panther in over 20 years (and just the seventh all-time), the last coming from Clay Tucker when he recorded 40 against Wright State in December of 2003 - a span of 633 games.

MKE SINGLE-GAME SCORING RECORD
50 points: Von McDade at Illinois, 12/3/90
43 points: Freeman vs. Stetson, 3/19/23
43: McDade at Southern Utah, 2/19/91
CBI SINGLE-GAME SCORING RECORD
43 points: Freeman vs. Stetson, 3/19/23
39: Damon Huffman (Brown) at Ohio, 3/18/08

Freeman finished 10-of-20 from the floor and an impressive 20-of-22 from the free-throw line, setting new school and CBI single-game records with both his 20 made free throws (former mark of 18 set twice by Chad Angeli back in 2000) and 22 attempts (21 twice, again by Angeli in 2000) from the charity stripe. The CBI standards he broke were 16 FTM/21 FTA.

BJ THR33-MAN!
BJ Freeman closed the season on a tear his final 21 games, scoring 20-plus in 14 of them while averaging 21.9 points over that timeframe. His 23 points against Northern Kentucky Jan. 28 marked a run of six straight contests of 20-or-more points, the first time a Panther had accomplished that feat since Shannon Smith put together a streak of eight consecutive games during the 1994-95 campaign (23/38/27/25/24/36/24/22 starting with game three of the year). Freeman saw his streak end at six against IUPUI Feb. 2. In addition, his 14 20-plus point games this year are the most for a Panther since Smith had 19 such scoring efforts back in the 1994-95 season. His trio of 30-plus point efforts (43/31/30) are the most since Avery Smith had three (36/33/32) during the 2006-07 campaign.

Freeman's 30-point/11-assist performance marked the first point/assist double-double in school history where the player reached the 30-point plateau. It was the first 30-point game of any kind for the team in 51 games (DeAndre Gholston had 31 against Wright State March 2, 2021) and also the first 10-plus assist performance in 44 games (Jordan Lathon last had 10 against Robert Morris Dec. 4, 2021). He was named Horizon League Player of the Week following the 30-point effort, the second time last season he has picked up the league honor. He's the first Panther to be named Player of the Week in the conference twice in the same season since Jordan Johnson did so in December of the 2015-16 campaign and also the first-ever to earn the honor three times in a season after winning again Feb. 26.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE; NO TROUBLE
It had been 215 games since Milwaukee witnessed its last triple-double before BJ Freeman went off for his 19 points/12 rebounds/11 assists against Purdue Fort Wayne Feb. 23 last year. The last to do it was Jordan Johnson, posting his statline of 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Youngstown State Feb. 22, 2016.

Freeman had his 10 points quickly, hitting for 10 and 11 on a pair of free throws at the 14:19 mark of the second half. He grabbed his 10th rebound on the offensive glass with 13:26 to play and rounded out the historic performance with his 10th assist on Kentrell Pullian's three-pointer with 4:04 to go.

How rare is the feat? Milwaukee owns nearly half (5 of 11) of the recorded triple-doubles in NCAA Division I basketball history in the state of Wisconsin. In addition to Johnson's gem, Kaylon Williams put up the same 10/10/10 statline in a win over Butler January 3, 2011 and Marc Mitchell had a pair in the 1992-93 season. He piled up 13 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds against UMKC Feb. 1, 1993 and also had 16 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds earlier that season against Alcorn State on Dec. 7, 1992.

The Wisconsin Badgers added their first-ever in over 100 years of their history in 2011 when Josh Gasser (10 pts/12 reb/10 asts) pulled it off. Green Bay has three on the list, with Javier Mendiburu posting a pair (17 pts/12 reb/10 asst vs. Wright State, Feb. 28, 2004 and 10/10/10 vs. YSU, Feb. 5, 2005). Alec Brown (15 pts/10 reb/10 blks) also joined Nov. 23, 2013 in a big Phoenix win. Marquette has two: Dwyane Wade had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the NCAA Tournament in 2003 and Tony Miller (18 pts/10 reb/10 asts) had one against the Badgers Dec. 31, 1994.

BRING ON THE LEAGUE ACCOLADES
The Panthers had three players honored by the Horizon League with postseason awards. BJ Freeman was named Second Team All-Horizon League, Ahmad Rand was selected as the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-Defensive Team, and Elijah Jamison was voted to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team. Rand becomes the first Panther to be named league Defensive Player of the Year in program history as well as the first to be named to the All-Defensive Team since 2011-12.

LUNDY'S LINE
Head coach Bart Lundy brought an extensive background of success to the Panthers, which included an impressive run through the postseason that extended many years and a pair of trips to the NCAA DII Final Four in his career. A look back at his prior seven seasons at Queens reveals the gaudy numbers that were posted.
2021-22: 30-4 overall, 2-1 in NCAA Tournament
2020-21: 16-6 overall, 0-1 in NCAA Tournament
2019-20: 24-7 overall, NCAA's cancelled
2018-19: 31-5 overall, 3-1 in NCAA Tournament
2017-18: 32-4 overall, 1-1 in NCAA Tournament
2016-17: 30-4 overall, 2-1 in NCAA Tournament
2015-16: 25-7 overall, 1-1 in NCAA Tournament

PANTHERS AND THE POLLS
Milwaukee was attempting to earn its first victory over a nationally ranked opponent since a 63-60 decision against No. 21 Butler on February 18, 2009 when it took on No. 25 Colorado. Recent ranked matchups include #24 Florida (81-45 L on 11/18/21), #2/#3 Kansas (95-68 L on 12/10/19), #18 Notre Dame (86-78 L on 11/17/15), #5/#6 Wisconsin (93-54 L on 12/10/14) and #6/#7 Villanova (73-53 L on 3/20/14), with the Panthers now 0-12 against ranked opponents since that victory over Butler.

Going back, after losing their first 25 games against teams ranked in the Associated Press poll in program history, the Panthers added three wins over the course of two memorable postseasons, all coming in the NCAA Tournament. Milwaukee beat 21st-ranked Alabama and 14th-ranked Boston College in 2005 and 24th-ranked Oklahoma in 2006. The Panthers do also own a win at Butler in 2001-02 when the Bulldogs were ranked 25th in the ESPN/USA Today poll but were not ranked by the AP. Their record all-time checks in at 4-47 following the loss to CU, with the victory over BC at #14 the biggest upset. Milwaukee has played the No. 1 team in the country just once - when it took on Illinois in the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament in 2005. The next-highest was Kansas at No. 2 back in 2004-05 and again in 2019-20.

TURN THE RADIO UP
This marks the second full ho0ps season that 101.7 FM The Truth will serve as the radio home of the "Educators Credit Union Milwaukee Panthers Men's Basketball Radio Broadcasts". Fans can listen to veteran broadcaster Scott Warras, now in his eighth season, call all the play-by-play action on air at 101.7 FM and via live online streaming services. Plus, head coach Bart Lundy will appear on 101.7 FM The Truth's "Truth be Told" shows throughout the 2023-24 basketball regular season.

IT'S OUR HOUSE
Although the building is not new and has been the site to many historic basketball moments in Milwaukee history, this is Milwaukee's eighth season in an arena that bears its name - UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. In July of 2014, the University and Wisconsin Center District entered into a 10-year partnership that included naming rights to the facility formerly known as The MECCA and U.S. Cellular Arena.

UP NEXT
With the regular season in the books, the postseason is up next. Locked in to the No. 6 seed, the Panthers already know they will host a first-round game Tuesday in the Horizon League Tournament. The team also knows it will play either Detroit Mercy or IUPUI. Game time is TBA based on postseason possibilities with the MKE women's team that are yet to be determined.