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Conference: Horizon League
Coach: Rob Jeter
Record: (21-13, 7-9 Horizon)
Rankings and Ratings:
- Kenpom: 173
- RPI: 145
- AP/USA Today: Not ranked
Seeding?: Likely 15 or 16 seed
Names you need to know: Jordan Aaron, 5-foot-10 senior guard (14.9 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.5 apg), Kyle Kelm, 6-foot-9 senior forward (12.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.6 apg), Matt Tiby, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (12.3 ppg, 6.6 apg, 2.0 rpg), Austin Arians, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward (10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Stats you need to know: Milwaukee led the Horizon League in three-point percentage defense (32 percent) and also shot 32 percent from three-point range.
Tendencies: Milwaukee is pretty average in terms of tempo on the offensive end and they don’t pressure the ball all that much, but they are a Horizon League best 32 percent in three-point percentage defense. The Panthers turn the ball over a bit too much (14 times a game) and can take some bad shots, but when they play patiently they can be a dangerous team with four double-figure scorers.
Big wins, bad losses: Milwaukee owns solid non-conference wins at Davidson and at home against Northern Iowa. In Horizon League play, the Panthers went 2-1 against top-3 league opponents Green Bay -- with both wins coming on the road -- and Wright State. Milwaukee only played one top-25 team all season and lost 78-52 at Wisconsin.
How’d they get here?: The Panthers won four Horizon League Conference Tournament games -- at three different campuses -- beating Detroit, 83-73, in the first round at home, Valparaiso, 74-57, at Green Bay, No. 1 seed Green Bay, 73-66, in overtime at Green Bay and No. 3 seed Wright State, 69-63, at Wright State.
Outlook: Milwaukee isn’t headed for a great seeding of any kind, but after winning four consecutive games -- the last two on the road -- in the Horizon League Conference Tournament, the Panthers won’t be fun to face at all compared to your typical 15 or 16 seed.
How do I know you?: In 2005, the Panthers made an unlikely Sweet 16 run behind former head coach Bruce Pearl, who also led Milwaukee to a 2003 NCAA Tournament bid. Current Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan is also a former Panther head coach from 1999-2001. Milwaukee last made the NCAA Tournament in 2006, in head coach Rob Jeter’s first season as head coach, and beat Oklahoma in the first round.
