Milwaukee MBB Back On Campus To Host North Central Sunday

Now stocked with the leading rebounder in the nation – Jamichael Stillwell at 12.1 a game – the Milwaukee men’s basketball team looks to run its winning streak to four in a row and remain unbeaten at home this season (currently 5-0) when it hosts North Central (Ill.) Sunday afternoon at the Klotsche Center. The matchup, with the team back in the Mid-Major Top 25 this week at No. 22, is set to tip-off at 2 p.m. on ESPN+ and will have live statistics available. The audio broadcast will be available on 101.7 FM The Truth and its streaming services, as well as the Varsity Network. Scott Warras is on the call for his ninth season as the voice of the Panthers and all links are posted on the MKE website.

LOOKING AT THE OPPONENT

North Central, a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin playing at the NCAA Division III level, heads to Milwaukee at 9-2 overall and winners of four consecutive, including an 86-78 win over Concordia Chicago Friday evening. Entering his second season as head coach, Vince Kmiec is off to a strong start after having to blend a large group of newcomers with a core of veterans. Contest note: Sunday’s game does get played as an exhibition for the Cardinals. Kmiec’s first season ended with an overall mark of 10-17, but did finish 7-7 down the stretch after a challenging 3-10 start. The Cardinals finished in fourth place in the CCIW standings at 7-9.

The team does have solid depth, as six players average 7.8 ppg or better, topped by Terrance Moncrief (14.5 ppg) and Ethan Helwig (12.1 ppg) as the two in double figures. Helwig also leads the team in rebounds at 7.6 caroms a game and connects on 85.3 percent (29-of-34) from the free throw line. In fact, the team makes close to 80 percent (.776/191-246) from the charity stripe, good for 20th in the NCAA. Helwig is also the CCIW Player of the Week after connecting on back-to-back game-winners.

SERIES HISTORY

The teams will be meeting for the first time in Milwaukee’s NCAA DI history. The all-time series is currently 4-0 in Milwaukee’s favor, but the programs have not met on the hardwood since 1988 – a 105-95 MKE win on Dec. 2. The series actually dates all the way back to game No. 1 in the 1930’s – a 24-23 victory for the Panthers on the road on Dec. 12, 1936.

LAST TIME OUT

Themus Fulks led five players in double-figures with a game-high 23 points and Milwaukee hit the 100-point plateau in regulation against an NCAA Division I opponent for the first time in over 20 years in recording a 100-81 victory over Akron Dec. 15.

 

The Panthers (8-4) opened the “MKE Tip Off” at Fiserv Forum with an impressive victory over the Zips (6-3), using a scoring run midway through the second half to break away before stomping on the gas pedal down the stretch in claiming the 19-point decision. Fulks went 10-for-17 from the floor and added seven assists and five rebounds, scoring 16 of his 23 after halftime.

 

Jamichael Stillwell continued his recent tear, posting his seventh double-double of the season – and third in a row – with 17 points while adding 18 rebounds. Over his last three outings, Stillwell has recorded an eye-opening 52 rebounds (15-19-18).

 

Kentrell Pullian finished with 19 points, adding six rebounds, five steals, and four assists. AJ McKee chipped in 14 points and Erik Pratt also had 14, including a stellar 4-of-5 showing from behind the three-point line while not missing a shot in the first half. Danilo Jovanovich continued his comeback from injury, chipping in eight points in 10 minutes.

KEEPING IT ‘100’

The MKE offense pulled off a feat not seen in over 20 years in the program. The team recorded 100 points against Akron Dec. 15, reaching the century mark in regulation against an NCAA Division I opponent for the first time since a 117-55 victory over Prairie View A&M on November 20, 2004. Since that day, the Panthers have scored 100+ points in five other games, but all coming against non-DI opponents or needing overtime to get there. It also marks the third time under head coach Bart Lundy the team has netted 100+ in a contest. In Lundy’s first season, the team put up 112 against Cardinal Stritch (W, 112-38 Nov. 12, 2022) and 102 against MSOE (W, 102-46 Nov. 7, 2022). The last time the team went for 100 or more in back-to-back games? That was in the 2019-20 campaign, scoring 110 in a triple-overtime loss to Western Michigan Nov. 9 before following that up with 103 in a win over Wisconsin Lutheran Nov. 12. The last time before that occurrence was way back in 1988-89 (pre-NCAA DI days) when the team finished with 101 against SIUE (1/21/89) and scored 125 against Lakeland (1/24/89).

THE OPENING 20

On their way to 100 points in the game against Akron Dec. 15, the Panthers started strong with a 58-point performance in the first half. That marked a tie for the fifth-most points in a first half in program history.

1. 66 against Judson on 12/13/15

2. 61 at Cal State Northridge on 2/11/91

3. 60 against UMKC on 12/29/90

4. 59 against Upper Iowa on 11/21/05

T5. 58 against Akron on 12/15/24

T5. 58 against Wright State on 2/28/91

MAKING THE ‘K’ A FORTRESS

The Panthers will play their next two games on campus at the Klotsche Center, looking to improve on their near-perfect mark in the arena under head coach Bart Lundy. In the past two-plus seasons, Milwaukee has gone 10-1 at the Klotsche Center while averaging 89.6 points per contest on offense and holding opponents to an average of 70.1 points per game.

TAKING IT NATIONAL

Following a huge week on the court, Jamichael Stillwell made noise on the national scene Dec. 16 when he was honored as the Lute Olson National Player of the Week as well as being named one of five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week the next day.

Stillwell was also the Horizon League Under Armour Horizon Player of the Week and the Mid-Major Madness Player of the Week after he posted back-to-back double-doubles, shooting 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from the floor and 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from three-point range, adding three assists and three steals. The national honors were a program-first.

BACK IN THE MIX

After being ranked No. 18 in the CollegeInsider.com Preseason Mid-Major Top 25 poll this season (the first appearance in over a decade), the team is back in the poll this week. The Panthers head into play against North Central at No. 22.

REBOUND REPORT

After breaking the 30-year old program record for rebounds per game (was 38.4 rpg) in Bart Lundy‘s first season at 39.1, the team just missed resetting the mark last year when it finished at 39.0. This season, through 12 games, the team checks in even higher at 42.4 rpg, with a whopping +12.9 rebound margin. In addition to being first in the Horizon League in every rebound category, the Panthers also rank high across the nation. Through games of Friday, the team is 12th in the NCAA in rebounds per game, fifth in offensive rebounds per outing (15.4), and third with that +12.9 margin.

ALL HAIL THE CAROM KING

Jamichael Stillwell grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds on the first possession of the game against Green Bay Dec. 11 and never stopped, eventually going on to finish the night with a new school record of 19 rebounds (11 off/8 def). He also added a season-high 24 points for good measure. But on the glass, he becomes the new all-time program single-game leader, eclipsing the former mark of 18 set way back in 1994 against SEMO by Nathan Schrameyer.. Stillwell then waited all of one game to nearly reset the mark, finishing with 18 against Akron Dec. 15. The new list is as follows:

1. Stillwell, 19 at Green Bay, 12/11/24

T2. Stillwell, 18 vs. Akron, 12/15/24

T2. Nathan Schrameyer, 18 vs. SEMO, 12/10/94

T4. Bryce Nze, 17 vs. IU Indy, 2/16/18

T4. Brock Stull, 17 at Detroit Mercy, 1/27/17

T4. Matt Tiby, 17 vs. South Dakota, 12/17/15

T4. Matt Tiby, 17 vs. Oakland, 2/02/14

T4. James Haarsma, 17 v. SW Minn. St. 11/12/11

T4. Marcus Skinner, 17 vs. Green Bay, 2/16/08

The breakdown also includes a new record for offensive rebounds in a game at 11 against Green Bay, most defensive boards in a contest with 16 against Akron, as well as most rebounds over the course of back-to-back games at 37 when you add the games against the Phoenix and Zips. He’s just the second Panther ever to record 30+ boards over the course of two outings.

Offensive rebounds in a game

1. Stillwell, 11 at Green Bay, 12/11/24

T2. James Haarsma, 10 v. SW Minn. St. 11/12/11

T2. Marcus Skinner, 10 vs. Green Bay, 2/16/08

T4. Multiple times, 9

Defensive rebounds in a game

1. Stillwell, 16 vs. Akron, 12/15/24

T2. Brock Stull, 15 at Detroit Mercy, 1/27/17

T2. Matt Tiby, 15 vs. South Dakota, 12/17/15

4. Matt Tiby, 13 vs. Oakland, 2/2/14

5. Nathan Schrameyer, 12 vs. SEMO, 12/10/94

Most rebounds in consecutive games

1. Stillwell, 37, Dec. 11 (19) and Dec. 15 (18)

2. Bryce Nze, 32, 2-16-18 (17) & 2-22-18 (15)

3. Marcus Skinner, 27, 2-12-08 (10) & 2-16-08 (17)

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE

Jamichael Stillwell introduced himself to Panther fans with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds in the season opener against Lakeland – a sign of things to come. He has continued his stellar play and is now at seven of 12 outings after 17 points and 18 rebounds against Akron Dec. 15. Through games of Dec. 20, he ranks No. 3 in the NCAA with seven double-doubles, behind only players with eight and nine. He’s just the fifth player in program history with three consecutive double-doubles and will have the chance to draw even with BJ Freeman’s school-record of four on Sunday against North Central. Through 12 games, Stillwell is averaging double-figures in both scoring (13.8 ppg) and boards (12.1 rpg) for the Panthers, a rebounding total that now ranks first in the Horizon League as well as FIRST IN THE NATION across the NCAA. He even put together three consecutive double-digit rebound efforts from Nov. 19-23 (and now also Dec. 5-15), just the second Panther since 2018 to accomplish that (also Faizon Fields last winter). Heading into play against North Central, he has led the team in rebounding all 12 games – the longest-such streak in MKE’s NCAA Division I history (dating back to 1990-91). The most recent Panther to lead the team on the boards for even as many as seven consecutive outings was Bryce Nze in late January into February of 2018. The only other such streak on record prior to that was a span of seven by Randy Doss in 1989-90.

ATTACK THE GLASS

With seven double-doubles and eight games of 10 or more rebounds already under his belt, Jamichael Stillwell can really do some damage to the MKE record books when all is said and done this campaign. The school record for double-doubles in a season is nine, held by two different players. The school standard for games of 10+ rebounds in a year is 11, set almost a decade ago. Needless to say, Stillwell could reset both marks by a significant margin.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES, SEASON

9 by Matt Tiby in 2015-16

9 by Adrian Tigert in 2005-06

8 by 3 players, most recently BJ Freeman

GAMES OF 10+ REBOUNDS, SEASON

11 by Matt Tiby in 2015-16

10 by Adrian Tigert in 2005-06

9 by Bryce Nze in 2017-18

9 by Matt Tiby in 2014-15

GETTING TO THE GLASS

Speaking of rebounds, AJ McKee is approaching a milestone in the category, heading into play Sunday with 491 career boards. Although he won’t officially go into the school’s all-time rebound leader list, he will become just the 16th player to be wearing Black & Gold when he collects the No. 500 milestone carom.

LEADING THE CHARGE

Through 12 games, the MKE offense is averaging 81.0 points and shooting 48.4 percent from the floor – both numbers that would approach school records in those categories if they hold up until March. Leading the way and commanding the offense has been Themus Fulks, who tops the Horizon League – and ranks 42nd in the NCAA – with his 5.4 assists per game. The most recent Panther to lead the conference in assists for a season was Te’Jon Lucas, who averaged 5.1 a game back in 2019-20.

GET THAT OUTTA HERE!

Darius Duffy was busy on defense at Southern Miss Nov. 30, recording five blocks to tie his career-high first set last season against Detroit Mercy in January. The rejection total ties for the fourth-most in a game in school history.

8 – JJ Panoske vs. Northern Kentucky (1/4/16)

7 – Panoske vs. Loyola (2/12/13)

6 – Ryan Allen at Marquette (12/22/11)

5 – now 13 times, including twice by Duffy

COPY-CAT KP

Not to be overshadowed, Kentrell Pullian put his name in the double-double ledger against Cleveland State Dec. 5, posting the third of his MKE career with a season-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. He waited until the very last second to accomplish the feat, grabbing the final rebound from the Vikings’ last shot as the game hit 0:00 on the clock and horn sounded.

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 YSU in 2013-14. Since joining the MCC/Horizon League, Milwaukee is now 16-15 in league openers following the result against Cleveland State this year, which improved Bart Lundy to 2-1 in his tenure.

OUT OF THE GATES

At 5-2 through the first seven games (prior to the UCF matchup) , the team was off to its best start since opening the 2020-21 campaign at the same 5-2 ledger. The last time the Panthers had been 6-2 after eight games was back in 2013-14. That season, the team got out of the gates at 9-2. In addition, the Panthers are a perfect 5-0 at home to mark the best start to a season at home since opening the 2011-12 campaign at 5-0 before falling to Wisconsin that winter. The last team to open 6-0 at home was back in 2005-06, when the Panthers started 10-0 before losing to UIC in mid-February as part of a 13-2 home ledger that winter.

C-C-C-ING SUCCESS

The Panthers continued their mastery of the MTE the program has hosted in two of the past three seasons, moving to a perfect 6-0 between the 2022 Cream City Classic and the 2024 Cream City Challenge. In those six games, the offense has averaged 79.0 points and only allowed 68.7 a game. The title marks the sixth in-season MTE, joining the 2022 CCC, the 2017 Black & Gold Shootout, the 2015 Cable Car Classic (hosted by Santa Clara in Calif.), the 2013 NIU Invitational (in DeKalb, Ill.), and the 2002 Pizza Hut Classic (in Springfield, Mo.). Themus Fulks was ring-leader, using his impressive efforts in the three games to help his cause in earning Horizon League Player of the Week honors. In four total games for the week, Fulks averaged a team-high 17.0 points a game, shooting an impressive 59.0 percent (23-of-39) from the floor, 50 percent (3-of-6) from deep, and 73.1 percent (19-of-26) from the line. He also added 22 assists (5.5 apg) and 8 steals (2.0 spg).

 

Fulks started his week with 15 points in a win at Duquesne Tuesday and followed that up with 20 points against PSU and 24 more Saturday, including three free throws in the final 11.8 seconds to secure the win over Wofford. He closed out his week with a 9-point/8-assist/5-steal statline in the victory over St. Thomas, making two more free throws in the closing seconds before coming up with the game-sealing steal on the final possession.

NEXT MAN UP

In the game against Portland State Nov. 22, Faizon Fields went out with injury just 4:36 into the contest. Enter Darius Duffy, who saw 27 minutes of action and came through with his first NCAA double-double of his career, finishing with MKE career-bests of 15 points and 10 rebounds. The 15 points topped the eight he had against UC Davis in December of 2023 and the 10 boards tied the same total he grabbed against Chattanooga in December of 2023. His 7-of-8 night of shooting included seven dunks, the most in a game since Ahmad Rand had seven against MSOE in 2022.

LET’S BE ‘FRANK’-LIN

Make no doubt about it, Aaron Franklin went out and took over midway through the second half in the win over St. Thomas Nov. 24, putting the team on his back to grab the momentum and the lead they would never relinquish the rest of the way. Franklin came off the bench to score 15 points and grab eight rebounds, taking over the game when the decision was hanging in the balance. Midway through the second half, with the visitors edging ahead, Franklin scored eight of the next 10 points to give Milwaukee control, tying the game at 44-44 before hitting deep three-pointers on back-to-back possessions, the second giving MKE the 52-46 lead with 8:59 to play. The Panthers would never trail again in closing out the victory.

SUPER SUB

John Lovelace Jr. made a pretty big impression at Duquesne Nov. 19, coming off the bench to score a season-high 11 points in just 17 minutes of action. He grabbed three rebounds, handed out a pair of assists, went a perfect 6-for-6 from the line, and hit one of the biggest 3’s of the night – a deep ball from the wing that capped a 10-0 run and gave the team its biggest lead of the contest at 68-56 with about five minutes remaining.

ADD HIM TO THE LIST

AJ McKee has been named to the Lou Henson ‘Early Season’ Watch List, announced Nov. 19 by the organization. The award is presented annually to the top player in mid-major college basketball. Hailed as one of the top newcomers in the Horizon League by numerous sources and publications nationally, arrived at Milwaukee following a stellar run at Queens University, where he was a three-year starter and led the team in scoring in 2023-24 with his 18.8 ppg average. Through four games, McKee is averaging a team-leading 15.3 points a game for the Panthers while shooting 44.9 percent (22-of-49) from the floor. The most recent player in MKE program history to appear on the in-season watch list was Matt Tiby back in the 2015-16 campaign. McKee is one of just three players on the list from the Horizon League, joined by Wright State’s Brandon Noel and Purdue Fort Wayne’s Rasheed Bello.

ALL GAS NO BRAKES

In scoring 118 points against Lakeland Nov. 4, not only did the team cross the century barrier for the first time in 67 games (last was 112 vs. Cardinal Stritch on 11/12/22), but ended up scoring the second-most points in a game in the school’s NCAA Division I history. The 47 made field goals also tied the record, first set in the Judson game. Lastly, the team had seven different players finish in double-figures, the most since the same amount contributed double-figures against Judson.

1. 125 points vs. Judson, 12/13/2015

2. 118 vs. Lakeland, 11/4/2024

3. 117 vs. Prairie View A&M, 11/20/2004

4. 116 vs. Illinois (OT2), 12/3/90

In addition, the MKE offense was really cooking in the second half against the Muskies, connecting on nearly 70 percent of field goals while netting 66 points after intermission to establish a new school standard for second-half points.

1. 66 vs. Lakeland, 11/4/2024

2. 64 vs. Loyola Chicago, 12/21/2002

3. 61, 2 times

DUST OFF THE RECORD BOOK

In addition to the points marks set against Lakeland Nov. 4, the Panthers also gave a few more record book entries a run for knocking them down the ledger. The impressive rebound margin of +32 (56 to 24) goes down as the second-most in a game in the program’s NCAA DI history, trailing only the +36 (59/23) recorded against Loyola Chicago in January 2009. That was also the game where the school record 59 total rebounds was gathered, with MKE’s 56 total against the Muskies now tied for third. The 28 assists tied for fourth (record is 32) and were the most in nine seasons.

SOME BIG MARGINS

The +56 margin of victory for Milwaukee against Lakeland Nov. 4 was also noteworthy, checking in as a tie for the fourth-largest in school history. This is quickly becoming a trend for head coach Bart Lundy, who now owns three of the top five entries in his brief MKE career (marked with *).

1. +79 Mount Senario (100-21 on 12/27/00)

2. +74 Cardinal Stritch (112-38 on 11/12/22)*

3. +62 Prairie View A&M (117-55 on 11/20/04)

T4. +56 Lakeland (118-62 on 11/4/24)*

T4. +56 MSOE (102-46 on 11/7/22)*

THE REAL STEAL DEAL

Kentrell Pullian pulled off an impressive feat in the opener against Lakeland Nov. 4, nearly tying a school record that was set over 30 years ago when he recorded a career-high seven steals in the contest. It topped his former best of five (vs. Luther College in Nov. of 2023) and tied with five other players for the second-most in a game in school history.

1. 8 by Von McDade vs. Southern Utah, 12/8/90

T2. 7 by Pullian vs. Lakeland, 11/4/24

T2. 7 by Kelvin Anderson vs. Butler, 1/5/95

T2. 7 Marc Mitchell vs. Sacramento St., 1/23/93

T2. 7 by Marc Mitchell vs. Oshkosh, 12/3/91

T2. 7 by Von McDade vs. W. Michigan, 1/26/91

T2. 7 by Von McDade vs. UMKC, 12/29/90

WELL, STILL …

Newcomer Jamichael Stillwell put together one of the more impressive MKE debuts in recent memory against Lakeland Nov. 4, leading the team in both scoring (18 points) and rebounding (14 boards) despite coming off the bench and only playing 20 minutes. The double-double is just the fourth in a season opener in the past 15 years, joining the list with Kentrell Pullian (16 pts/12 reb) last year, Patrick Baldwin Jr. (21 pts/10 reb) in 2021-22, and Matt Tiby (18 pts/12 reb) back in the 2015-16 lid-lifter. It also marked the most rebounds in the season opener by a newcomer since James Haarsma had 17 against SW Minnesota State to open 2011-12. In his follow-up, Stillwell came up one rebound short of a second consecutive double-double, going for 10 points and nine boards against UNI Nov. 7.

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 sixth time in the past 12 years. The team is now 22-13 in season openers since returning to the NCAA Division I ranks full-time in 1990-91, which includes a big 102-46 win over MSOE in Coach Lundy’s MKE debut two years ago. In all, the team is now 29-6 in that same span in home openers (while 16-1 in season openers at home), claiming wins in 22 of the past 25 (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 16 in that scenario including 91-73 over Stout a year ago).

HITTING THE MARK

With a 20-15 overall ledger a year ago, the Panthers recorded the 12th 20-win season in program history. It also marked back-to-back for Bart Lundy after posting a 22-12 ledger in his first season on the bench. That gave Milwaukee back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2005-06 (22-9) and 2004-05 (26-6) – which was the tail end of four consecutive years hitting the mark. Lundy is the first MKE coach to claim 20+ victories in back-to-back years since Bruce Pearl in 2003-04 (20-11) and 2004-05 (26-6).

DEFEND THIS HOUSE

In his two years as Milwaukee’s head coach, Bart Lundy has been proven very difficult to beat at home (he came into this season at 27-7 overall/.794 win percentage), but especially good against Horizon League opponents. Two years ago, 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. Last season? MKE checked in at 9-2 in conference games (8-2 regular season plus the win over Detroit Mercy in the HLT), again with the two losses coming in … you guessed it … overtime – making Lundy 18-4 in league meetings at home as MKE’s head coach (coming into 2024-25), with a perfect 18-0 mark in games that finished in regulation.

FOR THE MKE

In today’s world of college basketball, change is still inevitable. This season, Milwaukee welcomes nine new faces, broken down into three freshmen (2 true freshmen and redshirt frosh Maurice Thomas) and six transfers (including four NCAA Division I transfers in John Lovelace Jr./Youngstown State, Themus Fulks/Louisiana Lafayette, AJ McKee/Queens, and Danilo Jovanovich/Louisville). That brings the total number of student-athletes on the roster to 17. The background stretches far and wide … and actually across the country with the list including an impressive array of 11 states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wisconsin

Overall, there are only 16 programs at the NCAA Division I level to be represented by 10 or more states.

The Top 5 (and ties) is listed below.

16 – Army

14 – Navy

12 – Missouri

12 – Vanderbilt

11 – Milwaukee

11 – Kansas

11 – Louisville

11 – Indiana

POLL POSITION

The Panthers earned the No. 18 ranking in the CollegeInsider.com Preseason Mid-Major Top 25 poll this season. The ranking marks the first time that Milwaukee has been in the preseason edition list by CollegeInsider.com since prior to the start of the 2014-15 campaign – a season in which the team was coming off its most recent trip to the NCAA Tournament.

 

The last few months prior to the start of the season witnessed the MKE program atop many of the early rankings, including taking the top spot in the Under Armour Horizon League preseason poll for the first time in 18 years. National organizations are taking notice as well, with respected polls such as Lindy’s (No. 1), Blue Ribbon Yearbook (No. 1), Mid-Major Madness (No. 1), HoriZone (No. 2), Mid-Major Basketball (No. 1), among others, to all be considering the Panthers the team to beat in the league this season.

SO OLD IT CAN VOTE

Milwaukee was picked to finish first in the Under Armour preseason poll conducted by the League’s head coaches, SIDs, and media members. One season after being selected in second place to mark the highest choice in over a decade, the Panthers are No. 1 for the first time since prior to the 2006-07 campaign. In addition, Erik Pratt and AJ McKee were also named to the Preseason All-League Second Team.

2024-25 Under Armour Preseason Poll

T1. Milwaukee (15) – 421 points

T1. Purdue Fort Wayne (14) – 421

3. Northern Kentucky (4) – 389

4. Oakland (5) – 345

5. Wright State (4) – 315

6. Youngstown State (1) – 272

7. Cleveland State – 252

8. Green Bay – 171

9. RMU – 148

10. IU Indianapolis (1) – 91

11. Detroit Mercy – 79

LINEUP LOWDOWN

The starting five should be open for discussion this season, as Bart Lundy has a deep and talented roster of veteran players from which to choose. Last season, injuries affected the starting lineup on a regular basis, as only Eastern Michigan (with 20) used more different starting lineups than the Panthers’ 19 (in 35 games). That wound up as a similar approach to 2022-23, when Lundy used 16 different lineups in the 33 contests his first year.

IN A “FIELDS” OF HIS OWN

Faizon Fields grew into his role last season, pushing his game to a new level after the calendar turned to 2024 by averaging 11.7 points and 8.2 rebounds over the final 21 contests while shooting at a 61.2 percent (90-of-147) clip, compared to his season-long averages of 9.3 points and 6.4 rebounds. His 101 total offensive rebounds set a new school record, breaking the former mark of 96 set in 2017-18. Fields tied for 10th in the Horizon League in total rebounding (6.4 rpg) and was fourth in blocks (1.1 bpg), while posting six double-doubles over the course of the campaign, leading the team in rebounding 13 times. He went on a four-game rampage on the boards to open the month of February, grabbing 16 against Oakland (just two off the school record of 18), 12 against both Purdue Fort Wayne and IU Indianapolis, and then 16 more at Youngstown State to become the first player in MKE’s NCAA DI history to post four consecutive double-digit rebounding efforts. Even three in a row hadn’t been done since 2018. 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.

McKEE WILL BE KEY

One of the newcomers to the MKE roster this season is no stranger to head coach Bart Lundy. AJ McKee joins the Panthers from Queens, where he was recruited to and played for under Lundy earlier in his career. McKee brings a scoring mentality to the offense and averaged almost 19 points a game a year ago. He has been heralded as one of the top newcomers in the Horizon League by numerous sources and publications nationally, arriving at Milwaukee following a stellar run at Queens, where he was a three-year starter and led the team in scoring in 2023-24 with his 18.8 ppg average, while adding 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. He ranked third in the Atlantic Sun Conference in scoring, becoming the seventh player in program history to cross the 1,500-point mark for a career and enters play this year with 1,586 points following a season in which he was named ASUN Second-Team All-Conference. In addition to the Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team, McKee was also named to the preseason All-American Watch List in Bracketeer.Org’s “Watch List for Non-Power Conferences”.

PLAY TO THE BUZZER

Under Bart Lundy, the team has proven adept at never giving up, starting two years ago 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 that year was East Carolina, who accomplished the feat down 10+ points on four occasions. The same story unfolded a year ago: MKE overcame a 15-point deficit March 11 against Northern Kentucky, marking the sixth time last season they dug out of double-figures to record a victory – while also erasing a 9-point hole in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament vs. Detroit Mercy.

The lines from 2023-24 for the team are below:

19 points (37-18) vs. Cleveland State, 1/12/24

15 points (36-21) vs. NKU, 3/11/24

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 FW, 2/25/24

BLOCK PARTY: PART III?

Two years ago, the Panthers smashed the all-time season block record, led by Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Ahmad Rand. Last winter, the former standard got passed again, as the MKE defense finished with 155 rejections to again top what had been the record by almost 25 percent. Leading the way in 2023-24 was Faizon Fields (1.1 bpg) and Langston Wilson (1.0 bpg), who both finished in the Top 5 in the league.

1. 186 blocks in 2022-23

2. 155 blocks last season

3. 125 blocks in 2017-18

4. 119 in 2021-22

5. 118 in 2003-04

RECORD BREAKERS

Milwaukee again added more entries to the record book last season, establishing new marks in total points (2,782), field goals made (980), field goals attempted (2,198), three-point field goals attempted (861), total rebounds (1,364), and offensive rebounds (473), while adding runner-up entries in rebound average (39.0 rpg) and blocked shots (155). Plus, the offense finished with a scoring average of 79.5 points per game – the highest for a Milwaukee team since 1992-93.

ROCKING THE REBOUNDS

The Panthers ranked second in the Horizon League in rebounds per game last winter, with their total of 39.0 coming in just behind YSU at 40.0. It’s been a common theme of late, as two years ago Milwaukee broke the school record for rebounds per game at 39.1 – eclipsing a record that has been in place for 30 years. In fact, the Panthers finished 13th in the country in offensive rebounds per game at 13.6 and finished with the new No. 2 spot on the all-time list.

1. 2022-23: 39.1 rebounds per game

2. 2023-24: 39.0

3. 1992-93: 38.4

LIVING IN THE 90’s

The offense really picked up the pace last season and finished with a per-game scoring average of 79.5 points – the highest since the 1991-92 season and the fourth-highest in school history. When the team scored 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.

THOSE COMEBACK CATS!

The Panthers overcame a 19-point deficit in the victory against Cleveland State Jan. 12 of last season, claiming the 88-80 decision after trailing by a score of 37-18 with 5:41 to go in the first half. Bart Lundy now boasts two of the top five biggest comebacks in program history, adding to the epic 23 points they erased against Northern Kentucky in 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 Tech, 58-37, with 10:27 left before storming back and earning an 80-78 OT win behind 29 points from Clay Tucker.

ON THE MARK

Prior to an injury that kept him out from late-January through the start of March, Darius Duffy was making field goals at a very high clip, leading the team at an eye-opening 72.2 percent (39-of-54) and had missed just TWO SHOTS from the floor in 2024 (he was 83.3% at 10-of-12 after Jan. 1). While he didn’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.

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

TURN THE RADIO UP

This marks the third full hoops season that 101.7 FM The Truth will serve as the radio home of the Milwaukee Panthers men’s basketball radio broadcasts. Fans can listen to veteran broadcaster Scott Warras, now in his ninth season, call all the play-by-play action on air at 101.7 FM and via live online streaming services. In addition to the traditional radio broadcasts available on 101.7 The Truth and its mobile app, all Panther men’s basketball broadcasts will be streamed live on the Black & Gold Network at mkepanthers.com, the Wisconsin on Demand, and Varsity Network mobile apps (available in the App Store & Google Play). This season, fans of Milwaukee basketball will have more ways than ever to listen to the action.

The program also announced the new ‘Bart Lundy Basketball Show’ live from the UWM Student Union debuting Monday, December 2, from the Gasthaus in the Student Union on UWM’s campus. Join fellow Panthers fans in person or listen to the stream from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Varsity Network free of charge.

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 ninth 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

The Panthers have one contest remaining to close out the month of December and will again be played on campus. Up next, the team welcomes IU Indy in a return to league play, set to start at 2 p.m. from the Klotsche Center next week Sunday.