Post by ghostofdylan on Aug 17, 2009 14:33:24 GMT -6
Just a few odds and ends as the team prepares for the start of full-fledged conditioning ...
... The Panthers remain in pursuit of two games for the coming year, both of them to be played at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The hope is that neither opponent will be Division 2, but Milwaukee needs a team against whom to open the season before it leaves for Baton Rouge on Nov. 15. The preferred date is Nov. 13.
... Two seeded teams in the NIT Season Tip-Off, seventh-seeded TCU (14-17) and eighth-seeded Charlotte (11-20), will serve as probable hosts of third- and fourth-round games while Milwaukee (17-14, with wins over Bradley, Butler, Cleveland State and Wright State) will travel if it loses in either of the first two rounds.
... The Panthers had discussions with both Utah State and Siena for 2009-10 games at The Cell, but neither could work out dates with Milwaukee. The Aggies had Nov. 16 and Nov. 21 available, but the Panthers did not (Nov. 16 vs. Western Kentucky; Nov. 21 at Bowling Green). The Saints were willing to play Milwaukee on Dec. 14, but insisted that the series start in Albany, N.Y. This would have left the Panthers with just 12 home dates, including conference games, for the coming season.
... Ja' Rob McCallum and Jerard Ajami continue to excel and both are in line for significant playing time in the coming year. Ja' Rob (6-1, 168 pounds) grades high in ball-handling, shooting and court presence, while Jerard (6-3, 210) is a sharpshooter and physical defender who handles the ball adequately in the halfcourt. Because of their shooting and savvy, at the moment they rate as the team's third- and fourth-best guards.
... With the addition of walkon Quinton Gustavson (6-9, 200) from Racine Case, the Panthers now have 10 players on the 18-man roster (seven active) who stand 6-6 or taller. More impressively, 15 team members weigh 200 pounds or more (all but Ja' Rob, 168; Tone, 195; and walkon Patrick Souter, 170), a credit to the team's weight-training program. By comparison, the next-biggest teams in the Horizon League -- Butler, Green Bay, Loyola and Valpo -- all have seven players who weigh 200 or more pounds. Panther guards average 6-1 1/2, 195 pounds.
... The Panthers hope to add at least two players for the Class of 2010, a "big" and a point guard. They remain in pursuit of Kyle Kelm of Randolph and the Swing Selk AAU team and a couple of unidentified junior-college players. We'll find out more soon.
... The team opens preseason training camp on Sept. 2, the first day of school, with running at the hill at St. Mary's to commence on Sept. 3. As usual, the team will begin with 10 sprints up the hill and end six weeks later with 22 climbs. This not only tests a player's physical condition, but more importantly tests his mental toughness and his diet, which is discovered early in the process.
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... The Panthers remain in pursuit of two games for the coming year, both of them to be played at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The hope is that neither opponent will be Division 2, but Milwaukee needs a team against whom to open the season before it leaves for Baton Rouge on Nov. 15. The preferred date is Nov. 13.
... Two seeded teams in the NIT Season Tip-Off, seventh-seeded TCU (14-17) and eighth-seeded Charlotte (11-20), will serve as probable hosts of third- and fourth-round games while Milwaukee (17-14, with wins over Bradley, Butler, Cleveland State and Wright State) will travel if it loses in either of the first two rounds.
... The Panthers had discussions with both Utah State and Siena for 2009-10 games at The Cell, but neither could work out dates with Milwaukee. The Aggies had Nov. 16 and Nov. 21 available, but the Panthers did not (Nov. 16 vs. Western Kentucky; Nov. 21 at Bowling Green). The Saints were willing to play Milwaukee on Dec. 14, but insisted that the series start in Albany, N.Y. This would have left the Panthers with just 12 home dates, including conference games, for the coming season.
... Ja' Rob McCallum and Jerard Ajami continue to excel and both are in line for significant playing time in the coming year. Ja' Rob (6-1, 168 pounds) grades high in ball-handling, shooting and court presence, while Jerard (6-3, 210) is a sharpshooter and physical defender who handles the ball adequately in the halfcourt. Because of their shooting and savvy, at the moment they rate as the team's third- and fourth-best guards.
... With the addition of walkon Quinton Gustavson (6-9, 200) from Racine Case, the Panthers now have 10 players on the 18-man roster (seven active) who stand 6-6 or taller. More impressively, 15 team members weigh 200 pounds or more (all but Ja' Rob, 168; Tone, 195; and walkon Patrick Souter, 170), a credit to the team's weight-training program. By comparison, the next-biggest teams in the Horizon League -- Butler, Green Bay, Loyola and Valpo -- all have seven players who weigh 200 or more pounds. Panther guards average 6-1 1/2, 195 pounds.
... The Panthers hope to add at least two players for the Class of 2010, a "big" and a point guard. They remain in pursuit of Kyle Kelm of Randolph and the Swing Selk AAU team and a couple of unidentified junior-college players. We'll find out more soon.
... The team opens preseason training camp on Sept. 2, the first day of school, with running at the hill at St. Mary's to commence on Sept. 3. As usual, the team will begin with 10 sprints up the hill and end six weeks later with 22 climbs. This not only tests a player's physical condition, but more importantly tests his mental toughness and his diet, which is discovered early in the process.
EDIT: Altered for content
