05-06 Schedule and Bracket Buster

[itsasekritt]

Guys,

Help a girl out on this one. Anybody heard about any potential games for the upcoming season?

Also - are we totally out of the running with Bracket Buster?

[kaygee]

Jeter finding it hard to field tough schedule after Sweet 16 run

(Published Friday, May 6, 2005 10:15:57 AM CDT)


By Arnie Stapleton
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. - It took no time at all for new University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee basketball coach Rob Jeter to realize the difficulties of his first Division 1 head coaching job.

Jeter, who took over the Panthers' program after Bruce Pearl went to Tennessee following UWM's advance to the Round of 16 in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, said he's having a hard time putting together a demanding non-conference schedule for next season.

Unlike some schools such as Marquette, which is moving to the reconfigured Big East and fills its non-conference slate with plenty of what basketball fans like to call cupcakes, the Panthers are a mid-major team that plays in the Horizon League and needs to play tough non-conference competition to boost its computer rankings and postseason chances.

Jeter, who was the keynote speaker Thursday night at the Wisconsin Associated Press Sports Editors annual meeting in Madison, said several schools are balking at playing the Panthers, including Valparaiso and Texas Tech.

"Very difficult. We had Valpo on the schedule. They don't want to play us," Jeter said. "And I think Coach Pearl and those guys went there twice, in a row, I mean, two years in a row, went there to play."

Valparaiso beat UWM 72-71 on Dec. 11 on a last-second shot at Valparaiso, Ind.

"They don't want to play us now," Jeter said. "I don't know how it happened, but contracts were not signed completely, and those coaches have called up saying, 'We don't want to play.' There's a few others. That one sticks out in my mind.

"Texas Tech had an opportunity," Jeter said. "We were going to try to set up a game with Texas Tech. We talked to the assistant, everything was good. He said let me check, talk it over with coach (Bobby) Knight. Coach Knight is not excited about playing the game. I can see that. So, we can't play Texas Tech."

Jeter knew this was going to be the case when he inherited a program on the rise that won its first two NCAA tournament games in school history this season and returns at least six seniors - seven if leading scorer Joah Tucker forgoes early entry in the NBA - no juniors and two sophomores.

"It's very difficult for us to play some of the bigger schools because of the run last year," Jeter said. "And really the last four years. ... The consistency's there, we have seven seniors back. Everyone's going to want to play us two years from now. That's what Valpo says: 'We won't play next year, but we'll play two years from now, if you want to start it up.' That's all right. We'll play someone else."

Jeter said Wyoming and Minnesota are possibilities: "Right now we have many possibilities, but it is difficult for us to get games. Teams just don't want to play us, and that comes with the territory.

"We have space for Marquette on the schedule, though."

The crosstown Golden Eagles, who are changing their name to the Gold this summer, have long been reluctant to play the Panthers.

Jeter said he'll continue to press Marquette coach Tom Crean to change that stance.

"We're going to ask and we're going to ask every year," Jeter said.

[Pantherholic]

the only way marquette will agree to play us if someone who is in charge there has the balls to say "yes" and well, considering how they handled their mascot name change, we know that won't happen.

[sauby]

Any more news on possibly playing Wake Forrest?

[Big D]

kaygee said:

Valparaiso beat UWM 72-71 on Dec. 11 on a last-second shot at Valparaiso, Ind.

"They don't want to play us now," Jeter said. "I don't know how it happened, but contracts were not signed completely, and those coaches have called up saying, 'We don't want to play.' There's a few others. That one sticks out in my mind.

Are you guys a little upset by this? I mean, there's no room for complaining about Valpo not coming to Milwaukee if you didn't make sure contracts were signed which guaranteed their visit. I'd be sending emails to the AD if I were you and asking what kind of business they're running.....

[pnthr30]

Is Valpo a big loss? I think not...........next!

[Pantherholic]

Its a big loss in terms of scheduling. Valpo was becoming a source of consistency for us and beating them would've increase our strength of schedule. No they're not a great or a good team but a team that we would benefit from enough (if we win) to further advance ourselves. Its also a loss because no when they seem to be the underdog in the matchup they cowardly run away. Minnesota would be a good matchup because of making the tourney last year and any upsets they get against better teams would help our S.O.S. tremendously. Wyoming is more of a lateral shift from Valpo.

[Hack]

Big said:

Are you guys a little upset by this? I mean, there's no room for complaining about Valpo not coming to Milwaukee if you didn't make sure contracts were signed which guaranteed their visit. I'd be sending emails to the AD if I were you and asking what kind of business they're running.....

Sure I'm a little peeved and starting to think Valparaiso is one of those Jesuit institutions ...

But honestly, Valpo hasn't been a good "name" mid-major to play for a few years now ... just look at how much UWM's loss there last year hurt the RPI.

I'd rather get a solid Mountain West team (Wyoming) than continue to play Valpo.

However, I would like to see Valpo in our conference ... that is the one team from the Mid-Con that could elevate itself. I just think Mid-Con teams (whether they are good or not) are more on the level of SWAC or MEAC teams, rather than MVC or MAC teams.

And that's who I'd like UWM to be scheduling non-conference games with.

[PANTHERfan]

no kidding. who's gonna lose sleep over not playing Valpo? that last second, fluke of a loss didn't exactly help our RPI. there's plenty of mediocre mid-majors out there if that's what we're aiming for.

[pnthr30]

good post hack! Valpo just isn't the name (team) that it used to be........say 5 to 10 years ago.

[itsasekritt]

Interesting...

I know that the staff is working hard to get some well-known games on the schedule, which we desperately need to keep our publicity on the rise.

I always enjoyed the Valpo games. I will kinda miss not playing them

[Pantherholic]

I emailed the coaching staff at Valpo about backing out of our deal and this is what the head coach said:

Thank you for your email...the reason we did not renew the contract with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was because we had the opportunity to get into the ESPN Bracketbuster...we would be delighted to begin another series the following year if the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee would like it...hope this answers your question as we really enjoy the relationship we have with your university and certainly hope that it will continue for the future...if anything else is needed, please email me.
Coach Drew

[bball30]

Relax with the e-mailing other schools, let our university officials, and coaching staff, and the appropriate departments handle these things. There is more that goes into it than meets the eye.

GO PANTHERS!

[itsasekritt]

I concur...I am sure there are some other fluff games they could have cancelled to play us. Maybe after all our success we scare them...hehehe

[Pantherholic]

when does the schedule generally come out?