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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Oct 27, 2023 11:41:38 GMT -6
10.... BJ Freeman.
Glad he is back. I would like to see his assists numbers go up this year. Trust your teammates.
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Post by tyrunner0097 on Oct 27, 2023 11:43:02 GMT -6
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💛🖤
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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Oct 27, 2023 11:49:09 GMT -6
They look like the Milwaukee Milkmen.
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Post by Cactus Panther on Oct 27, 2023 12:00:42 GMT -6
Join the Moo-vement!
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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Oct 27, 2023 12:12:16 GMT -6
NIT Changes:
For the 2024 NIT, conference regular season champions that do not win their conference tournament or are not otherwise selected to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will not receive an automatic bid to the NIT. Instead, the NIT will guarantee two teams (based on the NET rankings) from each of six conferences (Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern). The top two teams in the NET rankings not qualifying for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament from each conference, regardless of won-loss record, will be selected. Additionally, the 12 teams automatically selected will be guaranteed the opportunity to host a game in the first round of the NIT.
Once the 12 automatic qualifying schools have been selected, the NIT Committee will select the 20 best teams available to complete the tournament’s 32-team field. Based on the NIT Committee’s evaluation, the best four teams of the 20 at-large teams selected will complete the 16 first round hosts, with deference given to the “first four teams out” of the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, as determined by the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball. Additional teams from the six conferences with AQs are eligible to be selected as at-large teams and can be selected as hosts.
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Post by ghostofdylan on Oct 27, 2023 15:15:47 GMT -6
10 ...
Someone here said that B.J. would be an idiot for leaving Milwaukee. Man, if someone had offered me a quarter of a million dollars when I was a sophomore at UWM, I would have said, "Hasta la vista!" I choose to believe that this speaks to his sense of appreciation, confidence and loyalty. Anyway, his decision to stay, as I've before, makes him a Panthers legend.
'Let's run it back': Star sophomore BJ Freeman shuns transfer portal, will return to UWM next season.
Todd Rosiak Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
BJ Freeman will return to UWM for his junior season, which is huge news for the up-and-coming Panthers.
That sigh of relief on Monday afternoon?
It came from anyone who roots for UW-Milwaukee’s men’s basketball team after star swingman BJ Freeman made it known he will be returning to the Panthers next season.
The 6-foot-6 sophomore, who led the team in scoring and three-pointers, tied for the team lead in rebounding and finished second in assists, ultimately decided against transferring -- a decision some believed was a foregone conclusion after his breakout campaign.
“I sat down with my family and said whatever I do decide, I don't want to think about this too long,” Freeman said in a phone interview. "The quicker I can get this over, the quicker I can just focus on what I like doing, and that's playing basketball.
"Talked with my parents and we just felt like Milwaukee was the best spot for me. I'm big on the coaches there, I love the fans -- they treat me like I'm one of theirs. Like I've said, that's my city, so let's run it back."
Not surprisingly, coach Bart Lundy was thrilled to learn the news himself when Freeman informed him Monday morning.
"It’s big for our program," he said. "We’re really happy for BJ, our fans and it just goes to show how much he really did love the city and playing for Milwaukee. As a coaching staff we’re excited to be able to continue to help him grow on his journey."
The Panthers just completed their season just one week ago, losing to Charlotte in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational.
It was Freeman who almost single-handedly led UWM past Stetson in a first-round game the day before, pouring in 43 points – tied for second-most by a player in the program’s Division I era – in an 87-83 overtime victory.
Before that, Freeman had made scoring 20 or more points almost a routine event in Horizon League play while also recording a triple-double along the way.
Somehow the Selma, N.C., native wasn't voted first team all-Horizon League but will probably enter next season as one of the favorites to be named preseason player of the year.
Freeman indicated the narrative of him potentially entering the transfer portal picked up steam toward the end of the season and while he didn't want to get into specifics he did say Florida, LSU and DePaul had all expressed interest.
In returning to UWM, Freeman also confirmed he willingly gave up potential NIL money that reached into six figures.
"I don't look at the quick money. I look at the end goal and where I have the best chance of achieving my dream. Where I feel most happy," he said. "It's not about the money. I felt like Milwaukee was the best spot for me, for my happiness and for me to be able to achieve my end goal -- to make it to the (NBA).
"I just felt like there was no point in leaving when I've got a fan base that believes in me, a team that believes in me and a coaching staff that believes in me.
"Shoot, what more can you ask for?"
Lundy was asked where he sees avenues of improvement for Freeman moving forward.
Freeman shot 40.6% -- not a terrible number considering the fact he put up 461 shots in 32 games -- while averaging 18.2 points per game and shot 33.6% from beyond the arc (74 for 220).
He was tremendous in getting to the free-throw line (133 for 160) and shot a solid 83.1%.
Freeman led the team with 101 turnovers but in fairness he was probably asked to handle the ball more than expected due to the Panthers' lack of a traditional point guard.
"We’ll focus on BJ getting stronger, maybe putting on some muscle and some weight to be a little more durable – he gets banged up a lot the way he plays," Lundy said of the 200-pounder. "Then just some of the micro skills – passing, making him more of a two-way player defensively.
"Some shot fakes and some of the things we need to clean up to help him reduce his turnovers a bit."
Freeman, who's repeatedly spoken of his fondness for the City of Milwaukee, was asked how he was able to formulate such a bond in only a season's time.
"The environment, the State of Wisconsin -- they love basketball," he said. "Just the historic background at (UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena), it just brings joy to my heart. I want to show the crowd that I can still bring life there, still put on a show and give them the hype they deserve for paying their hard-earned money to come watch us play."
Getting Freeman back also will allow Lundy and his coaching staff the ability to focus on continuing to recruit complementary pieces around Freeman rather than to fill what would have been a huge void created by his transfer.
"If he leaves, it leaves a big hole with the number of shots, the number of points that he scored, the number of threes he made," Lundy said. "So, to have that back and to be able to keep the core of this group together allows us to go and add pieces instead of having to kind of reconstruct the roster.
"It really does allow us to build rather than reconstruct."
Lundy also indicated he expects the rest of the young core of players including Markeith Browning II, Kentrell Pullian, Elijah Jamison and Justin Thomas back along with Freeman.
"We’re still working through that process, but we anticipate all those guys coming back at this point," he said.
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Post by tyrunner0097 on Oct 27, 2023 15:26:44 GMT -6
NIT Changes: For the 2024 NIT, conference regular season champions that do not win their conference tournament or are not otherwise selected to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will not receive an automatic bid to the NIT. Instead, the NIT will guarantee two teams (based on the NET rankings) from each of six conferences (Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern). The top two teams in the NET rankings not qualifying for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament from each conference, regardless of won-loss record, will be selected. Additionally, the 12 teams automatically selected will be guaranteed the opportunity to host a game in the first round of the NIT. Once the 12 automatic qualifying schools have been selected, the NIT Committee will select the 20 best teams available to complete the tournament’s 32-team field. Based on the NIT Committee’s evaluation, the best four teams of the 20 at-large teams selected will complete the 16 first round hosts, with deference given to the “first four teams out” of the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, as determined by the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball. Additional teams from the six conferences with AQs are eligible to be selected as at-large teams and can be selected as hosts. NCAA is beginning its process of eliminating any mid-major interferences. They don't want any Cinderella teams upsetting their mighty P6 ATMs in tournaments anymore. Let NIT die from this dumb move and make CBI the new 2nd tournament.
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Post by skrapheap on Oct 27, 2023 15:50:07 GMT -6
NCAA is beginning its process of eliminating any mid-major interferences. They don't want any Cinderella teams upsetting their mighty P6 ATMs in tournaments anymore. Let NIT die from this dumb move and make CBI the new 2nd tournament. As Bart Lundy observed last season, NCAA stands for "No Clue At All."
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Post by ghostofdylan on Oct 27, 2023 15:56:01 GMT -6
NCAA is beginning its process of eliminating any mid-major interferences. They don't want any Cinderella teams upsetting their mighty P6 ATMs in tournaments anymore. Let NIT die from this dumb move and make CBI the new 2nd tournament. As Bart Lundy observed last season, NCAA stands for "No Clue At All." The marginalization of the mid-majors continues. I shudder to think of what comes next.
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Post by tyrunner0097 on Oct 27, 2023 16:07:34 GMT -6
As Bart Lundy observed last season, NCAA stands for "No Clue At All." The marginalization of the mid-majors continues. I shudder to think of what comes next. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the NCAA makes its tournament a pay-to-play eventually. Anything to line their pockets.
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Post by reginaldkdwight on Oct 27, 2023 17:28:08 GMT -6
I bet some of yall question the moon landing also, its not a big conspiracy its about the money. We didnt win the league nor even get to the final of the conference tourney last season and played postseason basketball, dont need it any easier how about we just make the real tournament.
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Post by tyrunner0097 on Oct 27, 2023 17:39:13 GMT -6
I bet some of yall question the moon landing also, its not a big conspiracy its about the money. We didnt win the league nor even get to the final of the conference tourney last season and played postseason basketball, dont need it any easier how about we just make the real tournament. The more visible a tournament a smaller program gets by playing in a prestigious tournament, the better chance at making the program bigger. The NIT was a great chance for good mid major programs to show themselves on a large stage, and draw more interest in it. This is a move to try to make the NCAA Tourney an elitist "country club" tournament, where only the same 20-40 teams get in every year and remove any Cinderella teams that can bruise their flimsy egos.
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Post by reginaldkdwight on Oct 27, 2023 18:10:56 GMT -6
I bet some of yall question the moon landing also, its not a big conspiracy its about the money. We didnt win the league nor even get to the final of the conference tourney last season and played postseason basketball, dont need it any easier how about we just make the real tournament. The more visible a tournament a smaller program gets by playing in a prestigious tournament, the better chance at making the program bigger. The NIT was a great chance for good mid major programs to show themselves on a large stage, and draw more interest in it. This is a move to try to make the NCAA Tourney an elitist "country club" tournament, where only the same 20-40 teams get in every year and remove any Cinderella teams that can bruise their flimsy egos. I dont see how the NCAA tourney is changed by this at all. It likely wont change the composition of the NIT at all.
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Post by ghostofdylan on Oct 27, 2023 19:18:18 GMT -6
I feel as if we've gotten pretty far afield here. Who's ready for the Milwaukee Panthers to begin their 2023-24 season?!
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Post by PantherU on Oct 27, 2023 20:42:29 GMT -6
I dont see how the NCAA tourney is changed by this at all. It likely wont change the composition of the NIT at all. They look like the Milwaukee Milkmen. With one important distinction: the colors are Black and Cream.
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