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Post by PantherU on Mar 25, 2024 6:48:45 GMT -6
I highly doubt another real point guard will be brought in this offseason that is expected to play a lot. Lundy seems to believe in his own guys and their development almost to a fault. Last season only 1 guard was brought in to help out EJ with running the point. I tend to think with getting McKee that we may be done and that Lundy trusts the 2 returnees and McKee to run the show. But he brought in a point guard...we just never saw Pierce Spencer play because his career was ended before the season began.
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Post by Petes on Mar 25, 2024 7:22:27 GMT -6
I highly doubt another real point guard will be brought in this offseason that is expected to play a lot. Lundy seems to believe in his own guys and their development almost to a fault. Last season only 1 guard was brought in to help out EJ with running the point. I tend to think with getting McKee that we may be done and that Lundy trusts the 2 returnees and McKee to run the show. But he brought in a point guard...we just never saw Pierce Spencer play because his career was ended before the season began. And McKee has been brought in this year. Yes he’s more of an off ball guard but he will shoulder some of the point guard load. You are getting pretty small if you play all of KP, EJ and McKee on the floor together so realistically only 2 can are playing at a time. That’s 80 minutes for those 3 so not sure what you will really find in the portal to play 8-10 minutes a night. All changes if you can find another big playmaker like a JT where he can run some point and guard up in position as well.
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Post by tyrunner0097 on Mar 25, 2024 8:03:59 GMT -6
All changes if you can find another big playmaker like a JT where he can run some point and guard up in position as well. The loss of JT was really pretty huge, especially from a defensive standpoint. He was really the catalyst for a lot of the turnovers we forced on a full-court press during 22-23. Along with his Cal-Davis buzzer beater, he prob factored in another 2-3 wins at least with his defense and forcing turnovers.
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Post by reginaldkdwight on Mar 25, 2024 8:46:28 GMT -6
Lots of posters claimed BJ was gone for sure but I don’t see him in the portal yet. I’m guessing he should be back. No reason for him to leave.
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Post by ghostofpbj on Mar 25, 2024 8:51:52 GMT -6
Lots of posters claimed BJ was gone for sure but I don’t see him in the portal yet. I’m guessing he should be back. No reason for him to leave. I still believe we lose him. Unless the big boosters put together an offer he can't refuse due to his love for Milwaukee and obviously, the money, I'd be shocked to see him back. I believe getting McKee is a good contingency plan if BJ doesn't return. Remember, it was actually during this week last year that he announced his decision. I expect it to come within the next week or two.
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Post by Petes on Mar 25, 2024 9:31:54 GMT -6
Lots of posters claimed BJ was gone for sure but I don’t see him in the portal yet. I’m guessing he should be back. No reason for him to leave. Currently about 800 players have entered the portal this year. That number will get up to around 1700 so we are no where close to being done with players entering.
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Post by PantherU on Mar 25, 2024 11:12:42 GMT -6
Lots of posters claimed BJ was gone for sure but I don’t see him in the portal yet. I’m guessing he should be back. No reason for him to leave. I would like for you to be correct but I find it difficult to believe. The only way we could be certain is if one of us strikes it rich and the PFF's cup runneth over.
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Post by Cactus Panther on Mar 25, 2024 17:29:11 GMT -6
Bart Lundy, AJ McKee reunite as Queens University guard transfers to UW-Milwaukee Todd Rosiak Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The NCAA transfer portal requires college basketball teams and players alike to remain nimble and ready for change at a moment's notice.
With that in mind, the UW-Milwaukee Panthers pounced on an opportunity to land an experienced guard over the weekend with the signing of AJ McKee.
A 6-foot-2, 200-pounder, McKee played four seasons at Queens University in Charlotte, meaning he and UWM coach Bart Lundy will be able to pick up their relationship right where they left off in 2022.
"He was so far under-recruited, and coming out of high school we were the only ones to really give him a chance at Queens and offer him a scholarship," said Lundy, who coached Queens from 2013-22 before coming to UWM.
"He's like family to me. I knew he was going to go into the portal; he had his own reasons for doing that. There was not only a comfort level with him, but there was a comfort level with me knowing that he really fits our system. He's a team-first guy who really wants to win. He's done everything we do, he absorbs scouting reports, he's played in big games.
"Everything was a good fit."
McKee is coming off a season in which he led Queens with an 18.8 points-per-game average on 44.7% shooting, four rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals. He shot 35.2% from beyond the arc over his four seasons and perhaps most important, started all 33 games for the Royals for each of the past three years.
"AJ is really tough two-way player," Lundy said. "Had a great offensive year. But he makes just as large an impact on the defensive end. He gives us toughness and experience and kind of a lockdown defender who's also an excellent offensive player."
McKee's season at Queens ended on March 5. He had already visited Iona before coming to Milwaukee over the weekend, a visit that sealed the deal for the Charlotte native even though he also reportedly had a number of other schools vying for his services.
"A lot of this is happening fast," Lundy said. "Some of these kids want to get it over with right away and some drag it out. In AJ's case he visited Iona and had 50 schools trying to get him. But I think his comfort level with me obviously sped the process up. And then when he got to Milwaukee, he was blown away by the city and the facilities.
"He really wanted to be a part of a winner when he made this transition, and he saw that we had the pieces in place to be good. He got the feel from the players, the disappointment of how close we were. And I think all of that just kind of pushed him over the edge."
UWM has also lost one player to the transfer portal, as guard Zach Howell entered following a sophomore season in which he was limited to just 10 games due to shoulder surgery.
Howell averaged 4.2 points this past year after averaging 2.7 in 29 games as a freshman.
"He worked so hard," Lundy said. "He really deserves (a better opportunity elsewhere)."
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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Mar 26, 2024 5:02:19 GMT -6
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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Mar 26, 2024 6:23:44 GMT -6
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Post by GoPanthersGo23 on Mar 26, 2024 14:13:35 GMT -6
And here it is.
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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Mar 26, 2024 14:20:31 GMT -6
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Post by tyrunner0097 on Mar 26, 2024 14:31:36 GMT -6
Not surprised at all. We at least got two years with him. For a player of his potential, that's very good for us.
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Post by buppie05 on Mar 26, 2024 14:40:58 GMT -6
Fare thee well BJ. Appreciate you sir. If his defense improves, sky is the limit for where he could end up. Perhaps Europe or the G league next year and some day maybe in the NBA. It was great watching you as a Panther. With the state of college basketball today, every team is lucky to have a player of his caliber stick around for two years. It was fun to watch.
As for the 2024-25 Panthers, I suspect Bart will put even more emphasis on finding a PG, and I believe he will. This team is shaping up to be the best in the league, even with BJ probably gone for next year.
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Post by ghostofdylan on Mar 26, 2024 15:50:39 GMT -6
I wish B.J. all the best! It's been a very good -- but not great -- two-year run. Wish we could have gotten to the Big Dance!
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