ESPN insider's team analysis

[fan]

TEAM DATA
Points per game: 74
Points allowed: 63.2
Scoring margin: +10.8

FG percentage: .446
FG allowed: .405
3PT percentage: .351
3PT allowed: .297
3PT-to-FG attempts: .390
FT percentage: .698
FT totals: 425/609

Rebound margin: +1.2
Turnover margin: -0.8
Assist-to-turnover ratio: 1:1
Assist-to-FG ratio: 0.53:1

The Players
Starters
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
1 Chris Hill
(5-10, 160, JR) 28.7 7.9 ppg, 3.1 apg .382 3PT 3 DQs
Comment: Takes good care of the ball, can break down the defense and makes his FTs (.753).
2 Boo Davis
(6-3, 180, JR) 21.3 10.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg .356 3PT 1.8 tpg
Comment: Emerged this season as a much-needed third scoring option.
3 Ed McCants
(6-3, 200, SR) 29.6 17.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg .820 FT 1.7 tpg
Comment: Horizon League Player of the Year is a sweet shooter.
4 Joah Tucker
(6-5, 220, JR) 28.6 15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg 2.2 apg 3 DQs
Comment: Bradley University transfer has blossomed into a first-team all-league player.
5 Adrian Tigert
(6-7, 240, JR) 30.4 9.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg .558 FG 1.7 tpg
Comment: Team's leading rebounder and second-best assist man.
Rotation
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad

C/F James Wright
(6-7, 230, JR) 19.4 4.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg .542 FG 3 DQs
Comment: Provides interior D, rebounding and physical play.
G/F Mark Pancratz
(6-3, 180, JR) 13.6 2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg 14 steals .440 FT
Comment: Gets some minutes at the off guard and small forward in each half.
F Jason McCoy
(6-9. 190, JR) 11.3 3.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg 1.0 apg .250 3PT
Comment: Skinny Rutgers transfer can defend guards or forwards.
C Derrick Ford
(6-10, 240, JR) 10.5 3.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg .532 FG .605 FT
Comment: Limited offensively, but was second in the Horizon League in blocked shots (1.1 bpg).
Complete roster | Team statistics



Season notes
High point Adrian Tigert's free throw with 4.2 seconds left gave UW-Milwaukee a 59-58 win over Detroit Mercy in the Horizon League title game -- and the Panthers their second-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Lowlight A three-game losing streak in mid-December, including a thorough 66-37 whipping at the hands of Wisconsin (and former Panthers coach Bo Ryan) back on Dec. 15.
Most Revealing Moment Bruce Pearl's Panthers emerged from their mid-December tailspin and ended the season by losing only once in their final 18 games.
Did You Know? Many of the Horizon League's best players transfer in from higher-profile programs. UW-Milwaukee is taking advantage of this trend as its top two players -- Ed McCants and Joah Tucker -- started their collegiate careers at Northwestern and Bradley, respectively.


Scouting report
Offensive Preference Run a lot of flex offense, where the weak side guy sets a baseline screen to free up a cutter to the basket. Also, score a great deal off fullcourt pressure.
Defensive Philosophy A former assistant under Dr. Tom Davis at Iowa, Bruce Pearl's teams resemble the old Iowa teams -- pressing off every made basket and substituting quite liberally.
Secret Strength UW-Milwaukee's pressure D and excellent depth often wears foes down in the second half. Need proof? The Panthers have outscored their opponents in the second half in 23 of their 29 contests this season.
Achilles Heel Well-schooled teams can beat the Panthers' pressure defense and get scads of layups.
Will Lose When ... They can't force an opponent to play a step or three faster than they'd like.
Famous Last Words With an 84-37 record and two NCAA tourney invites in four years at UW-Milwaukee, head coach Bruce Pearl is a hot coaching commodity -- just like his predecessor Bo Ryan. In fact, if the Panthers win a game in the Big Dance, Pearl could be a goner.


Tournament History
NCAA appearances: 1 (of 20)
Seed average: 12.0
Highest seed No. 12 (2003)
Lowest seed: No. 12 (2003)
Biggest upset: none
Most upsetting: none
Bracketology score: 1.00 NCAA appearances: 1
All-time record: 0-1 (.000)
Best finish: 2003, first round
Coach's NCAA record: Bruce Pearl (0-1, .000)




Also SeeInsider's NCAA Tournament Guide
Don't fill out your bracket ...



Related ContentWisconsin-Milwaukee wins Horizon crown



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[fan]

TEAM DATA
Points per game: 75
Points allowed: 64.5
Scoring margin: +10.5

FG percentage: .482
FG allowed: .402
3PT percentage: .394
3PT allowed: .359
3PT-to-FG attempts: .370
FT percentage: .736
FT totals: 527/716

Rebound margin: +1.2
Turnover margin: +1.1
Assist-to-turnover ratio: 1.12:1
Assist-to-FG ratio: 0.55:1

The Players
Starters
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
1 Ronald Steele
(6-2, 185, FR) 34.0 7.8 ppg, 4.9 apg .400 3PT 2 DQs
Comment: Quietly took over this team as a freshman point and turned in excellent numbers.
2 Earnest Shelton
(6-3, 215, SR) 32.8 16.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg .391 3PT 2.2 tpg
Comment: Game-breaking shooter who can toss in several three-pointers in a hurry when he gets on a roll.
3 Kennedy Winston
(6-6, 230, JR) 34.3 18.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg .479 3PT 2.2 tpg
Comment: Does everything well: handles the ball, creates his own shot, deadly free-throw shooter, passes and looks smooth doing it.
4 Chuck Davis
(6-7, 230, JR) 32.7 14.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg .583 FG 2.2 tpg
Comment: Long-armed junior has become one of SEC's better low-post scorers.
5 Jermareo Davidson
(6-10, 210, SO) 25.9 7.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg 1.4 bpg 3 DQs
Comment: Long, lean sophomore isn't called on to do much offensively, but he's the Tide's leading rebounder and second-leading shot blocker.
Rotation
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad

F Evan Brock
(6-8, 205, JR) 12.3 2.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg .513 FG 6 blocks
Comment: Tide's only tested reserve at the four and five spots.
F Jean Felix
(6-7, 205, JR) 12.2 5.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg .467 3PT .421 Asst/TO
Comment: JUCO transfer can put points up quickly.
G Justin Jonus
(6-5, 210, FR) 9.6 2.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg .317 3PT .545 FT
Comment: Walk-on has filled a role as a situational shooter and lone backcourt reserve to see much time.
Complete roster | Team statistics



Season notes
High point Winning a share of the SEC's Western Division championship.
Lowlight A home court loss to Kentucky on Feb. 26.
Most Revealing Moment Faced with finishing second in the division, the Tide won its regular-season finale at rival Mississippi State to earn a tie with LSU.
Did You Know? All five Alabama starters earned All-SEC honors: Winston (first team), Shelton (second team) and Davis, Davidson, and Steele (third team).


Scouting report
Offensive Preference The Tide has a versatile offense that isn't totally reliant on one scorer, which makes this team hard to defend. Chuck Davis has become a fine low-post scorer, and Winston and Shelton are the most dangerous three-point shooting duo in the SEC.
Defensive Philosophy Alabama will use man-to-man and zone. Depth problems sometimes necessitate the zone.
Secret Strength Interior defense. 'Bama has long, wiry shot-blockers Davis and Davidson patrolling the paint.
Achilles Heel This team doesn't have much depth.
Will Lose When ... Winston is contained and foul trouble thins out Gottfried's rotation.
Famous Last Words 'Bama made it to the Elite Eight last year. Could it happen again? If the draw is right and foul trouble or injuries aren't a problem, yes it could.


Tournament History
64-team era Overall
NCAA appearances: 12 (of 20)
Seed average: 5.75
Highest seed No. 2 (2002)
Lowest seed: No. 9 (1994)
Biggest upset: 2004 vs. No. 1 Stanford
Most upsetting: 2002 vs. No. 10 Kent State
Bracketology score: 1.04 NCAA appearances: 16
All-time record: 19-16 (.542)
Best finish: 2004, Elite Eight
Coach's NCAA record: Mark Gottfried (4-4, .500)