Hey everyone! Got some q's.

[ericnp10]

I'm from California, but I love my Panthers. I fell in love with them a couple years ago after watching a game, and seeing the players like Tigert. I just want to see what you guys think about next season and the starting lineup. Are we going to start any new up and coming freshmen or players who were on the team this year.

[milwsport]

Hard to say at this point. There's a couple of red-shirts we will probably see next year but other than that it will depend on who we will bringing in

[nighthawk]

ericnp10 said:

I'm from California, but I love my Panthers. I fell in love with them a couple years ago after watching a game, and seeing the players like Tigert.

WOW, I believe you are our first confirmed out of state NON alumni fan. Welcome to Panther Nation. Very happy to have you!

I think the team you will see next season will be more athletic at almost every position. We will be likely a more guard orientated offense. There are two incoming guards that are explosive and can take it to the rack with authority.

One guard, Ricky Franklin, reminds some who has seen him of a bigger Dominic James. He has great handle, and can go to the hole and dunk on guys bigger than him.

You may see a 3 or 4 guard set often. Avo Smith is back, and he looked much better with every game this season. I expect his outside game to improve, and for him to get to the rim and finish, rather than take the tougher floaters.

It looks to be an exciting year for the Panthers, and I am not expecting a tremendous drop off from this year.

And don't forget, you can see every Panther conference game live on the Horizon League web site for free.

[halo]

As a matter of fact some friends told me that Ricky Franklin looks more like a smaller Michael Jordan......you remember that dude that played for the Bulls.....

WOW.......you guys are daydreaming!!!!!

[germanathens]

It's time for Halo to get removed. He adds nothing. Don't forget to ban his IP.

Ericnp10 - Welcome to the discussion board. Glad to hear we have more fans in California!

I think we can officially declare the USA a "Panther Nation" ;D

[Pantherholic]

what's funny is that we have other panther fans in Cali already that we could suggest eric to meet up w/ (depending on where everyone lives).

Ricky should be awesome. he was the City Conference (pretty much the conference that all Milwaukee public schools are in) POY which is significant b/c he beat out WI Badgers recruit and Mr. Basketball runner-up Marcus Landry for that award. the kid is built like a fullback and avg. about 20 ppg his senior year. whenever dylanrocks signs on, he can probably give a more detailed scouting report on him for other fans and GB's coach.

[dylanrocks]

Sure. I've talked to basketball people not involved in his recruitment who say that Ricky, who was first-team all-state as a senior at Milwaukee Riverside, is a Big 10 player who came here because he didn't make the grade out of high school but was very attached to our coach, Rob Jeter. While watching heralded Wisconsin recruit Trevon Hughes of Delafield St. John's, three noted AAU coaches told me (wearing a UWM cap) that I was going to love Ricky Franklin, that he was just like Trevon, only with an outside shot. I must add that Trevon went on to make 5-of-11 from three-point range that day. BTW, DSJ's Marcus Melvin would make a nice walkon.

[pnthr30]

dylanrocks said:

BTW, DSJ's Marcus Melvin would make a nice walkon.

I haven't seen Melvin play all that often, but from what I have seen, he impressed me.....I don't think he is a scholarship type, but I agree, he would be a good walk-on candidate.

[dylanrocks]

And according to the official athletics website, Ricky averaged 10 rebounds and seven assists a game as a senior while leading his team to a third-place finish in the City, its best finish in 33 years. In addition, Ricky was named the No. 3 senior in the state (behind Landry and Marquette's Wesley Matthews) by the acclaimed Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook.

[halo]

Ricky Franklin as well as Kevin Messaih(you guys were saying the same things about him last year) have officially declared that they will bypass their remaining eligibility to ender the upcomming NBA Draft. Avery Smith will return since the "Klotze Crazies" do not think he will be a high enough Draft Pick!!!!

Daydreamers.....!!!!!

[ArtVandelay]

Halo -- You aren't providing any meaningful discussion here. I don't understand what the purpose of all your posting is, especially in a thread where a fan from out of state is trying to introduce their self and ask questions to other UWM fans. Trash talking is fine my friend (though your team hasn't done anything in a decade worth talking about), but please keep it to the right places. If you do wish to post in threads like this then keep it civil and give explanations as to why you disagree that Ricky Franklin is a great player. He was a 1st team selection over Ryan Tillema, and the City conference player of the year. The difference between a player like Franklin and Messiah is that many people have actually had the chance to see Franklin play, while we just had stats for Messiah. The way you are currently posting makes me actually appreciate Big D who, while disagreeing with us often actually has support for his arguments instead of just flaming.

GBFanJ where are you? You were a good representative for UWGB and you should comeback.

Art Vandelay

[halo]

ArtVandelay.....I am sorry if I sound sarcastic......its just that so many people in here come and make statements out of excitement.

Ricky Franklin was a very good high school player. He has a chance at some point of his career to be an all conference player. The chance that he will step in a be the best player in the conference is slim to none. He is not Dominic James. He could end up very good but, if you know what u re talking about and u don't talk out of your butt, he is not going to be a guy that makes UWM a championship team. I am not sure that he will start next year.

On the same note. Franklin could make an impact similar to Tillema's this year. You can't expect him to step in and be as good as Boo David right away. Maybe Messaih have a better chance to be very good this year since he has already has the experience of his first year.

What I do not agree is the arrogance that the UWM fans come out with. I see statements such as:

-UWM will have the best backcourt in the conference
-UWM should be a top two or three team pre season eventhough they lost 7seniors
-Ricky Franklin is better than Dominic James.

thats all

[ArtVandelay]

I agree sometimes people make exaggerated claims, but it doesn't stem from arrogance.

I think you are also reading too far into things.

"One guard, Ricky Franklin, reminds some who ha(ve) seen him of a bigger Dominic James. He has great handle, and can go to the hole and dunk on guys bigger than him." - Nighthawk

does not equal

"Ricky Franklin is better than Dominic James." - your interpretation

I have no problem with you, but at times it seems like you are trying to pick a fight over nothing.

Art Vandelay

[halo]

Then how would you react if I said "Tillema is a taller JJ Redick".......its similar....think about it

UWM had a great run for a couple of years. Pearl was mainly responsible for that. Kowalczyk became a much better coach just getting to coach against Pearl.

But now, eventhough he makes damn statements, he is one of the best coaches in the conference. he took a bunch of overachievers and freshmen and created a competitive team. The future is bright in Green Bay and the reason for that is Tod Kowalczyk. And next year it will be the first year after a long time that Kowalczyk has the talent to compete for the conference.

Jeter is unproven yet. There are few that would argue that if Pearl was back this team would have been much more dominant. This will be the year that Coach Jeter gets his real taste of coaching a young team. And if he is able to achieve a top three in the cnference he will be commentable.

[Pantherholic]

halo said:

Then how would you react if I said "Tillema is a taller JJ Redick".......its similar....think about it

There are few that would argue that if Pearl was back this team would have been much more dominant. This will be the year that Coach Jeter gets his real taste of coaching a young team. And if he is able to achieve a top three in the cnference he will be commentable.

Reddick hates diversity? ;D (inside joke for us Panthers fans)

i don't really know if we would've been that much better w/ Pearl back this year. like someone mentioned earlier, we had no second three point shooter for the majority of the year. McCants had Boo last year but who did Boo have this year? sure Al Hanson stepped in but that wasn't until towards the end of the year. sure we didn't have as good a record as '04-'05 but in the losses to Butler/Wright State, we couldn't hit a 3 pointer if our lives depended on it. we made 1 in 2 games. like most teams, if u can't hit 3s, your chances of winning decline. did we underachieve this year b/c we didn't repeat/go further than the Sweet 16? look who we lost to, one of the teams who are now in the national championship and whose roster has a few potential NBA picks. Florida is playing some VERY good bball right now and we came out flat (except for Tigert). even in a rematch i don't know if we would've won, probably just lose by a much closer margin.