Post by dylanrocks on Oct 31, 2006 23:06:08 GMT -6
Panthers expect growing pains
Men will begin season with five new starters
By BOBBI ROQUEMORE
broquemore@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 31, 2006
The UW-Milwaukee men's basketball team isn't trying to kid anybody.
Experience is lacking and size is spotty, both major disadvantages that won't go anyway anytime soon.
But advantages, namely speed and eagerness, have sprouted in the Panthers' practices and scrimmages.
Optimism mixed with a dose of realism was the mood at the annual Tip-Off luncheon for UWM men's and women's basketball Tuesday at the Pfister Hotel.
And beginning tonight, the Panthers will try to prove to themselves and the college basketball world that the show will go on. UWM hosts UW-Parkside 7 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena for the first of two exhibition games.
Forget the bells, whistles and - for now - a non-stop dose of the "swing" offense. How this group expects to win games is as simple as a wide-open layup.
"We've got to go out there and score easy baskets," Panthers coach Rob Jeter said. "We're not going to overpower anybody at this point. We have to use our advantages, our quickness from the wing and perimeter to create scoring opportunities."
Junior guard Allan Hanson is one of two returnees who played in all 31 games last season.
"The coaches have really been stressing to us to get it out and scoring and not worrying about a lot of swing, just setting a lot of screens and rolls and working to our advantage," Hanson said.
The probable starting lineup tonight reflects just that. In addition to Hanson and junior guard Avery Smith, junior forwards Paige Paulsen and Marcus Skinner and freshman guard Ricky Franklin have all shown an ability to run the floor and be aggressive.
None of those players has ever started for the Panthers.
"We've been spoiled for the last couple of years to have older guys that have been through the battles," Jeter said. "But at one point, those guys were young, too. Those guys had to grow up a little bit."
So starting anew, with strengths and shortcomings in full view, may not be a cause for gloom after all.
"Just because you lose seven seniors and nine scholarship players, that's detrimental to the team, but at the same time it gives other guys a chance to step up and show that we can do it," said Paulsen, a transfer from Northern Illinois. "We're all here for a reason."
Men will begin season with five new starters
By BOBBI ROQUEMORE
broquemore@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 31, 2006
The UW-Milwaukee men's basketball team isn't trying to kid anybody.
Experience is lacking and size is spotty, both major disadvantages that won't go anyway anytime soon.
But advantages, namely speed and eagerness, have sprouted in the Panthers' practices and scrimmages.
Optimism mixed with a dose of realism was the mood at the annual Tip-Off luncheon for UWM men's and women's basketball Tuesday at the Pfister Hotel.
And beginning tonight, the Panthers will try to prove to themselves and the college basketball world that the show will go on. UWM hosts UW-Parkside 7 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena for the first of two exhibition games.
Forget the bells, whistles and - for now - a non-stop dose of the "swing" offense. How this group expects to win games is as simple as a wide-open layup.
"We've got to go out there and score easy baskets," Panthers coach Rob Jeter said. "We're not going to overpower anybody at this point. We have to use our advantages, our quickness from the wing and perimeter to create scoring opportunities."
Junior guard Allan Hanson is one of two returnees who played in all 31 games last season.
"The coaches have really been stressing to us to get it out and scoring and not worrying about a lot of swing, just setting a lot of screens and rolls and working to our advantage," Hanson said.
The probable starting lineup tonight reflects just that. In addition to Hanson and junior guard Avery Smith, junior forwards Paige Paulsen and Marcus Skinner and freshman guard Ricky Franklin have all shown an ability to run the floor and be aggressive.
None of those players has ever started for the Panthers.
"We've been spoiled for the last couple of years to have older guys that have been through the battles," Jeter said. "But at one point, those guys were young, too. Those guys had to grow up a little bit."
So starting anew, with strengths and shortcomings in full view, may not be a cause for gloom after all.
"Just because you lose seven seniors and nine scholarship players, that's detrimental to the team, but at the same time it gives other guys a chance to step up and show that we can do it," said Paulsen, a transfer from Northern Illinois. "We're all here for a reason."