UIC -- 1/17

[famouspnthrfan]

same for me...i thought it was my computer

[uwm97]

I really like the fact that Rob is finding minutes for Gentry and Thornton. Maybe he's been reading the message board

[Kingsbury]

What a game! It was nice to see the team bounce back after a terrible game at YSU. The cherry on top was that it was Big D from UIC's birthday today . Hey Lou, what were the rules of the bet again?

[Hack]

Does this mean we will be seeing a donation from Virginia into the Panther Fund?

[pantherpanther]

Great Game...let's keep this up for Sunday and beyond...GO PANTHERS!!!

[Big D]

The bet is concerned with which team gets the higher seed in the HL tournament (i.e., who finishes higher in the standings after tiebreakers). I'm still optimistic but not sure I should be after last night. You guys played an impressive game...and UIC looked bad. But I fully expect a win at the Pavilion.

Seems like you're starting to turn things around up there.

[uwmeasye]

UWM head coach Rob Jeter on the win

"If I didn't say `wow,' I think I might be hiding my emotions a little bit. But that first half, I thought, shows the potential of this team. It's one of best halves of basketball we have played. And not just because of the shots going in, but the way we got them. We made the extra pass, guys were in position and guys were ready to shoot. We took a few dribbles and then we made the next pass. I was pleased."

Jeter on the Panthers executing their gameplan

"The two things we wanted to do in this game was to take away second-chance points and we had to limit their fast-break points. We did the first - with second-chance points they had only three there. With the second thing, it's a little deceiving, because in the second half they were raining in those three-pointers from deep (off the fast break). But, I was really pleased with the execution and effort of my guys tonight."

Jeter on having his team know the game wasn't over at halftime

"We know better than any that we haven't put together a full game. We've always hit a few lulls in games that have been the difference between winning and losing. So, we knew there was another 20 minutes. But, you can always catch a rookie at halftime asking them about the score. For us, it's always 0-0 at the half. So that's why you can always catch a rookie, a freshman, trying to give you the actual score at the half. But it's always 0-0 at the half. We knew UIC was going to come out and let the ball go. When you are down like that you have to be aggressive. We know they can shoot it, and on tape we've seen them shoot a lot of those shots. They were pretty much looking to shoot to get themselves back into it."

Ricky Franklin on getting the run started in the first half

"We were setting a lot of pick and rolls and they were going under the screens. So, I was just able to pull up and let it go. I think it (his making a few of the threes) made everyone comfortable shooting the ball."





Paige Paulsen on hanging on to the big lead

"We knew they were going to start taking some long threes, and they happened to go in. But we still have to attack the basket and get to the free throw line, because that can negate what they do. If we get to the free-throw line and make free throws, we can still keep our big lead."

[dylanrocks]

Earth to Lou. Come in, Lou. Oddly, Lou's bet with Big D was one of the first things I thought of at the game last night. That was, of course, well after noticing Joah's girlfriend in attendance.

[dylanrocks]

By the way, I also left the Cell last night thinking, "There's no way that this is the worst or second team in the Horizon League." Talk about a bright future.

[reggiewheelerfor3]

This win over UIC puts UWM in a position where they can realistically challenge for fifth place in the conference. I know the season is early, but I think the current top four teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Butler, obviously, but I think UIC is a lock for top four as well. They're better than they showed last night. Loyola has too much talent to falter too serverely. I'd say Wright State could fall back a little, but at 4-1 in the league, they have such a big head start.
Let's take care of business against Wright State and we can start at least thinking about a first-round conference tourney game. Lose to WSU, and there will be some major hurdles to overcome. Gotta win against a beatable team on the home court!

[uwmfutbol]

dylanrocks,

I couldn't agree more. Last night Avo, Al, Paige, and Ricky all had good games. If we add a healthy Swiggett, and our 2007 class, I'm seeing good things next year.

[pantherdon]

Let's concentrate on this year.
a .500 conference record looks almost possible now.

[reggiewheelerfor3]

I think .500 in conference is reachable, but this team has been so up and down as of late that we might fall just short of that. Any body else think 7-9, or definitely 8-8, will be good enough for fifth, or at least a share of fifth?

[Hack]

8-8 was good enough for a five-way share of third last year ... so anything is possible, especially the way we beat each other up in conference play.

[PantherU]

uwm97 said:

I really like the fact that Rob is finding minutes for Gentry and Thornton. Maybe he's been reading the message board

I believe it was Jimmy Lemke's column at the end of the semester that first discussed the playing time of Gentry and Thornton, if I'm not mistaken.

The game was great, but it was very even, save for the awesome 27-4 run at the end of the first half. I can't wait to go to UIC, Jeffers is a beast that everyone can appreciate.

Here's Lemke's column, if you hadn't read it yet: www.uwmpost.com/article/ff8081810ef800ee010f6f019efc0086