Keys to Winning...Wright St. 1/21

[uwmfutbol]

Really wished I could have watched this game at work...

Now Ricky is technically a sophomore; can he regain a year of eligibility?

4-4 is a great way to start out conference play. Keep up the good work, guys!

[milwsport]

Thanks DWSU. We have a young team that is clearly getting better every game

[blackcatinorange]

Even Mr. Negative here was impressed. They have bought into Jeter's system, playing with confidence, and getting a few breaks. It looks like they've cranked it up a bit on defense too. I'd like to see them finish above Green Bay in the HL standings. Looks like they have a realistic chance of accomplishing that.

[uwmfutbol]

Yeah the game at Detroit is important, but I can't wait for Saturday's game against the Poor Man's team. I really hope we get an attendance boost because it's an in-state rival.

[uwm9]

Great Job guys in starting 4-4 in the conf

[uwmeasye]

UWM head coach Rob Jeter on the keys to the win

"When a team shoots 68 percent in the first half, you just hope you can get them to miss some shots in the second, and that's what happened. Defensively, we did a better job, they missed some shots, we did our best to contain Wood to keep him with six points in that second half. We had some crucial possessions there. I thought Al did a great job of not fouling but just trying to be disruptive. When, I look at the stats and I see we had three guys in double figures, and then I see we had more assists than turnovers, then I know we are on the right track. I'm proud of these guys for fighting through some of the lows this year and to just have the resolve to keep battling. For the first time this year, we've won two in a row."

Jeter on knocking off first-place teams in back-to-back games

"As I have said from the beginning, it's a process with this team and these guys. By no means are we where we want to be or where we need to be, but we're at least showing the toughness and the togetherness - that fact that we're staying together - to give ourselves a chance. I thought tonight that's exactly what we did. We stayed together during some of those tough moments in that second half and did enough to get it done."

Jeter on the balance throughout much of the league

"Being my second year in the league, it's tough to win on the road. We've been there, we've all done it as coaches - we understand that in any league it is tough to win on the road. You just have to make sure you get to the free throw line. We did that tonight, and it's what you have to do when you're on the road. I thought tonight we got to the line and gave ourselves more opportunities. But the league is tough, and it's tough to go into places and win."

Paige Paulsen on the last two wins

"Coach pounds all of the little stuff into us every day. Once you get that down pat, and do all of the right things all of the time, things start happening for you. Wins are starting to happen for us."





Paulsen on his improved play in the last two games

"I just try to go out there and do what it takes to win. If we need rebounds, I'm going to rebound. I've tried to be more aggressive. I was playing a little tentative for a streak there and I just had to get that out of my mind. I'm trying to take the ball to the hole, get to the foul line and shoot open shots."

Avery Smith on his key three-pointer

"I saw Ricky - he was going to the wing - so I just tried to get open. Once I got to the top of the key, he found me, and I just it go."

[dylanrocks]

Thanks, Big D: Much of Milwaukee's early "struggles" or "road woes," as the losses have been characterized, can be attributed to the caliber of non-conference opponents. It seems that a decision was made in the off-season by Rob and his staff to brace the team for league play by scheduling some of the most difficult games they could find. As such, we were left with road losses to the likes of Wisconsin (19-1, ranked No. 2), Michigan (16-4), Missouri St. (14-5, win over Wisconsin), Northern Iowa (14-5, wins at Iowa and Iowa St.), Washington St. (16-2, wins over Gonzaga and Arizona), UAB and Sam Houston St., which leads the Southland. In return, the team was toughened considerably for practically anything it would face in the Horizon League (perhaps even Butler). The team appears to have has responded favorably to the insertion of Ricky Franklin at the point for an injured Charlie Swiggett and Ricky's game has grown by leaps and bounds. In turn, the talent may not be quite as limited as some of us (myself included) believed it to be. This is a victory for coaching and determined play.

[dylanrocks]

Here's the AP account of today's win:

MILWAUKEE — Paige Paulsen scored 17 points, Avery Smith 15 and Ricky Franklin 13 as UW-Milwaukee defeated Wright State 73-69 Sunday to play giant-killer in the Horizon League for the second straight game.

The Panthers (7-14, 4-4) knocked off a first-place team for the second consecutive game. Wright State (12-8, 5-2) entered the contest tied with 18th-ranked Butler for first place in the Horizon Conference.

Milwaukee beat Ill.-Chicago 76-65 Wednesday night when the Flames were also tied for first place.

Wright State was led by DaShaun Wood with 21 points and Drew Burleson with 13. Milwaukee has beaten the Raiders in 11 of their last 12 games.

Scottie Wilson put the Raiders ahead 50-49 with a free throw with 11:49 left in a game that had been tied 11 times. But Franklin gave Milwaukee the lead back at 51-50 with two free throws 26 seconds later. Paulsen then made two free throws and Nick Hansen a 3-pointer to complete a 7-point run that put the Panthers on top 56-50.

Wilson pulled the Raiders within 71-69 with a basket with 2.4 seconds left, but Wright St. fouled Allan Hanson on the inbounds pass. He made two free throws with 2.0 seconds left to ice the game.

Roman Gentry tied the game for the fifth time at 39-39 with a 3-point play with 50.6 seconds left. But Scottie Wilson made one of two free throws with 45.7 seconds remaining to put the Raiders up 40-39 at the half.

[milwsport]

I was impressed with the size and the loudness of the crowd. Could it have been bigger? Of course. But with the snow, the NFL playoffs, the cold and the game time, it was much better than I thought it would be.