Figuring out the UWM roster

[MarkMiller]

This is my best shot at figuring out UWM's roster. If anyone knows of changes, corrections, etc., please advise. Thanks much.

On Scholarship (12) for 2004-05

Seniors (3): McCants, Wright, Sanders

Juniors (7): Hill, Pancratz, Tucker, Davis, Tigert, Ford, McCoy

Sophomores (1): Wimmer

Freshmen (1): Hanson

Walkons (6) for 2004-05

Sophomores (3): Homan, Hansen, Zastrow

Freshmen (3): Bendall, Hoelzel, McKay

With 12 on scholarship and 3 seniors leaving the program after 2004-05, UWM will have 4 scholarships to award. It has received two verbal commitments to my knowledge, from Ryan Childress of Cincinnati Moeller and James Douglas of Detroit Schoolcraft Junior College. That would leave coach Pearl with two more to award. Both J.R. Blount of Dominican and Ryan Tillema of Randolph are targets, but it appears Loyola leads for Blount and either Wisconsin or Green Bay for Tillema.

Any corrections? Additions? Deletions? Thanks much.

[kaygee]

I don't believe Rob Sanders is on scholarship as he was never released from Toledo. However, I believe you are correct that they have four scholarships to give for next year (Wright, McCants, Passley and Freeman).

[uwmfootball]

From what I hear, Childress a banger with a decent touch, which is what we need. We needed more beef, and we got it. Good pickup.

[dylanrocks]

Mark:

You are correct. We have 4 scholarships to reward for the coming year and Douglas and Childress have taken two of them. Kaygee is also correct. Sanders is not occupying a scholarship. Still, I'm not so sure that GB is in fact in the lead for Tillema. After all, it's not always the early bird that gets the worm. From what I have read, Douglas was the third-rated player coming out of Michigan in 2002.

[MarkMiller]

Just to clarify, I did not say UW-Green Bay leads for Tillema, I said Wisconsin AND UW-Green Bay lead for Tillema. That came from his head coach this week. He also said UWM is definitely in the mix. Expect a decision within the next few weeks.

[pantherband1]

Why would Tillema choose UWGB over UWM? UWGB=boring town, boring coach. Last year I was up in Green Bay on a Sunday night and happened to catch the Tod Kowalczyk show. Well I caught the first ten minutes before I fell asleep. That guy is so boring and so monotone I am not sure how he has signed any recruits at all.

Coach Pearl always puts enthusiasm into everything he does to keep the players and the fans excited.

As far as Madison goes… why would anyone want to go and sit on the bench for 2-3 years with a hope of getting some playing time. Do you ever watch a Duke game with all of their high school all-stars sitting at the end of the bench not playing and wonder if those players regret their decision to go to the big time program? It looks like UW-Madison is going in that direction and players are falling into the same trap.

-Russell S.

[pnthr30]

"Why would Tillema choose UWGB over UWM?"

To put it bluntly, not everyone likes the "big" city life. Some people would rather be a big fish in a small pond (i.e. garner more attention). To many of us, UWGB may seem like a boring place, but I know many people that went there and thoroughly enjoyed their time there - it is a personal preference. When a player chooses a school, he looks at things entirely differently than a typical student does (coach, team, who is playing in front of him, chance to win, distance from home, as well as many other things)........bottom line is that no one knows what things are most important to Tillema - except himself. GB has many positives to offer (may not seem like positives to you and me, but it certainly does to others - nothing wrong with that).

Concernign UW -
"why would anyone want to go and sit on the bench for 2-3 years with a hope of getting some playing time."

First of all, nearly all high school players think they are better than they are (i.e. I can go there and play right away, I will not have to sit for more than 1 year, the guy in front of me is not that good, etc.). Secondly, winning is more important than playing to some people - plain and simple, some would rather be a part of a winning program than be on the court for 30 minutes a game. Losing gets VERY old, trust me! Thirdly, UW is a Big 10 institution..........in terms of athletic and academics - can't go wrong there. Notwithstanding the fact that UW has been at, and will continue to be at, the top of the conference. Sounds like a pretty good sales pitch to me.

"Do you ever watch a Duke game with all of their high school all-stars sitting at the end of the bench not playing and wonder if those players regret their decision to go to the big time program?"

I am going to go out on a limb here and say no. If anyone of us were able to get a chance (much less a scholarship) to play at Duke we would be remiss if we didn't jump all over that opportunity. Sure they, play with an 8 man rotation, but if you are recruited out of high school by them, you know what you are getting yourself into and where you fit into the rotation - there is no confusion. Besides, you are going to be at one of the premier bball schools in the country, in arguably the best conference, practicing with numerous all-american candidates........all at a school with an academic reputation that holds up pretty darn well when compared to anyone. If the guys at Duke are so disgruntled, how come we don't hear more of them transfering? They know what they are getting into when they step foot in Durham..........something that 99% of high school bball players can only dream of.

We need to remember that what may seem like a cut and dried decision to Panther fans (who are more than a little biased haha), is really a complex and agonizing decision for any potential college bball player.

[pnthr97]

Pnthr30, very well stated. As Panther fans, we tend to only look within the box, instead of outside it. Making the decision on what school to go to, even without athletics in the mix, is very difficult - many factors to weigh. Add athletics to the equation and the decision becomes very unique and individualized (not that it isn't anyways, but even moreso with athletics).

Whatever Tillema decides, he needs to make a decision he's comfortable with. Given prior statements in the press, I'd honestly be very surprised if he chose UWM and if he did, would even question whether UWM's the right place for him. We'll soon find out.

[dylanrocks]

Sorry, Mark. I misread your post. Your input is greatly appreciated. I've heard through the grapevine that the Green Bay newspaper may have misrepresented some of the comments of Green Bay's coach. Specifically, he wasn't "surprised" at all by BP's interest. In short, I've worked in the press and you certainly can't believe everything you read there.