State of the program

[gman2]

After that embarrassing loss, where is the state of this program.

From a purely competitive basketball standpoint our program like many mid majors faces an uphill battle. At times we seem to fall back down the hill and at times we seem to climb the hill a little bit. I would say overall we probably have fallen backwards some from our highest point on the hill. I have accepted the reality that we are an above average team in an above average league with an above average coach. Simple, no need to over analyze. The reality is that Jeter will be the coach at least through 2016. It appears that the current administration is not granting the automatic one year extensions that Bud used to extend Jeter's contract from 2013 to 2016.

Where the concern lies is that the program does not generate enough interest for the general public at large to care. This could have an impact when it comes time to get community support for facilities upgrades, especially the new arena. Will the community at large support something off campus that will involve taking land that is currently under another use? The Water Institute fight showed that it is an uphill battle to get the community to support something for this university, and that was for a brand new facility to support higher learning and promote world renown research. What fight will we face from the community if we try to go off campus for something that supports an average basketball team? We can talk all we want about access to North Ave, but that requires community support. And at the moment, that community support may be hard to get for a program that really does not generate excitement beyond the base, and at the moment is having a hard time generating excitement in the base.

I'm a fan of average means, I make contributions to the university that are in two or three figures, so my opinion in all this likely means squat. But I am an ambassador for the program, constantly promoting, constantly fighting for the program in a world in which most co-workers, family and friends talk about Bucky and mostly ignore Milwaukee. I try my best to get new people in the seats. I do what I can, but a season like this and a game like last night make it difficult to generate interest among people in my circle.

[GoPanthers33]

I do all I can to get people to come and watch as well.

Last night I actually got some friends over to watch their 1st Panthers game...

I'm sure they can't wait for the next one...

[uwmfutbol]

Until UWM's students and alumni start to care, don't expect the general community to bat an eye. Excitement fosters more excitement. Apathy breeds more apathy.

[uwmplanner]

Bad losses happen, its just too bad it had to happen in the tourney. I had high hopes this season but sometimes some things don't work out they way you think or hope they would.

[uwm80]

Gman2 pretty much has it covered. The arrow is not pointing up for the basketball program, but it is not pointing down either. Hard to really get too excited. Unless Jeter gets another job, he will be the coach for the next few years; we don't have the big money alumni to pay him off. I have always been a supporter of Coach Jeter, but I think he has pretty much hit the wall here. Would be good for both sides if he moved on. I know it could get worse if that happens, but I don't see things getting that much better either if he stays. As for the arena situation, I don't see that changing much either. Without big money alumni and lots of political influence, nothing much is going to happen. UWM just does not get the respect in the community it deserves, and it has always been that way.

[tyrunner0097]

This season was somewhat of a loss.

Given how many games FT cost us (5-6 games), we could have easily been 24-7 this year, which bums me. Beating UW at the Cell this season could have really gotten us alot of support...that was a blown chance.

Well, March 14, I will be meeting with Rick Costello to talk about some ideas for getting more student fan support, basically expanding promotion of the program throughout the campus.

[blackcatinorange]

Mar 4, 2012 3:36:19 GMT -6 tyrunner0097 said:

This season was somewhat of a loss.

Given how many games FT cost us (5-6 games), we could have easily been 24-7 this year, which bums me. Beating UW at the Cell this season could have really gotten us alot of support...that was a blown chance.

Well, March 14, I will be meeting with Rick Costello to talk about some ideas for getting more student fan support, basically expanding promotion of the program throughout the campus.

Just an fyi....the Rising Stars program was a HUGE success at my school. UWM gave me the opportunity to really highlight 15 of my students, and promote Panther basketball at the same time. I think it was a win win situation for the students and their families, and UWM. The kids and their families enjoyed the recognition and the special treatment, and UWM gained some limited exposure from families who live in Hartford. These families had never been to a Panther game before, and they all loved it!!!

[kingsteve]

Some positives and some reality:

<Very noticeable at the games this year that attendance is better. Just more people in the building at each game result of better season ticket and group promotions. Very encouraging seeing more families and they will come back. Great venue for kids. The Rising Stars program is just one of the really great things we are doing.

<On The Court - program now consistent and cleanly run with integrity and class. That being said not mutually exclusive with getting a situation in place where players run through a wall and go beyond themselves to win the big game. I continue to just get the feeling that neither coaches nor players totally believe. Body language and comments. Case in point:

<Yes, Rob is classy but watching his show he is so darn ok whatever attitude...in the paper he says we got an old fashioned butt whipping...well.....??

<Boudreau on the post game show told Bill that he was afraid this would happen and was concerned team would not be ready and we were flat...Well,,, why is a coach even talking like this and how can that be?? A former coach had these guys breathing fire in the big games and never would have said something like I ax concerned we would not be ready or be flat coming. in.....What the heck is that??? This self doubt seems to permeat. I just do not get a feeling of confidence from Jeter and staff that they truly believe and they seem tentative to me. Time I see most passion is when it is grimacing or shaking heads at the officials....but I digress... just does not seem we are every preparerd for the big game in the big time... yes , we win a few when it does not matter over top confernce teams but do not take the step to be champions....what is our big non conference win in recent year,,,, frickin De Paul?

All that being said I do not say make a chane NOW but for gosh sakes do not give an extension until contract is over whatever century that falls...six years with no NCAA or even close...don't call last year close... final at home was a choke job...first year with zero of his recruits...if he makes NCAA just once in next three or four years that would be great.. extend ....if not...time to move on.....we tasted greatness and do not want medicority to hit 10 years by that time...not impressed with 20 wins with some of the SOS and fact with tourney we play 32 -34 games.. not that great....a lot of acceptance... wow, we lost to NU in NIT last year...CBU or CIT this year... frankly I would decline those...how far we have fallen... will contniue to renew season tickets but more than a bit disillusioned and skeptical....success is not CBI or CIT, a so called great season based on 20 wins.. whoope de doo

[nickpanther78]

Well said KingSteve.... I agree with you 100% Apparently though alot of folks on here are okay with treading water and never making the dance. We will let Butler,UDM, and CSU do that every instead of us...

[Pounce Needs Pals]

Never making the dance was Western Illinois losing to SDSU.

[PantherU]

I think Bruce Pearl might have said something like Chad said if 30% of his scoring from the past 5 games spent the night in the hospital vomiting his guts out.

It is true that this team has been injured and sick more than the rest of the League. That's easy to see when you pay absolute crap for trainers. If we paid competitively, Trainer Dave Beine would still be our trainer and we wouldn't have had half the problems we did. Why did Lonnie Boga get surgery in the beginning of January when his shoulder was hurt last season? Why did Ja'Rob McCallum get the go-ahead to play before his wrist was ready, thus ending his season six games in? Why was Tony Meier rushed back to play, when it was obvious that until the end of January he was still favoring his injured leg? Why was Kaylon Williams not shut down from practice so he could heal his knee tendonitis, when all that injury needs is a few days of rest to completely heal? Why was Ryan Allen practicing at full speed when it was painfully obvious that he had completely tired legs by January? Anyone notice the amount of dunks Allen had after Christmas compared to before? This season was incredibly undermined by our injury situation, as well as the major flu sickness that permeated through the team in the final month of the regular season all the way up to and including the Butler game.

And you can take that to the bank - I'm not going to cower behind a screen name. I said it, I'm not deleting it, bookmark it, even though my name isn't in my screen name everyone knows who posted this. I'm not going to cower and delete something because someone's feelings got hurt.

Several of our injury problems were avoidable. The coaches should be given the correct assessment of their players' health if they are to make the best decisions on the floor.

[gman2]

I can't say if this relates to the entire athletic department under Bud. I had a friend who was in line for a job in the athletic department. After the interview he was contacted by someone in the department. As much as this person wanted to hire him, they were under orders to hire a qualified person at the lowest salary. Not the most qualified candidate who would demand a higher salary, simply someone qualified at the lowest salary. So this goes to what BP said about Dave Beine, there is a history in the athletic department. Don't necessarily hire the best.

[PantherU]

Next year, the program will have $1.9 million more than this year from students in the form of segregated fees.

The first thing I'd do - hell, something I'd be doing right now - is identifying which employees need to be given a raise, and which need to be given bigger budgets.

For instance, our men's basketball staff. Jeter may be near the top, but the assistants are near or at the BOTTOM. How does that happen?!

[pantherfan24]

Final a person who understands that this milwaukee job went from being the best when pearl was hear because we had money and we were building for the future. But since then is slowly creeping to the bottom. First you can say what you want but we are the only team in league with out practice facility. Meaning that we will lose kids to other schools in the league and out because of ascetics. Second We do not have an area that draws well call it what you like but fans don't come out whether the team is winning of not. I remember going to the Texas southern game I think we were 5-0 and there was no one in the crown so that is total BS about if we win people come they don't. Third a lot of people keep living in the bruce days saying how great he was well look at past articles and bruce got in trouble for the same thing at milwaukee that he did at UT a bbq only difference is he didn't lie. UWM has had no major violations since he left aka he is a cheater. SO basically what we are saying is win at any cost kind of like marquette. Do our players get in trouble yes similar to most college age kids drinking issues thats a nation wide thing. If you want to look at the difference between kids that rob coached they all come back or have decent jobs. Pearl well I am not going to get into that. So now looking at the big picture.
1-no practice facility
2-no areana w/fans in seats
3- bad pay for assistants
4- 4 AD in 7 years (no leadership)
5- 3 Trainners (Poor Pay)
6-National Runner Up back 2 Back in your league
7- won 20,19,20 and maybe more
8- 3 post seasons and would have had one if George would have filled proper paper workout.
9- Highest Apr and GPA is school history for the basketball program last year while winning the league
10- Angry mob of fans that when it comes down to it have no impact and just spin there wheels
Now with all these things these coaches and kids win games and beat people. We forget that we are the only school in the conference that does not buy games everyone else brings teams in to beat at home we don't. They have to play games to raise money for the department. Depaul, michigan St, Marquette, Wisconsin, Early season tournaments. So when we talk about Jeters salary the guys basically pays his own with all the games they play that bring money back into the department. Now the issue is they play at the cell and it costs us approx. 550k a year to play there because no one comes to the games. Tickets are the cheapest tickets in the league and people still don't come. So all I am saying when you want to point a finger and blame Jeter and his staff there are four more fingers pointing right back at you.

[pantherfan24]

My biggest question to everyone out there what do you think this program should accomplish year in and year out. Win the league each year go to the NCAA? is that what our goal is every year if so we are crazy look at the mids from single bid conferences that have won the league multiple years and have made the tournament multiple times not many. Example North Texas won the league two years in a row championship game two straight years NIT two straight years and they are not calling for his head because they are realistic. With our situation in this state we need to be realistic. We have no money we have no leadership from above and yet we expect miracles to happen. So in my opinion all those coaches do walk on water to win that many games in the past three years own butler in the past three years and have one of the top % in league wins.