@ UIC 2/26/22

[Pounce Needs Pals]

Milwaukee 10-20 (8-13)
@
UIC 12-15 (8-10)

When: Saturday
Time: 7:00pm
Where: Credit Union 1 Arena

Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 101.7FM

[BBFran]

UIC beating us two in a row or even just in the first round HLT game next week would truly be their "chef's kiss" goodbye to the Horizon League and UWM.

[Duct_Tape_Pounce]

Is anyone planning on making the trek down to Chicago for this game? I’m thinking I might since it’s our last chance to see Milwaukee play a league game there.

[SRT4driver]

My wife and I will be there. Despite having given exactly $0 to the program this season, this will be my 3rd in-person game (I've been a guest every time).

That feels so odd to type. This was my first season since Bo Ryan's first year (1999) without either student or season tickets. I canceled them (over $500) last fall to protest our foolish and draconian new policies at Panther Arena - no cash, no purses allowed for women, masking still required when even the City and the Admirals aren't. That, as well as to protest refusing to fire this incompetent coach who is still fleecing us and UWM for $350,000+ per year.

If Baldwin is indeed brought back for a 6th season next year, then that will be my 2nd year in 24 years of "sitting out".

I also *highly* encourage all fans who love or care about this team to do the same next year. Because money talks, and honestly it's likely the only influence we have anymore over these bigger issues.

[Spirit of Bruce]

Feb 25, 2022 18:07:53 GMT -6 SRT4driver said:

My wife and I will be there. Despite having given exactly $0 to the program this season, this will be my 3rd in-person game (I've been a guest every time).

That feels so odd to type. This was my first season since Bo Ryan's first year (1999) without either student or season tickets. I canceled them (over $500) last fall to protest our foolish and draconian new policies at Panther Arena - no cash, no purses allowed for women, masking still required when even the City and the Admirals aren't. That, as well as to protest refusing to fire this incompetent coach who is still fleecing us and UWM for $350,000+ per year.

If Baldwin is indeed brought back for a 6th season next year, then that will be my 2nd year in 24 years of "sitting out".

I also *highly* encourage all fans who love or care about this team to do the same next year. Because money talks, and honestly it's likely the only influence we have anymore over these bigger issues.

I thought the policies were more draconian in Chicago? You'll probably have to show papers to get in the UIC Pavilion..

Otherwise, great post. I stayed away all season as well, other than last Sunday, so that I could go and boo vociferously.

[thetruth]

For Tuesday's game against UIC, my tickets are double the price of what it costs per ticket for the regular season. Ridiculous.

[Spirit of Bruce]

Feb 26, 2022 9:41:52 GMT -6 thetruth said:

For Tuesday's game against UIC, my tickets are double the price of what it costs per ticket for the regular season. Ridiculous.

Look on the bright side: Maybe you're contributing to buying out the last year of someone's contract. Don't bet on it, though. It's just a money grab by the HL.

[FTA1982]

We passed on the HL tournament game. I was done about a month ago but went to every regular season game. I paid enough for those, the program/HL doesnt deserve anymore than that.

[GoPanthersGo23]

UIC -6.

[GoPanthersGo23]

This is my 2nd year of not having season tickets since graduating in 2014. I went to one game vs Detroit since tickets on StubHub were like 4 dollars. I won't be renewing tickets again until we see change.

[ghostofdylan]

Feb 26, 2022 10:25:55 GMT -6 FTA1982 said:

We passed on the HL tournament game. I was done about a month ago but went to every regular season game. I paid enough for those, the program/HL doesnt deserve anymore than that.

Sounds like the Arena's going to be EMPTY on Tuesday! I recall a tournament game about 10 years ago to the day against UIC when the Klotsche Center was PACKED and ROCKING!!! Does anyone else remember this?!

[BBFran]

Feb 26, 2022 10:32:31 GMT -6 ghostofdylan said:

Feb 26, 2022 10:25:55 GMT -6 FTA1982 said:

We passed on the HL tournament game. I was done about a month ago but went to every regular season game. I paid enough for those, the program/HL doesnt deserve anymore than that.

Sounds like the Arena's going to be EMPTY on Tuesday! I recall a tournament game about 10 years ago to the day against UIC when the Klotsche Center was PACKED and ROCKING!!! Does anyone else remember this?!

Followed by a crazy HLT at Valpo's strange/cool old gym in which Butler beat us, then Valpo beat Butler, then Detroit beat Valpo. FIVE HL teams played in post-season tournaments that year! We were watching well played, competitive, high talent college basketball.



I gave up my season tickets after Braun flushed OUR men's basketball program down the toilet in March 2016 and haven't been to a game or contributed a dollar since. I knew from that moment that she would inevitably ruin the program whether by negligence, incompetence, intent or a toxic mixture of all three. I was 100% right about it then and have been right every day since. The ONLY thing that has surprised me was how quickly it happened and how stupendously ruinous her destruction of the program would be. Even I didn't foresee that within just a few years we would have a program that evoked the Cobb and Swetalla tenures, and that was mired in the ass end of a low major league. It has been breathtaking in its descent.

And don't expect anything to change if she's still in charge. You can't build anything on a rotten foundation.

[ghostofdylan]

BRAUN MUST GO!!!!

[Deleted]

"For our men's basketball program, our goal every year is to be a top 100 NCAA Division I
program. Specific to our conference, our goal is to win the Horizon League and our
expectation is to finish among the top three in the Horizon League on an annual basis. 
These are very realistic goals and expectations because we financially support the
program at the top of league.

As you know, this year men's basketball did not achieve the competitive goals or
expectations for the program. The team will not be selected for the NCAA or NIT
tournaments and our option with a fifth‐place finish is to participate in events that are
not aspirational for our program. Because of this, it is difficult to justify participation in
the CBI and CIT events and the financial commitment required for them."    -March 2016

NARRATOR: There was no financial commitment to the CBI and CIT tournaments the Panthers were invited to. Former Milwaukee Hoops mega-donor David Nicholas offered to pay the $40,000 required. And Amanda Braun refused and told a bunch of young men that their season had to end prematurely.


Completely out of spite. 

[Deleted]

What competent Athletic Director would do such a thing (while simultaneously firing a coach who just went 20-14)?? Organizations require good leaders to properly function. I'm willing to bet more than 70% of the athletic department want Braun to resign, be transferred or non-renewed in 2023 at the very least.

Amanda Braun's gotta go or nothing will change. I'm not coming back until we have new AD leadership and a renewed focus on the things that matter for students and alumni. If Mone wants UWM to be a "University of Chicago"-lite with no athletics, cool. Just don't expect more than about 3 dozen people at the next alumni event.

Like it or not, sports builds communities and strengthens ties and makes people feel like they are a part of something (students and alum and general fans). And Men's Basketball has to be a priority. Women's too (it would be nice if we could get big enough for them to play at the Arena and draw at least our current paltry crowds of 700-1500.)

I'd really like to know when her contract end date is. This is far more serious than the leaders* sipping coffee and chuckling about the "UWMFreaks" at Chapman Hall realize. Lack of support for the hoops program is directly causing an image problem, a college competitiveness problem, and thus a financial problem.

This conversation cannot and will not end until there is change.




*one or more leaders need to step up- now or never.