Former UWM Assistant Now GM Of Golden State Warriors

We're always on the lookout for people in the sports world with a connection to UWM. Sometimes, we're well aware of those connections, especially with alums like with Bill Carollo, Mike Reinfeldt and Tony Sanneh. But every once in a while, one comes out of the blue.

In this case, the person is Larry Riley, the new GM of the Golden State Warriors. He was actually promoted to the position in May as Golden State did not renew the contract of Chris Mullin.

Riley was an assistant coach at UWM from 1970-73, way back at the very early stages of his career.

The article that triggered this discovery in an email from Google Alerts is here, but a more in-depth profile right after he was hired earlier this summer is here.

Jeter Previews Russia Game Today

I just checked in with Rob Jeter in Serbia for a brief overview on today's Team USA game with Russia in the semifinals of the World University Games.

"We take on a tough Russian team in a few hours," Jeter said. "We have come together as a team and as a result are playing better basketball. Our depth, ability to make shots from all five positions and athleticism on the boards have made us a tough matchup."

The semifinal contest actually gets started at 10:30 am CDT, so we'll know by this afternoon whether the US is playing for the gold or the bronze tomorrow.

World University Games Hits Medal Round

Team USA pounded Bulgaria Thursday to move into the semifinals of the World University Games.

The team, with UWM head coach Rob Jeter as an assistant, will now face Russia in the semifinals on Friday. If Team USA wins, it would likely face a rematch with the hosts from Serbia in the finals. The US beat Serbia in preliminary play, though the Serbs claimed a win over the US in a warm-up tournament.

For more information on Team USA, visit the USA Basketball website.

Dekoning And Caldwell Head Out East For Summer Baseball

Doug Dekoning and Nate Caldwell of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team are playing for the Riverhead Tomcats this summer, one of six teams in Hamptons Collegiate Baseball.

The HCB is a summer baseball league located in the Hamptons in New York. It is a six-team division of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. Dekoning - a First Team All-Horizon League selection in 2009 and pictured at left - and Caldwell started play in early June and will continue through mid-August. The team is currently 8-6 overall.

Both were featured in an on-line article about players traveling long distances to play for the Tomcats this summer. Read it HERE.

The league website can be seen HERE.

One More Former Panther In The Coaching Ranks

This spring we noted that former Panther volleyball standout Trudy Vande Berg was now an assistant coach at Iowa State after a excellent stint on the staff at Duke. The Panthers and Cyclones will face off again this season.

Well, since that time, another former Panther has landed on the UWM schedule. Leanne Felsing has signed on as a graduate assistant at South Dakota, which will play in the Panther Invitational this season. The head coach at USD is Matt Houk, a former Panther volleyball assistant and a baseball standout for the Panthers.

Leanne's USD bio is here, while her UWM bio is here.

World University Games Update

Team USA is in Belgrade, Serbia, warming up for the World University Games, which officially get underway later this week.

The squad, which includes UWM's Rob Jeter as an assistant coach, has split two exhibition games to date. Team USA beat Canada, 85-81, on Saturday, before falling to Serbia, 98-82, Sunday.

In the loss, the US was outscored, 51-32, in the second half. The Serbs also shot 46 free throws in the game, making 38. It should be noted that all three referees were from Serbia.

Team USA finishes the warm-up tourney vs. Russia today, and then plays its first game in the World University Games Friday vs. Finland.

You can follow the team through the USA Basketball website here. While there is no true in-game coverage for these warm-up games, you can sign up for in-game updates via Twitter.

The World University Games website is here.

Edwards Shines In Australian Debut

Contrary to the story I posted on uwmpanthers.com May 15, Traci Edwards, in fact, made her professional debut this past Saturday (May 30).

Her Caboolture Suns posted a 67-57 win over the Brisbane Capitals to move to 4-1 on the season.

As for Traci, it was a performance typical of her days in a Panther uniform: 30 points, 8 rebounds and 12-for-12 from the free throw line. She also hit on 9-of-16 from the field in 33 minutes.

At 4-1, the Suns sit in second place in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL), having won their last four contests.

There was anticipation of her arrival, as the local press was touting her as a "secret weapon" before the team's first game with her on board.