There has been no shortage of articles and interviews for Panther basketball coach Rob Jeter this week.
Mix together the possibility of another job and Wisconsin playing Butler in this week's NCAA Tournament, and it is safe to say the phone has been ringing off the hook. A sampling includes ...
A very nice editorial in the Journal Sentinel on Rob staying put in Milwaukee and the success he has enjoyed here.
A good summary of the events of the last week or so by our beat writer, Tom Enlund.
The folks in Madison have been much more focused on the Badger/Bulldog showdown, with some thoughts from Rob and UIC coach/former UW assistant Howard Moore.
Fox Sports Wisconsin checked in for Rob's take on the matchup, too, and then made it a national item.
And, on the air, Rob was on with Dan and Drew on the D-List on ESPN Milwaukee.
The ESPN mother ship in Bristol also had Rob on "First Take" this morning, but as of last check I don't see an online link for that interview.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Catching Up with Sarah Hagen...
Sarah Hagen returned from Spain earlier this month, where she played with the U.S. U23 Women’s National Team at the Four Nations Tournament in La Manga. She led the team to a tournament win with a 2-0-1 mark and seven points. Hagen scored goals in all three games. She had the game-winner in a 4-2 win over Sweden on Feb. 25 and scored the first goal of the game in a 1-1 draw with England two days later. On March 1, the WNT trailed 2-0 against Norway, but pulled within one in the 71st minute and Hagen knotted the game at 2-2 eight minutes later with her third goal of the trip. Just four minutes after that, she set up the game-winning goal.
We talked with Sarah about her trip, competing with a national team and what she can bring back for her Milwaukee side.
How was the competition you played against? Your individual stats were good, happy with your personal play?
“The competition in Spain was really good. It felt really good knowing that I was playing with and against some of the best girls in the world. You can’t really ask for better competition than that. Individually, I was very pleased with my performance, but I was just glad that I could contribute to the team’s success. Everybody on the team has a role and we each fulfilled them. Our coaches talked about winning our individual battles and we will the game or tournament. They all stressed the importance of outworking your opponent. In each game we played, we were able to match the other team’s intensity and then some, which had an impact on our success. I really enjoy playing with this team and building the friendships with all of them. Since I first joined the team last spring I think the team chemistry has gotten a lot better and we are playing a lot better together.“
Ever been to Spain before? What were your thoughts?
“It was my first time to Spain and I absolutely loved it. I would love to go back there to see more on my own time. Before joining this team I had never been out of the country and now I have been to England, Germany, and Spain. Being a part of this team has really helped me grow as a player and as a person.”
What was your primary role that the coaches asked you to fill? Have you been told of the next camp or competition that you will be involved in?
"Going into the camp I didn't know if I was going to start or even get any playing time, but you have to have the mindset that if you do get a chance you need to be ready. I just feel really blessed to have gotten the opportunity from the coaches to show my abilities. I have not been told when the next camp is. They usually inform you two weeks before camps so we'll see.”
After this camp, what do you think that you will bring back to help the team this spring?
“I think the biggest thing that I can bring to the team for this spring and next fall is my role as a leader. Being at the camps really has really helped my confidence as a player. The speed of the game at that high of a level is so much fast and hopefully I can help make practices at UWM more competitive."
All Photos Courtesy of ussoccer.com
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wegner Named Coach of Sheboygan A's
We like to spread the good news of former players here in the Milwaukee Sports Information office, so I thought I would pass along this release I just came upon, courtesy of the Sheboygan A's Facebook page.
Shaun Wegner was a four-year starter as a catcher and outfielder for the Panthers from 2006-10. He played in played in over 180 games, recorded over 160 hits, scored over 100 runs and drove in close to 90 in his career.
Here is the link I found.
The Sheboygan A’s have a new manager. 24 year old Shaun Wegner has been named to lead the team in 2011. The Watertown native, a 4-year Division 1 player at UW-Milwaukee is currently a graduate assistant coach Minnesota State College in Mankato working in a sports management Masters program. Wegner takes over for Chad Gehr who ran the club for the past three seasons. Wegner is currently working with outfielders and as a hitting coach at Minnesota State. Opening day for the A’s is scheduled for May 27th.
Shaun Wegner was a four-year starter as a catcher and outfielder for the Panthers from 2006-10. He played in played in over 180 games, recorded over 160 hits, scored over 100 runs and drove in close to 90 in his career.
Here is the link I found.
The Sheboygan A’s have a new manager. 24 year old Shaun Wegner has been named to lead the team in 2011. The Watertown native, a 4-year Division 1 player at UW-Milwaukee is currently a graduate assistant coach Minnesota State College in Mankato working in a sports management Masters program. Wegner takes over for Chad Gehr who ran the club for the past three seasons. Wegner is currently working with outfielders and as a hitting coach at Minnesota State. Opening day for the A’s is scheduled for May 27th.
Postgame Extra – Milwaukee at Northwestern
Game #33 – Northwestern 70, Milwaukee 61
Player of the Game - Tony Meier hadn’t practiced in the days leading up to the contest at Northwestern but didn’t let it slow him down. He scored 19 points, knocking in five 3-pointers, while playing 33 minutes. He also had five assists and four rebounds and looks poised for a tremendous senior season.
Turning Point - While the Panthers were able to recover somewhat, the 10 minutes without a field goal and 18-0 Northwestern run was the difference in the game. Milwaukee never got the deficit under six after that.
Stat That Mattered - Turnovers and free throws. The Panthers made just four free throws and had 16 turnovers, while Northwestern had only 11 turnovers and made 14 free throws.
The Notebook -
Anthony Hill finished his career with 1,022 points and 510 rebounds … Tone Boyle finished with 823 points and 149 made three-pointers … Tony Meier reached double figures for the 21st time this season with his 19-point outing … he also finished the year shooting above 50 percent from the field … his five made three-pointers tied his career-best and marked the sixth time this season he made at least four 3’s in a game
Kaylon Williams finished the season with 178 assists, the second-most in a single season in school history … he also reached double figures in scoring for the 14th time … Northwestern is now 17-1 when scoring at least 70 points … the Panthers lost for just the second time this season when shooting a better percentage than their opponent … Milwaukee also lost for just the second time this season when shooting better than 45 percent … Northwestern’s 16 offensive rebounds were an opponent season high … the Wildcats 12 made threes were the second-most by a Panther opponent … Milwaukee made 11 threes, the eighth time this season it reached double digits in the category.
Up Next - Northwestern plays Boston College Saturday in the second round of the tournament while Milwaukee finishes its season 19-14.
Player of the Game - Tony Meier hadn’t practiced in the days leading up to the contest at Northwestern but didn’t let it slow him down. He scored 19 points, knocking in five 3-pointers, while playing 33 minutes. He also had five assists and four rebounds and looks poised for a tremendous senior season.
Turning Point - While the Panthers were able to recover somewhat, the 10 minutes without a field goal and 18-0 Northwestern run was the difference in the game. Milwaukee never got the deficit under six after that.
Stat That Mattered - Turnovers and free throws. The Panthers made just four free throws and had 16 turnovers, while Northwestern had only 11 turnovers and made 14 free throws.
The Notebook -
Anthony Hill finished his career with 1,022 points and 510 rebounds … Tone Boyle finished with 823 points and 149 made three-pointers … Tony Meier reached double figures for the 21st time this season with his 19-point outing … he also finished the year shooting above 50 percent from the field … his five made three-pointers tied his career-best and marked the sixth time this season he made at least four 3’s in a game
Kaylon Williams finished the season with 178 assists, the second-most in a single season in school history … he also reached double figures in scoring for the 14th time … Northwestern is now 17-1 when scoring at least 70 points … the Panthers lost for just the second time this season when shooting a better percentage than their opponent … Milwaukee also lost for just the second time this season when shooting better than 45 percent … Northwestern’s 16 offensive rebounds were an opponent season high … the Wildcats 12 made threes were the second-most by a Panther opponent … Milwaukee made 11 threes, the eighth time this season it reached double digits in the category.
Up Next - Northwestern plays Boston College Saturday in the second round of the tournament while Milwaukee finishes its season 19-14.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
NIT Bracketology
While most eyes will be on the NCAA pairings announced shortly, the Panthers are awaiting the 8 p.m. ESPNU show to find out their NIT plans.
First, it is only in the last few years that the NCAA has taken over the NIT, instituting bracketing, auto bids and this TV show that will unveil the field. By my count, it looks like 10 of the 16 first round will also get coverage on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU, so there is also an opportunity for more national TV exposure.
Most interesting, though, is the spawning of various websites attempting to project the NIT bracket. Just in looking more closely at some of these sites, it seems like a hard proposition because you are truly waiting on the NCAA field before you can sort out seeds and bracketing. So, what may seem like obvious geographical matchups – say Long Beach at USC – can get thrown out the window if/when USC is picked for the NCAAs. And, then, Long Beach could wind up on its way to Alabama.
So, what to make of where the Panthers will fall? Well, a crap-shoot in many ways. There are not many truly geographical options, Milwaukee’s RPI is solid not spectacular, and the Panthers “tournament resume” is one that could make your head spin.
Consider the positives – Milwaukee RPI is unofficially 94
1 – Horizon League regular season champions
2 – Won 10 of last 12, with five of those on the road
3 – Two wins over an NCAA team (Butler) and four additional wins over projected postseason teams (Cleveland State, Valpo, Northern Iowa)
4 – 2-2 vs. Top 50 and 5-5 vs. Top 100 in RPI, plus two more wins against teams 100-130
And then the negatives
1 – 13 losses overall
2 – Loss at #233 DePaul
3 – One of two losses in last month was to #167 Buffalo
4 – Last/only impression of anyone on selection committee was loss to Butler
Basically, the Panthers are the classic case of a team with a nice group of good wins but a slightly-extended list of bad losses.
Next, there are the auto-bids. Just as I detailed above for Milwaukee, there are a lot of factors that will determine where all of the auto-bids are placed in the NIT field. But, in using the straight computer factor – the RPI – here are the auto-bid teams in RPI order (including only those that are definitely not in the NCAA Tournament).
Charleston - 73
Kent State -79
Long Beach State - 90
Milwaukee – 94
Vermont - 95
Fairfield - 98
Coastal Carolina - 104
Florida Atlantic - 116
Murray State - 115
McNeese State - 160
Texas Southern - 190
Bethune-Cookman - 198
Thus, if you started from the bottom, the Panthers would be a six-seed, but they are clearly in that six-seven mix. Again, what other factors will truly win out? Hard to say, especially when geography (specifically flight vs. bus) may not be a consideration.
If, indeed, Milwaukee is a six or seven, then eliminate the possibility of playing one of the last two or three out of the NCAA field. From there, the list of possibles still seems pretty long.
UAB - 31
Missouri St - 43
VCU - 49
Colorado State – 52
Marshall - 55
Wichita State - 59
UTEP – 60
Oklahoma State – 64
Miami - 72
California - 77
Washington St - 82
Ole Miss – tie - 83
Minnesota – tie - 83
Northwestern - 87
Nebraska - 89
Maryland - 96
And, again, this list does not include the “bubble” teams who will likely be #1 seeds in the NIT if/when they are not in the NCAA bracket.
So, make your best guess and hope for something interesting on TV!
First, it is only in the last few years that the NCAA has taken over the NIT, instituting bracketing, auto bids and this TV show that will unveil the field. By my count, it looks like 10 of the 16 first round will also get coverage on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU, so there is also an opportunity for more national TV exposure.
Most interesting, though, is the spawning of various websites attempting to project the NIT bracket. Just in looking more closely at some of these sites, it seems like a hard proposition because you are truly waiting on the NCAA field before you can sort out seeds and bracketing. So, what may seem like obvious geographical matchups – say Long Beach at USC – can get thrown out the window if/when USC is picked for the NCAAs. And, then, Long Beach could wind up on its way to Alabama.
So, what to make of where the Panthers will fall? Well, a crap-shoot in many ways. There are not many truly geographical options, Milwaukee’s RPI is solid not spectacular, and the Panthers “tournament resume” is one that could make your head spin.
Consider the positives – Milwaukee RPI is unofficially 94
1 – Horizon League regular season champions
2 – Won 10 of last 12, with five of those on the road
3 – Two wins over an NCAA team (Butler) and four additional wins over projected postseason teams (Cleveland State, Valpo, Northern Iowa)
4 – 2-2 vs. Top 50 and 5-5 vs. Top 100 in RPI, plus two more wins against teams 100-130
And then the negatives
1 – 13 losses overall
2 – Loss at #233 DePaul
3 – One of two losses in last month was to #167 Buffalo
4 – Last/only impression of anyone on selection committee was loss to Butler
Basically, the Panthers are the classic case of a team with a nice group of good wins but a slightly-extended list of bad losses.
Next, there are the auto-bids. Just as I detailed above for Milwaukee, there are a lot of factors that will determine where all of the auto-bids are placed in the NIT field. But, in using the straight computer factor – the RPI – here are the auto-bid teams in RPI order (including only those that are definitely not in the NCAA Tournament).
Charleston - 73
Kent State -79
Long Beach State - 90
Milwaukee – 94
Vermont - 95
Fairfield - 98
Coastal Carolina - 104
Florida Atlantic - 116
Murray State - 115
McNeese State - 160
Texas Southern - 190
Bethune-Cookman - 198
Thus, if you started from the bottom, the Panthers would be a six-seed, but they are clearly in that six-seven mix. Again, what other factors will truly win out? Hard to say, especially when geography (specifically flight vs. bus) may not be a consideration.
If, indeed, Milwaukee is a six or seven, then eliminate the possibility of playing one of the last two or three out of the NCAA field. From there, the list of possibles still seems pretty long.
UAB - 31
Missouri St - 43
VCU - 49
Colorado State – 52
Marshall - 55
Wichita State - 59
UTEP – 60
Oklahoma State – 64
Miami - 72
California - 77
Washington St - 82
Ole Miss – tie - 83
Minnesota – tie - 83
Northwestern - 87
Nebraska - 89
Maryland - 96
And, again, this list does not include the “bubble” teams who will likely be #1 seeds in the NIT if/when they are not in the NCAA bracket.
So, make your best guess and hope for something interesting on TV!
Live Blog: Milwaukee at San Jose State
Join Assistant SID Chris Zills for a live blog from the press box at Municipal Stadium for today's game between San Jose State and your Milwaukee Panthers. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CST.
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