For the sake of comparison, here is a look at the six years: 2012, 2008, 2004-06 and 2001. I included margin of victory (which ranged from just three points to a pair of 13-point wins), championships that year, some notable league performances and some accomplishments from outside the league.
2011-12
Margin of Victory: +6.5 points
Regular Season Championships (Tourney): 7 (2)
Notable League Performances: Women’s Soccer (8-0) and Volleyball (16-0) each went through perfect league seasons and won their league tournaments … in one weekend, Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving and Men’s and Women’s Track & Field (indoor) combined on four team titles … Men’s Track & Field swept indoor and outdoor crowns for a gaudy 18-straight league titles.
Outside the League: Women’s Soccer won its first NCAA Tournament game ever and advanced to the second round for the third time … WSOC also spent nearly the entire season in the national rankings, settling at No. 23 at season’s end … Durell Busby represented the Panthers at the NCAA Championships in the 110m hurdles, earning All-America Second Team honors … Volleyball also made their NCAA Tournament.
2008-09
Margin of Victory: +3 points (The narrowest margin for a UWM win)
Regular Season Championships (Tourney): 5 (2)
Notable League Performances: Women’s Soccer and Volleyball won league regular season titles, while WSOC added a tournament crown … Men’s Track & Field won indoor and outdoor titles, while the Women’s side won indoors and was second outdoors.
Outside the League: Women’s Soccer was nationally ranked for much of the season, finishing No. 24 at season’s end.
2005-06
Margin of Victory: +13 points
Regular Season Championships (Tourney): 5 (2)
Notable League Performances: Women’s Soccer and Volleyball won league regular season titles in the fall, while WSOC added a tournament crown … Men’s Soccer won the league tourney, as well … Men’s and Women’s Basketball each swept the regular season and then tournament titles on their home floors … Men’s Track & Field won indoor and outdoor titles, while the Women’s side won indoors and was second outdoors.
Outside the League: Both Men’s and Women’s Soccer and Men’s & Women’s Basketball made NCAA Tournament appearances … MSOC, WSOC and MBB all advanced to the second round, the third-straight year for MSOC, the second-straight season with a post-season win for MBB and the first of back-to-back second-round trips for WSOC.
2004-05
Margin of Victory: +9.5 points
Regular Season Championships (Tourney): 6 (2)
Notable League Performances: Milwaukee claimed fall regular season titles in Women’s Soccer, Volleyball and Men’s Soccer, with MSOC getting another tournament crown … Men’s Basketball claimed regular season and tournament championships … Men’s Track & Field once again won both the indoor and outdoor titles.
Outside the League: Both Men’s Soccer and Men’s Basketball won NCAA Tournament appearances … this was MBB’s Sweet 16 run, knocking off Boston College and Alabama on the national.
2003-04
Margin of Victory: +4 points
Regular Season Championships (Tourney): 6 (0)
Notable League Performances: Milwaukee got regular season titles from Men’s and Women’s Soccer and Volleyball in the fall and Men’s Basketball in the winter … Women’s Track & Field swept the indoor and outdoor league titles for the second time in three years.
Outside the League:Men’s Soccer was the lone Panther squad to make an NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round … Men’s Basketball did get a bid to the NIT and won a post-season game for the first time in program history.
2000-01
Margin of Victory: +13 points
Regular Season Championships (Tourney): 9 (3)
Notable League Performances: Milwaukee claimed nine regular season/meet championships and added three more tournament crowns … regular season champs included Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Swimming & Diving, a clean sweep of the four titles by Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Baseball … MSOC, WSOC, WBB and Baseball also won league tournaments … the four-title sweep by Track & Field was the first in league history and the first of four all-time (all by UWM).
Outside the League: With their tournament titles, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Women’ Basketball and Baseball each got NCAA Tournament bids. They were the first for MSOC since 1990, WSOC since 1997, the first at the Division I level for WBB and Baseball's second in three years … Volleyball also made the NCAA Tournament, earning its second-straight at-large berth.
I, personally, think it comes down to 2001 and 2006 for the most dominant performance since UWM joined the Horizon League (or more accurately, the MCC when it was called that). From a league-only standpoint, I’d give the nod to 2001, but what the teams in 2006 were able to do outside the league was a major step for UWM on a regional and national level.
That’s just my opinion, what do you think?
- conway
