Horizon League MBB TV Schedule Announced

The Horizon League released its 2013-14 regional and national TV schedule Friday. The package puts UWM on the Horizon League Game of the Week at least twice, with two other possible appearances late in the year.

This TV coverage will be in addition to UWM's local TV package with Time Warner, which will be set over the next month.

Meanwhile, the full Panther season schedule will be announced last week.

The full Horizon League TV announcement ...

INDIANAPOLIS -- As part of their long-term relationship, the Horizon League and ESPN have announced a minimum of 32 men’s basketball games involving League members will air nationally on ESPN Networks during the 2013-14 season.

“Our multiple ESPN platforms as well as our regional Game of the Week networks provide the Horizon League with invaluable exposure for the benefit of our member institutions, student-athletes and fans,” said Commissioner Jon LeCrone. “We look forward to providing another season of compelling, down-to-the-final-buzzer competition.”

“ESPN is excited to once again showcase the best teams in the Horizon League to fans across the country,” said Nick Dawson, senior director, ESPN programming and acquisitions. “With 16 conference games televised across a variety of ESPN networks and platforms, Horizon League fans will be well served throughout the 2013-14 season.”

Continuing a relationship that began with the 1988 Midwestern Collegiate Conference championship game, the Horizon League will host its championship game at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 11 on ESPN or ESPN2.

The Horizon League will once again will be a centerpiece of ESPNU’s Friday nights, starting on Jan. 10 when defending conference champion Valparaiso hosts Wright State in a rematch of last year’s championship thriller.

In all, there will be at least 15 games featuring League teams showcased on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU in 2013-14, beginning with Green Bay welcoming back Tony Bennett and his Virginia squad on Dec. 7 and concluding with the Horizon League championship game.

The Horizon League’s national telecast package is highlighted by a “Rivalry Week” showdown between Detroit and new conference member Oakland on Feb. 14. Wright State-Green Bay (Feb. 1) and Cleveland State-Wright State (Feb. 8) matchups could help decide who will host the Horizon League Tournament March 4-11.

In non-conference play, Oakland will be featured twice against Big Ten opponents, as the Golden Grizzlies face Indiana (Dec. 10, ESPN2), before hosting Michigan State on Dec. 14 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The award-nominated Horizon League Network Game of the Week will return on Saturday, Jan. 4, when Green Bay hosts Youngstown State. The 10-game schedule will feature three wildcard selections to close the regular season, with all broadcasts carried in all nine League markets and on ESPN3.

Continuing to set the standard for online streaming of sporting events, the Horizon League Network will carry every non-televised men’s and women’s basketball game this season for free and in full HD.

As the season approaches, check the schedule on HorizonLeague.com or follow the Horizon League on Twitter (@HorizonLeague, @billpotter_HL) for additional non-conference telecasts along with local and regional telecast information from the conference and its member institutions. 2013-14 Horizon League Regular Season TV Schedule

Dec. 7 - Virginia at Green Bay - ESPNU
Dec. 10 - Oakland at Indiana - ESPN2
Dec. 14 - Michigan State at Oakland - ESPN2
Jan. 2 - UIC at Valparaiso - ESPN3
Jan. 4 - Youngstown State at Green Bay - HLN Game of the Week/ESPN3
Jan. 10 - Wright State at Valparaiso – ESPNU
Jan. 11 - Oakland at Detroit - HLN Game of the Week/ESPN3
Jan. 17 - Green Bay at Wright State - ESPNU
Jan. 18 - Milwaukee at Valparaiso - HLN Game of the Week/ESPN3
Jan. 25 - UIC at Oakland - HLN Game of the Week/ESPN3
Jan. 29 - Green Bay at Valparaiso - ESPN3
Jan. 31 - Cleveland State at Detroit - ESPNU/ESPN3
Jan. 31 - Youngstown State at Oakland - ESPNU/ESPN3
Feb. 1 - Wright State at Green Bay - ESPN2
Feb. 5 - Youngstown State at Wright State - ESPN3
Feb. 7 - Detroit at Valparaiso - ESPNU
Feb. 8 - Cleveland State at Wright State - ESPN2
Feb. 8 - Milwaukee at Green Bay - HLN Game of the Week/ESPN3
Feb. 14 - Detroit at Oakland - ESPNU
Feb. 15 - Wildcard Matchup TBA - HLN Game of the Week/ESPN3
Feb. 18 - Detroit at UIC - ESPN3
Feb. 21 - Oakland at UIC – ESPNU OR ESPN3; Detroit at Wright State – ESPNU OR ESPN3
Feb. 22 - Wildcard Matchup TBA - HLN Game of the Week/ESPN3
Feb. 25 - Valparaiso at Wright State – ESPN3
Feb. 27 - Green Bay at Oakland - ESPNU
March 1 - Wildcard Matchup TBA - HLN Game of the Week/ESPN3

Harris Is On KC Chiefs Practice Squad

Former Panther basketball standout Demetrius Harris was signed to the practice squad of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs earlier this week.

Harris was signed by the team as an undrafted free agent in April after impressing scouts during workouts this spring. He did appear in the Chiefs’ preseason game against the Green Bay Packers last week and had been targeted as a practice squad player for the organization since the first rookie mini-camp in May.

Harris wound up working out for about 10 teams prior to this past spring's NFL Draft, and is projected as a tight end. He was a highly-touted football player in high school and originally signed to play the sport at Arkansas State.

The 6-foot-7 Harris was a standout on the basketball court for the Panthers this past season, averaging 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest while making 28 starts.

Should Harris play in an NFL game, he would become the first Panther to do so since 1983, when Mike Reinfeldt finished off his eight-year pro career.

Volleyball Facing Plenty Of Tests

There are no shortage of tests on the 2013 Milwaukee Panther volleyball schedule.

This chart below tells most of the story.

That works out to an opponent winning percentage of 57.9 and an average opponent RPI if 93.4. Eight of 12 non-league opponents finished in the top 100 of the RPI, including five in the top 50.

“I really don’t think there is any other way to go about this season,” head coach Susie Johnson said of the schedule. “You can go with playing a bunch of lower-level RPI teams and win a lot, but what are you learning? This team has to be challenged. We are not changing our goals for where we want to be just because we had a rough year last year. The truth is that it is important to me to prepare the team to play at the highest level we can be. Scheduling this tough in the preseason is the formula.”

And Johnson says there’s no use in shying away from the reality of just how tough the schedule will be. In fact, she’s made sure her team is well-informed of the tests they will be facing.

“The other side of playing a tough schedule is preparing the team,” Johnson said. “We’ve talked about the opponents since the spring when the schedule was finalized. We’ve been preparing for these opponents. I do think that’s the best way to do it. I hope it works because it can all be a gamble, but the reality is we like challenges and I think we’re up for it.”

Kelderman Appearance On "Dennis Krause Show" Set For Next Week

The appearances by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer coach Kris Kelderman on "The Dennis Krause Show" begin next week Monday (August 26).

The airing of the 30-minute sit-down interview is set for 6 and 10 p.m. on Aug. 26 on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel.

Krause and Kelderman discussed a wide variety of topics on the show, including a 2013 preview, Kelderman's background as a player at the high school, college and professional levels and his experiences as a coach.

Additional airings are scheduled for the duration of the week.

Monday, August 26: 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Tuesday, August 27: 7:30 a.m., noon, 4 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Wednesday, August 28: 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Thursday, August 29: 12:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Friday, August 30: 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Saturday, August 31: 8:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 1: 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Men's Soccer Picks Up Some Preseason Honors

With the Milwaukee men back on campus and practice underway, the regular season will be here in no time at all. On that note, various publications are sending out their "preseason all-conference" selections. First up on that list is the website "College Sports Madness".

They have included four members of the UWM team on their squads, with junior Laurie Bell and senior James Ashcroft on the first team and sophomores Aaron Horvat and Declan Rodriguez on the second team.

Click HERE for the full list.

Soccer Preseason Ranks Making Their Appearances

With the Milwaukee men’s soccer team showing up on campus this week to begin practice for the 2013 campaign, it’s time for preseason rankings to start appearing nationally.

The website “Bennett Rank” (www.bennettranking.com) has listed all 206 NCAA Division I men’s soccer programs from top to bottom, with Maryland coming it at No. 1 and North Carolina No. 2.

A look at all of the Horizon League schools shows a positive for the Panthers entering the new season, as they are the highest-ranked league program according to the list.

112. Milwaukee
115. UIC
133. Wright State
147. Green Bay
150. Valparaiso
152. Cleveland State
162. Detroit
164. Oakland

Braun Appearance On Dennis Krause Show Set For This Week

The appearances by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Director of Athletics Amanda Braun on The Dennis Krause Show begin tonight.

The airing of the 30-minute sit-down interview is set for 6 and 10 tonight on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel.

Krause and Braun discussed a wide variety of topics on the show.

Additional airings are scheduled for the duration of the week.

Monday - 6 pm and 10 pm
Tuesday - 7:30 am, noon and 11 pm
Wednesday - 8:30 am and 9 pm
Thursday - 11 am, 5 pm and 11 pm
Friday - 10 pm
Saturday - 8:30 am, 11 am and 6:30 pm
Sunday - 7 am, noon, 6 pm and 10:30 pm