Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball

The Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Horizon League for the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. They play their home games at UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and are currently coached by Bart Lundy.[2] The Panthers have made four NCAA Tournament tournament appearances, most recently in 2014.

Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball
2024–25 Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Head coachBart Lundy (3rd season)
ConferenceHorizon League
LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin
ArenaUWM Panther Arena
(capacity: 10,783)
NicknamePanthers
ColorsBlack and gold[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1989*
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1989*, 2005
NCAA tournament round of 32
2005, 2006
NCAA tournament appearances
Division II: 1960, 1989
Division III: 1982
Division I: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2014
Conference tournament champions
Horizon League
2003, 2005, 2006, 2014
Conference regular season champions
WIAC
1913, 1934, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1948, 1960

Horizon League
2004, 2005, 2006, 2011

History

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UWM's predecessor institutions (Milwaukee Normal School, Milwaukee State Teachers College and Milwaukee State College) have competed in basketball since the 19th century as the Milwaukee Normals (1896–1927) and Milwaukee State Green Gulls (1927–1956).

Milwaukee State's only undefeated season came in 1940 under head coach Guy Penwell as the Green Gulls finished the year 16–0 enroute to their third Wisconsin State Conference championship.

The team competed under the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee name for the first time for the 1956–57 season. In honor of joining the University of Wisconsin System, they sported the cardinal red and white colors and adopted "Cardinals" as their nickname. Three years later, the Cardinals made their first post-season appearance in the 1960 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament.

1965–1998: Becoming the Panthers; up to Division I

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Seeking to establish their own identity, Milwaukee adopted the colors of black and gold on September 1, 1965 and became known as the Panthers. They also left the Wisconsin State College Conference (now the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), of which they had been members since 1913, to form a conference with other urban public universities in the Great Lakes region such as Illinois-Chicago and Cleveland State. Such plans for a new conference never materialized, and the Panthers remained independent even as they moved from the NCAA College Division (now NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III) to the University Division (now NCAA Division I) in 1973.

The team moved again to NCAA Division III in 1980. Between 1985 and 1987, Milwaukee competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. In 1987, the program moved to NCAA Division II where it won its regional in the 1989 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament, advancing to the contest's Elite Eight. Since 1990, Milwaukee Men's Basketball has competed in NCAA Division I. They played in the Mid-Continent Conference for one year in 1993–94 before joining the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, which became the Horizon League in 1999 and has been the Panthers' home ever since.

1999–2001: Bo Ryan era

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In 1999, the Panthers hired Bo Ryan, a highly successful Division III coach at UW–Plattville, as the team's new head coach. Under Ryan, the Panthers had their first consecutive winning seasons since 1993, and Ryan was also instrumental in bringing wider attention and fan enthusiasm to the program. After just two seasons, Ryan left to become the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers.

2002–2005: Bruce Pearl era

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After Bo Ryan's departure, Milwaukee would hire Bruce Pearl, a successful Division II coach at Southern Indiana, as head coach. Milwaukee reached new heights of success during the mid-2000s, making its first NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship appearance in 2003 under Pearl, followed by a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2005 and a second-round appearance in 2006. Pearl left to become the head coach at Tennessee after 2005 and the school hired Rob Jeter, a former assistant under Bo Ryan.[3] The Panthers won three straight regular-season Horizon League championships from 2004 to 2006 as well as the Horizon League tournament championship in 2003, 2005, and 2006.

2006–2015: Rob Jeter era

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The Panthers' most recent Horizon League regular season championship came in 2011. In 2014, the Panthers won the Horizon League tournament, making their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006. Just a few weeks later, UWM was handed a one-year postseason ban due to a low Academic Progress Rate.[4] Under Jeter, while the Panthers were mostly competitive, they were unable to stay consistently on top in the Horizon League standings.

On March 17, 2016, Milwaukee fired Rob Jeter after 11 seasons with the Panthers.[5]

2016–2021: LaVall Jordan and Pat Baldwin eras

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On April 7, 2016, Milwaukee announced that Michigan assistant coach LaVall Jordan would be the new head coach.[6]

Less than one year later, on March 3, 2017, the Panthers made history by being the first No. 10 seed to win a game in the Horizon League Tournament. They went on to place second overall in the tournament, losing to Northern Kentucky in the championship game on March 7.[7] After this one lone season, Jordan accepted the head coaching job at Butler. On June 20, Milwaukee hired Northwestern assistant coach Pat Baldwin as their new head coach.[8]

In 2021, the Panthers made national news when they were able to successfully recruit Baldwin's son Patrick Baldwin Jr., who was rated by ESPN as the number four rated recruit in the country, becoming the highest rated player to commit to a Horizon League school.[9] Baldwin Jr. struggled with injury in his freshman season, and the Panthers finished the season 10–22. On March 2, 2022, Pat Baldwin was fired as head coach after five straight losing seasons.[10] Patrick Baldwin Jr. declared for the 2022 NBA draft, where he was selected 28th overall by the Golden State Warriors, becoming the first player in program history to be selected in the first round.[11]

2022–Present: Bart Lundy era

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On March 18, 2022, the Panthers hired Bart Lundy, a successful Division II coach at Queens (NC), as the team's next head coach.[12] In Lundy's first season, the Panthers won 20 regular season games for the first time since 2004-05, finishing second in the Horizon League before losing in the semifinals of the conference tournament to Cleveland State. Milwaukee accepted an invite to the 2023 College Basketball Invitational, their first postseason appearance since the 2014 NCAA tournament. The Panthers defeated Stetson in overtime in the first round, marking their first postseason tournament victory since 2006, before losing to eventual champions Charlotte in the quarterfinals. In 2023-24, despite high hopes, the Panthers struggled through much of the season, mainly due to injuries to key players. The team still rallied to advance to the Horizon League Championship game before losing to Oakland, finishing with a record of 20-15, which was also the first time since 2006 that the Panthers had consecutive 20-win seasons. Lundy also became the first coach in the program's history to have 20-win seasons in each of his first two seasons coaching the team.

Milwaukee wins vs. the AP Top 25

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Year Opponent Date Score Site
2004-05 #21 Alabama
#14 Boston College
3-17-05
3-19-05
W 83-73
W 83-75
Neutral
Neutral
2005-06 #24 Oklahoma 3-16-06 W 82-74 Neutral
2008-09 #21 Butler 3-18-09 W 63-60 Home

Postseason

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NCAA Division I Tournament results

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The Panthers have appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament four times. Their combined record is 3–4.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
2003 #12 First round #5 Notre Dame L 69–70
2005 #12 First round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#5 Alabama
#4 Boston College
#1 Illinois
W 83–73
W 83–75
L 63–77
2006 #11 First round
Second Round
#6 Oklahoma
#3 Florida
W 82–74
L 60–82
2014 #15 First round #2 Villanova L 53–73

NCAA Division II Tournament results

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The Panthers have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament two times. Their combined record is 3–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
1960 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Lincoln (MO)
Augustana (IL)
L 92–100
W 109–82
1989 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Augustana (SD)
Northern Colorado
Southeast Missouri State
W 99–95
W 89–88 OT
L 84–93

NCAA Division III Tournament results

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The Panthers have appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament one time. Their record is 1–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1982 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd Place
Augustana (IL)
Beloit
L 63–70
W 75–73

NIT results

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The Panthers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) two times. Their combined record is 1–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2004 Opening Round
First round
Rice
Boise State
W 91–53
L 70–73
2011 First round Northwestern L 61–70

CBI results

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The Panthers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) two times. Their record is 1–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2012 First round TCU L 73–83
2023 First round
Quarterfinals
#6 Stetson
#3 Charlotte
W 87–83
L 65–76

Conferences

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Years Conferences Win–loss Pct. Seasons
1896–1913 Independent N/A N/A
1913–1964 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) N/A N/A 51
1964–1993 Independent 412–346 .544
1993–1994 Mid-Continent Conference 7–11 .388 1
1994–present Horizon League 227–237 .489 28

Home arenas

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Years Arena
1956–1977 Baker Fieldhouse
1977–1992
1998–2003
2012–present
J. Martin Klotsche Center
1992–1998 The Milwaukee Exposition, Convention Center and Arena (The MECCA)
2003–2012 U.S. Cellular Arena
2013–present UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena

Milwaukee–Green Bay rivalry records

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Milwaukee victoriesGreen Bay victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 1971 N/A Green Bay 82–75
2 1979 N/A Green Bay 58–57
3 1980 N/A Green Bay 57–53
4 1980 N/A Green Bay 70–50
5 1993 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 75–68
6 1993 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 61–48
7 1994 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 64–42
8 1994 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 58–55
9 1995 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 79–58
10 1995 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 63–43
11 1996 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 67–54
12 1996 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 81–66
13 1997 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 62–49
14 1997 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 62–46
15 1998 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 68–51
16 1998 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 80–72
17 1999 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 74–66
18 1999 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 59–57
19 1999 Chicago, IL Green Bay 72–66
20 2000 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 67–65
21 2000 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 67–42
22 2000 Chicago, IL Milwaukee 62–58
23 2001 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 53–49
24 2001 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 79–57
25 2002 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 63–51
26 2002 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 76–66
27 2003 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 79–68
28 2003 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 78–54
29 2004 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 82–70
30 2004 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 81–70
31 2005 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 86–56
32 2005 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 76–72
33 2006 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 80–60
34 2006 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 84–77
35 2007 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 73–67
36 2007 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 74–73
37 2008 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 65–61
38 2008 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 76–66
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
39 2009 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 77–75
40 2009 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 72–68
41 2010 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 71–51
42 2010 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 61–54
43 2011 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 69–64
44 2011 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 88–75
45 2012 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 64–63
46 2012 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 81–75
47 2013 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 74–54
48 2013 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 78–61
49 2013 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 62–46
50 2014 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 93–86
51 2014 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 73–63
52 2014 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 73–66
53 2015 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 79–63
54 2015 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 81–70
55 2016 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 95–94
56 2016 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 70–68
57 2016 Detroit, MI Green Bay 70–61
58 2017 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 80–74
59 2017 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 80–56
60 2018 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 99–92
61 2018 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 76–58
62 2019 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 92–82
63 2019 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 90–74
64 2020 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 87–80
65 2020 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 94–90
66 2021 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 68–65
67 2021 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 74–62
68 2022 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 63–49
69 2022 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 54–44
70 2022 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 81–67
71 2023 Milwaukee, WI Green Bay 80–79
72 2023 Green Bay, WI Green Bay 70–58
73 2024 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 90–69
74 2024 Green Bay, WI Milwaukee 95–84
Series: Green Bay leads 41–33

Players in the NBA draft

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Year Player Round # Pick # Overall # Team
1961 Ron Debillous 10th 1 84 New York Knicks
1971 Vance Tyree 16th 1 225 Cleveland Cavaliers
1977 Larry Pikes 8th 3 154 Milwaukee Bucks
1991 Von McDade 2nd 26 53 New Jersey Nets
2022 Patrick Baldwin Jr. 1st 28 28 Golden State Warriors

See also

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References

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Basketball Media Guide (history)

  1. ^ Milwaukee Athletics Graphic Standards Manual (PDF). June 5, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  2. ^ Thamel, Pete (March 18, 2022). "Bart Lundy accepts men's basketball coaching job for UW-Milwaukee Panthers, sources say". ESPN. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Journal, Jon Masson Wisconsin State. "JUST ONE OPENING AT UW ROB JETER IS DRIVEN TO SUCCEED AT UWM; GARY CLOSE WON'T BE GOING TO EASTERN ILLINOIS". madison.com. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  4. ^ "Wisconsin-Milwaukee banned from 2015 postseason due to APR". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  5. ^ "Rob Jeter fired as UWM men's basketball coach". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  6. ^ Rosiak, Todd (7 April 2016). "Michigan assistant LaVall Jordan to coach UWM basketball". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Milwaukee's Wild Postseason Ride Ends In Title Game". Milwaukee Athletics. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  8. ^ "Milwaukee hires Baldwin as new hoops coach". ESPN.com. 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  9. ^ "5-star recruit picks Milwaukee over Duke, UVa". ESPN.com. 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  10. ^ Rosiak, Todd. "Pat Baldwin fired after five seasons as men's basketball coach at UW-Milwaukee". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  11. ^ "Warriors Select Patrick Baldwin Jr. (#28) & Gui Santos (#55) in 2022 NBA Draft, Presented by Oracle". www.nba.com. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  12. ^ "Sources: Lundy accepts job at UW-Milwaukee". ESPN.com. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
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