UWM men’s basketball: Panthers set for Horizon League.
Panthers enter Horizon play
Wichmann, the senior swingman, entered the season as the lone known commodity and is leading the way at 12 points per game with a Horizon League-best 42 threepointers. Redshirt sophomore Brock Stull has emerged as a reliable allaround player, contributing 10.2 points and a teamhigh 6.6 rebounds per game despite checking in at just 6 feet 4 inches and 195 pounds.
The other six players who have played in every game for UWM are newcomers. Jeremiah Bell, August Haas, Bryce Barnes, Jeremy Johnson and Cameron Harvey have had their moments in the backcourt, with the freshman Haas and senior graduate transfer Harvey starting all 13 games.
The sixth player in that group, Arrowhead product Bryce Nze, has carried a heavy load inside despite his freshman status. He’s averaging 5.8 points and 4.8 rebounds as a 6-7, 230-pounder despite playing just under 17 minutes per game — a figure that most certainly would increase if not for his team-high 43 fouls.
Nze already has led UWM in rebounding five times, which is the most by a Panthers freshman since Tony Meier did so five times in the 2008-’09 season. And Nze’s average of one rebound every 3.55 minutes is tops in the Horizon League, better than even Valparaiso’s Alec Peters, who’s pulling them down at a rate of every 3.64 minutes en route to a conference-best 10 per game.
Redshirt junior Brett Prahl of East Troy is the Panthers’ tallest player at 6-9, but he’s playing a big role for the first time and has missed two straight games with a concussion. Senior Dan Studer, a 6-7 Germantown product, is in his first year as a scholarship player and known more for his banging and hustle off the bench.
“Bryce is learning a lot as a freshman out there,” Jordan said. “The biggest thing that freshmen have to learn — especially freshmen that are playing inside — is how to play without fouling. Dan’s out there really for the first time, and he’s learning a lot. He’s got some years under his belt but he hasn’t been out there. Brett, the same way.
“We’re playing smaller at the other position with Cody and Brock, but they’ve battled and they’re tough kids and play physical and can hold their own. I think our zone (defense) helps us. There’s things you can do.”
Statistically, UWM’s average of 64.5 points per game is worst in the 10team Horizon League, its 42.8% shooting is eighth and its 65.6% accuracy at the free-throw line is ninth. Opponents also are shooting 47.8% against UWM, which is worse than every other team except Detroit (51.1%), and the Panthers’ average of 32.2 rebounds per game ranks last.
The Panthers are shooting 37.1% from three-point range, which ranks second.
While there was plenty of roster turnover in the off-season, the top of the standings entering conference play has two of the perennial powers — Oakland and Valparaiso — at the top with 10-3 and 9-3 records, respectively. Valparaiso’s Peters is well on his way to earning player of the year honors, as he’s also averaging 26.4 points to go with his 10 rebounds per game.
Northern Kentucky and Wright State (9-4), Illinois-Chicago (7-6) and UW-Green Bay (6-6), meanwhile, all finished with at least .500 records.
Youngstown State, which is 6-7, boasts the league’s second-leading scorer in sophomore guard Cameron Morse (22 points per game).