Wright State Downs Milwaukee to Keep Atop the Horizon League

[ad_1] Watching a group wrestle is a wierd expertise. The season begins with hope and expectation, then slowly turns into a ceaseless nightmare.

There’s a sure disbelief that morphs into listlessness as every part appears to go in opposition to a dropping squad. However out of despair rises hope. The group asks, “Why not us? What do we've got to lose?” And out of that lowest level rises a rejuvenated group, a squad taking part in for satisfaction and preventing for each possession.

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The Milwaukee Panthers misplaced seven of eight video games earlier than stealing a street win in opposition to Youngstown State on Jan. 24. Right down to eight scholarship gamers, UWM had Horizon League front-runners Wright State on the ropes within the second half on the ultimate Friday of the month.

The Panthers gained the turnover battle, tried eight extra photographs than the Raiders, and have been almost even in rebounding. But, the league leaders confirmed why they're the cream of the crop within the HL, pulling away late for a 76-69 victory.

“Give them credit score,” Milwaukee head coach Bart Lundy mentioned of Wright State after the sport, “they’re a wonderful group. They’re bodily, they rebound the ball and put a whole lot of stress on you on the perimeter.”

WSU, picked seventh within the convention preseason ballot, has now gained 9 of its final 10 to open up a one-game lead.

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Well timed Treys Wright State didn't make many threes on Friday night time, ending 7-27 from past the arc. However the treys they hit proved to be essential.

The Raiders gained management throughout an eight-minute stretch spanning the ultimate 4 minutes of the primary half and the opening 4 minutes of the second half.

A Dominic Pangonis three simply earlier than the first-half buzzer punctuated a 13-5 Raiders run, giving the guests a 36-26 halftime lead.

To start the second half, sharp-shooter Solomon Callaghan hit a pair of photographs from deep as Wright State prolonged its benefit to a game-high 19 factors. The Raiders outscored the Panthers 25-8 on both aspect of the break.

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However a gritty, short-handed Panthers squad mounted a comeback by a spirited defensive effort. The Raiders went scoreless from the sphere for greater than eight minutes because the hosts chipped away.

UWM large man Sekou Konneh contributed large blocks and a giant put-back dunk throughout this run.

For all its defensive efforts, Milwaukee couldn't muster sufficient shot-making. Following an 11-0 spurt, the Panthers made one discipline objective over the subsequent 4 minutes, as Wright State discovered stability by its protection.

Lundy remoted the minutes bridging halftime because the turning level, noting the deficit was an excessive amount of to beat. “That actually sunk us. You may’t fault our guys’ effort. I assumed everyone fought, and we received just a little worn down.”

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Then got here the knockout punch. After the Milwaukee siege closed the hole to 5 factors, Wright State’s main scorer — freshman guard Michael Cooper — drained three straight from lengthy distance because the league leaders went up by 16 factors. Two of these photographs got here following offensive rebounds.

“These two offensive rebounds kicked out,” Lundy mentioned, “we name them dagger threes. You're taking these little sections out, and we’re taking part in higher.”

For Wright State head coach Clint Sargent, Milwaukee’s second-half push highlighted the enhancements his group nonetheless must make.

“You’re going to have peaks and valleys inside a sport,” Sargent mentioned after defeating Milwaukee. “All people has actually good gamers. Each coach on this league is superb. They’re going to reply. However you’d wish to see these dangerous moments be rather less dangerous.”

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A Rotating Rotation Accidents have hampered the Panthers all yr, and the state of affairs has solely worsened.

Senior starters John Lovelace Jr, Seth Hubbard, and Danilo Jovanovich are out for the yr. Beginning middle Faizon Fields has missed eight straight contests with a bone bruise in his ankle and has no timetable to return.

Reserve ahead Simeon Murchison was out on Friday night time, and fellow backup large man Tate McKenzie performed simply two minutes earlier than he was unable to proceed.

With a lot damage upheaval, Lundy has taken a novel view on his unsure lineups.

“We’ve had this group for about two weeks now,” the Milwaukee head coach mentioned. “It sounds bizarre to say that, however we’ve had so many alternative groups. These guys are studying to play as a gaggle, and we’re doing various things defensively.”

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“If we will preserve this group [together], we’ll proceed to get higher, and we’ll be harmful on the finish.”

Lundy additionally famous how the participant scarcity has led to a slower tempo of play. After averaging 71.2 possessions per sport in opposition to non-conference opponents, the Panthers are taking part in simply 67.2 possessions per contest for the reason that new yr, per Bart Torvik.

The Wright State sport was 73 possessions, marking the fifth straight time Milwaukee has misplaced a sport with at the least 70 possessions.

“We are able to’t play on the tempo we’ve performed at since I’ve been right here,” Lundy mentioned. “We don’t have sufficient our bodies; we’re taking part in seven, eight guys. We’ve received to be just a little smarter, possess the ball just a little extra.”

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It's an unexpected however obligatory adjustment for a group unable to play on the typical quick tempo of previous Bart Lundy squads.

A New Horizon League Contender One other week, one other contender on the prime of the Horizon League.

Milwaukee was the preseason favourite and began 3-0 in league play. Then Inexperienced Bay and Northern Kentucky surged towards the highest with successful streaks of 5 and 4 video games, respectively.

Now, the consistency of Wright State and Oakland — the one squads with out back-to-back losses within the Horizon League — has helped them separate.

Wright State is intriguing on account of its notable defensive enchancment in yr two underneath head coach Clint Sargent. In Scott Nagy’s closing season in 2023-24, this system was thirty third in offensive effectivity and 348th in defensive effectivity within the nation, per KenPom.

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The Raiders are as much as a hundred and seventy fifth in ADJD this yr — finest in an offense-heavy Horizon League — together with top-100 steal and block charges.

Guard TJ Burch has been key to Wright State’s defensive revival. The sophomore is fifth amongst Division I males’s faculty basketball gamers with 2.85 steals per sport. Burch nabbed 4 steals in opposition to Milwaukee.

Sargent praised the Ball State switch for being a frontrunner on each ends of the ground.

“He has superb ball instincts and is shopping for into a distinct segment,” Sargent informed the Dayton Every day Information in December. “We mentioned, ‘Hey, for those who can lead us in steals and lead us in assists, you’re going to be an amazing participant.’ And he’s taken that to coronary heart.”

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Burch’s play has additionally aided in his teammates’ improvement, particularly guard Michael Cooper.

“I hate [going against him] in follow, but it surely’s cool to be on his group with regards to sport night time,” Cooper mentioned.

Like prime recruits Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybansta, and Darren Peterson, Cooper is one other indispensable freshman. The guard leads WSU in scoring at 14.9 PPG and is again in rhythm after lacking 4 video games earlier in league play.

Regardless of a beginning lineup that always contains 4 underclassmen, the Raiders have performed like a veteran squad. They're asserting themselves because the Horizon League favorites within the closing month of the common season.