24editorial
CHRIS ZILLS
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
COMMUNICATIONS & MULTIMEDIA
SEAN ENGEL
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
RACHEL KLEMP
DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES
CHIP KINDT
COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
GARY D’AMATO
FEATURE WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY
NOAH BEKTAH, LEN CEDERHOLM, SPIRIT HESSE, RACHEL KLEMP, ISABELLA MEIER
CREATIVE SERVICES
BRAEDEN DETERT, JAKE MICHALSKI AND GIANNA LAPERNE
SPORT UPDATES
Men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball and cross country.
PITCHING WITH A PURPOSE
With the Next Pick! Milwaukee baseball has had its success having 26 student-athletes drafted by Major League organizations. Recently, teams have taken a lot closer look at Panther pitchers, including three selections over the last three seasons.
JOIN US AT THE TIP-OFF
The men’s basketball team gets their chance to play in the big house in town for the MKE Tip-Off. Learn about who they are up against and how you can be apart of all the action!
NEW STAFF ON THE BLOCK
Meet the new staff that has been added to the Panthers family and what they like most about being in Milwaukee.
GOING THE DISTANCE WITH SAM BLASCYK
Cross country freshman Sam Blascyk talks about his experience running Minnesota’s 68-mile Border Route.
A WHOLE NEW WORLD
Milwaukee Athletics named the ‘Panther Future Fund’ as its official collective of men’s basketball to support NIL deals for student-athletes in March of 2024. The PFF is an NIL collective that launched in 2023 and is led by Joah Tucker, an MKE men’s basketball alum.
THE WISCONSIN ROUNDTABLE
The recent members of the Milwaukee men’s basketball team rosters have been seeing more and more of a local Wisconsin flavor, with state talent choosing to play for their hometown Panthers. The Roar Report staff sat down with this year’s “Wisconsinites”, digging into what helped them make their choice and how things are progressing with the season right around the corner.
what’s inside
light up the hype
A good time had by all as the Milwaukee Men’s & Women’s Basketball teams hosted their annual golf outings this summer. The men’s event was hosted at Woodside Golf Course in Sussex, while the women’s event was played at Kettle Hills Golf Course in Richfield.
light up the hype
Earlier this summer, Milwaukee Athletics hosted its annual ‘Picnic with the Panthers’ as season seat members had the chance to meet the coaches and student-athletes of the Milwaukee Men’s & Women’s Basketball Programs.
NEW LO OK SAME GRE AT TASTE
The Milwaukee men’s soccer team got off to its best start in over a decade, opening the campaign undefeated through four games. That marked the best start for the program since 2013 (that season, MKE opened 9-0-1 before being knocked off). Through those first four games, the team was also leading the Horizon League in defense (just 3GA).
Newcomer Alejandro Martinez has burst on the scene, named the Horizon League Player of the Week after scoring a pair of goals against Bradley. He did it again in the win over Chicago State, giving him two multigoal performances in his first four games as a Panther. The last player to net multiple goals more than once in a season was Logan Farrington in 2021. The last player to accomplish the feat at least three times in a season was Antou Jallow way back in 2004.
Martinez leads the team with 11 points (5G/1A), and his 1.83 points-per game leads the Horizon League. Raul Medina is off to a solid start, leading the conference with his five assists. In net, Daniel Ibarra is third in the league with his 1.00 goals-against average and also had the first goalkeeper assist this season (against Bradley) for a Panther since Liam Anderson posted one against Wright State in October of 2013.
With a daunting non-conference schedule in the rear-view mirror, the Milwaukee women’s soccer team opened Horizon League play in impressive fashion, recording shutout victories against both Northern Kentucky (2-0) and Wright State (30). The two wins extend the team’s unbeaten streak in regular-season conference play to 21 in a row (16-0-5 in that stretch dating back to first game of 2022).
The Panthers knew the start of the 2024 season was going to be challenging in the non-conference slate. A look at the United Soccer Coaches National Poll heading into league play in mid-September proved that, as two of MKE’s opponents were ranked, with Xavier at 7-1-1 at that point and #23 and Ohio State 6-1-1 and ranked #17. Throw in an unbeaten Minnesota squad at 7-0-1 (and ranked #7 in the region), Wisconsin at 4-21 (and #8 in the region), unbeaten Harvard at 4-0-3 (and #3 in the East region), and a 4-4 Valparaiso squad
coming off an MVC Tournament title, and the combined record of Milwaukee’s six opponents it lost to before Horizon League play opened checked in at an impressive 32-7-7, a .772 winning percentage.
Lainey Higgins leads the team – and the Horizon League – with five goals to pace the offense. Kayla Rollins is second with nine points, coming on four goals and one assist.
Facing a challenging non-conference schedule that included a pair of top10 opponents, Milwaukee volleyball is 5-7 through its non-conference slate in advance of the upcoming Horizon League schedule.
The season began with Milwaukee hosting No. 5 Stanford and saw the Panthers hang with the Cardinal in front of a record crowd of 1,581 at the Klotsche Center.
VOLLEYBALL SPORT UPDATE
Milwaukee earned wins against Western Illinois, Northern Illinois, Weber State, Illinois State, and Iowa in non-league play, and will open the conference slate in late September.
Junior Kara Erdmann was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Southern Methodist DoubleTree Classic in Dallas, Texas, while she later put together a 36-dig performance against Illinois State to tie the third-highest mark in a five-set match.
Senior Madi Malone recorded the 1,000th dig of her historic career against Iowa on Sept. 15 and continues to climb in the record book in multiple categories including career kills, attempts, and digs.
The Panthers will open league play at Oakland during the last weekend of September before the calendar flips ahead to October. Milwaukee will host IU Indianapolis (Oct. 4-5), Wright State (Oct. 18-19), Youngstown State (Oct. 25-26), and Green Bay (Oct. 29), before closing out the home schedule against Cleveland State (Nov. 15-16).
Milwaukee was selected to finish third in the Horizon League Preseason Poll and will look to compete for a regular season crown and host postseason play at the Klotsche Center from Nov. 22-24.
Milwaukee cross country is at the halfway point of the 2024 regular season with three meets remaining before the Horizon League Championships on Nov. 2.
Anelise Egge has led the women’s team and has been outstanding for the Panthers with a pair of victories, while recording three top-10 finishes to start the year. Rachel Helm and Cailin Kinas have been instrumental for the team, as well, which opened the year winning the 10-team Tom Barry Invitational hosted by St. Norbert College.
Behind the strength of its junior class, Cullen Boyle, Carter Eckhoff, and Sam Schreiber have been bunched towards the top of each of the team’s three meets so far this season. Eckhoff finished second to open the season and has finished in the top-15 of each meet through thus far.
The Panthers will have meets Oct.4 at Notre Dame’s Joe Piane Invitational, and Oct. 5 at Wisconsin Lutheran’s Warrior Invitational. They close the regular season Oct. 18 at the Bradley Pink Classic before the League Championships, then the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 15.
PITCHING WITH A PURPOSE
Earlier this summer, Owen Rice was selected in the 20th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. In being picked, Rice became Milwaukee’s 26th-ever selection in the draft including the eighth pitcher of Milwaukee’s last 12 draftees to have their name called mid-summer.
Pitching has always been a strength for the Panthers over their Division I existence, which includes finishing in the top-half of the Horizon League in team earned run average in all but two seasons dating back to the 2010 championship team.
“From the pitching side, a ton of this credit goes to Cory Bigler and his individualized plans and relationships with the student-athletes,” noted current Panther head coach Shaun Wegner. “We do not ‘cookie-cut’ our pitcher’s development, but instead meet them where they are at and attack their deficiencies while continuing building upon their strengths.”
Milwaukee has had a wide array of pitchers pass through their doors during Bigler’s time as pitching coach for the past 20 seasons, each coming with their own arsenal of strengths.
“Our program believes and invests heavily in the development aspect of the game,” added Wegner. “Often, we search for and bring in underdeveloped and physically-behind potential student athletes that
we feel can excel and succeed with their current skill set with some minor tweaks and a commitment to their bodies.”
While Rice was Milwaukee’s most-recent draftee, he joins Riley Frey, drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2022, and AJ Blubaugh, selected in 2021 by the Houston Astros.
“All three of these guys have a love and desire to play at the highest level,” commented Wegner. “It starts with their individual passion for the sport and becoming a Major Leaguer … each one of them has their strengths and weaknesses but their ability to buy in, trust their coaching staff, and develop was there.”
Rice played two seasons with the Panthers after beginning his collegiate career at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The East Troy, Wisconsin-native finished his Panther career with 65 strikeouts over 44 1/3 innings of work, including 51 strikeouts over 33 innings in 2024.
“Owen was always the physically imposing with a high ceiling that could lift and carry his fastball to the highest-level,” Bigler commented. “He suits more as a power bullpen arm looking to throw an upper-90s fastball with a splitter and a developing sweeper. He came to us after a year playing for Coach Wacker at McHenry and was someone who blossomed late into his high school career and was
more so hidden heading into college.”
Not every Panther draftee comes by way of transfer to the Black & Gold, Frey played three seasons with the Panthers after joining the program from Oshkosh West High School. While not overpowering in terms of velocity like Rice, Frey climbed the ranks on Milwaukee’s all-time strikeout list and recorded 239 over his 249 innings, tied for the second-most strikeouts in a career with Milwaukee.
“Riley is a crossfire style pitcher with a high level of deception and ability to hide his pitches,” noted Bigler. “He can spin and move the baseball in multiple directions and possesses the arsenal to be a starter at the next level. His mentality is what separates him as he wants to be on the attack and knows he can beat anyone he faces.”
The list continues with Blubaugh, who is on the knocking on the door of becoming Milwaukee’s second Major Leaguer [behind Daulton Varsho] and is expected to be a likely candidate in spring training next season to make the Houston Astros’ roster in 2025. Blubaugh has been on the rise since being drafted and was named to the All-Star Futures Game in July earlier this season.
“AJ is a more methodical in his delivery and creates a high level of lift with his upper-90s fastball while throwing a newer developed sweeper and changeup,” added Bigler. “His deception comes in
a different variety, but it explodes on the hitter, and he has filled both the starter and closer roles. He also has the mentality that he can attack and defeat any hitter he faces in the box.”
Jake Sommers preceded Blubaugh as Milwaukee’s 23rd all-time draftee in 2019 by the St. Louis Cardinals. Austin Schulfer (Minnesota Twins, 2018), Adam Ruess (Oakland Athletics, 2017), Brian Keller (New York Yankees, 2016), and Justin Langley (Miami Marlins, 2015) round out Milwaukee’s eight pitching draftees in the last decade.
“We always want individuals with bigger goals and plans to play professional baseball,” continued Wegner. “The motivation to show up every day with a purpose and plan looking towards the draft in the future is a positive. We talk weekly about who is developing towards a professional career and might have a path on our roster while also speaking towards the ceiling of recruits we are looking at. If we are doing our job, the players coming in should have upside and drive.”
Beyond Milwaukee’s eight pitchers over the last 10 seasons, infielder Trevor Schwecke was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019, while Varsho was a competitive balance round selection following the second round in 2017. Utilityman Sam Koenig (Los Angeles Angels) and Mitch Ghelfi (Milwaukee Brewers) were also draftees along with Langley in 2015.
Make it a day of NCAA basketball as the Milwaukee men’s basketball team takes part in the MKE TipOff, providing each of the six programs with a pivotal nonconference test before jumping back into conference play. The tripleheader is set for Dec. 15 at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum.
The Panthers will be taking on Akron, Northwestern squares off with Georgia Tech, and San Francisco will face Loyola Chicago in a trio of resume-boosting matchups that will take place throughout the day.
Milwaukee Panthers fans interested in securing tickets for the MKE Tip-Off event at Fiserv Forum are encouraged to purchase their tickets, which will
be good for all three games of the tripleheader, through the Panthers Ticket Office by visiting or by calling 414-229-5886.
General seating bowl ticket prices range from $35 to $60. Patrons interested in courtside seats should contact the Milwaukee Athletics Ticket Office at 414-229-5886 or uwmtix@uwm.edu. Panthers men’s basketball season ticket members should note that this neutral-site event is not part of their season ticket package.
Intersport, a Chicago-based sports marketing and events agency, will manage the event.
For the latest event news, follow @IntersportHoops on Instagram and X and log on to fiservforum.com.
MKE TIP-OFF MATCHUPS HISTORY
AKRON VS. MILWAUKEE
Series History: Series tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Dec. 23, 1989 (Akron 83, Milwaukee 56)
The first meeting between the programs came in 1980 when both teams were Division II members … The second meeting came prior to Milwaukee joining the Division I ranks.
NORTHWESTERN VS. GEORGIA TECH
Series History: Northwestern leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: Nov. 28, 2018 (Northwestern 67, Georgia Tech 61)
The programs’ all five meetings came in an eight-year span from 2010-18, each of which coming during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
SAN FRANCISCO VS. LOYOLA (CHICAGO)
Series History: Loyola leads, 4-3
Last Meeting: Jan. 6, 2022 (Loyola 79, San Francisco 74)
The teams’ last meeting, played on Jan. 6, 2022, was officially announced two days prior after each team had to cancel previously scheduled games due to COVID-19 protocols … the first meeting came in 1949 when San Francisco defeated Loyola for the 1949 NIT Championship.
New Staff on the Block
Katie Adams Assistant Coach, Volleyball
What has been your favorite part about being a Panther so far?
Practicing, training, preseason activities with the volleyball team … Meeting the players and getting to know everyone better … Hanging out with Susie Johnson and Lindsey Vanden Berg!
What is your favorite spot to eat around town?
BelAir Cantina, Blue Bat Taqueria, and Sweetgreen.
Best thing you did over the summer?
Fourth of July activities and playing pickleball
What are you most excited about this season?
Our competitive non-conference schedule and the new Horizon League schedule, where we play opponents back-to-back!
Zach Beaschler Director, Panther Fund
What has been your favorite part about being a Panther so far?
The overall environment and the willingness to succeed. Everyone wants the best for our student-athletes and wants to watch them succeed both on and off the playing field. When everyone has the same goal in mind, it makes for a great workplace environment.
What is your favorite spot to eat around town?
Closer to campus – Canela Café or Fiddleheads. Downtown – probably Don’s TV’s & Repair.
Best thing you did over the summer?
I moved to Milwaukee!
What are you most excited about this season?
Watching our teams in action and seeing our student-athletes compete for Horizon League championships.
Charlie Benforado
Assistant Coach, Strength & Conditioning
What has been your favorite part about being a Panther so far?
Being able to contribute to a university that gave me a lot of opportunities and learning experiences as both an undergraduate and postgraduate.
What is your favorite spot to eat around town?
Probably Hungry Sumo for sit down, take out either Crave Cafe or Thai A Kitchen.
Best thing you did over the summer?
Playing professional Ultimate Frisbee for the Madison Radicals and traveling to both Seattle and Nashville.
What are you most excited about this season?
I am most excited about the improvements that my athletes are going to make throughout the year. Additionally, I am looking forward to Track & Field competing for Horizon League Championships.
Fletcher Brown Assistant Coach, Women’s Basketball
What has been your favorite part about being a Panther so far?
My favorite part about being a Panther so far has been being able to feel comfortable and embraced so warmly in the culture of not only our women’s basketball program but the larger athletic department as well. It is a great place to work.
What is your favorite spot to eat around town?
My favorite place to eat so far has been Harry’s Bar and Grill on Oakland Avenue, it has good food and a great location.
Best thing you did over the summer?
The best thing I did this summer was go zip-lining with the team in Door County. It was a nice drive and an awesome place.
What are you most excited about this season?
I’m most excited about getting to work with a focused group of high-character young people every single day and competing for a championship.
Chip Kindt Communications Assistant
What has been your favorite part about being a Panther so far? How easy it’s been to feel comfortable in a new environment and not be overwhelmed and still feel like I’m learning every day.
What is your favorite spot to eat around town?
Oakland Gyros.
Best thing you did over the summer?
I’ve been to seven Brewers games this summer.
What are you most excited about this season?
I’m excited to work with new sports and new athletes and learn in ways that help me take the next step in my career.
Cassie Lastivka Assistant Coach, Women’s Basketball
What has been your favorite part about being a Panther so far?
My favorite thing about being a Panther has been the continuous support from all around campus and just the family-like atmosphere. It’s been a welcoming experience, and I could not be more excited to be a member of this community.
What is your favorite spot to eat around town?
My favorite spot around town is Canela Cafe because I am a big breakfast food person. I am trying to make my way around town and Milwaukee to stop at more places.
Best thing you did over the summer?
Recruiting and getting my feet on the ground within the program. It was a blast to be with the team over the summer for workouts. Just being around good people and exploring all that Milwaukee has to offer has been fun.
What are you most excited about this season?
I am most excited about the growth for this season. The goal is to compete for a Horizon League Championship and coming into the program this summer and seeing the culture firsthand, I am excited for what this team can do. Our players have been working and it’ll be fun to witness it play out on the court come game time! I could not be more thrilled to be a member of this program, and I hope to see all of you at our home games this year! Go Panthers!
Gabby Loth
Academic Advisor, Cross Country/Swimming & Diving/Track & Field
What has been your favorite part about being a Panther so far? Meeting all the student-athletes, coaches, and everyone within the athletic department. Everyone is incredible! I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such amazing individuals every day.
What is your favorite spot to eat around town? My favorite spot to eat around UWM is Cloud Red and my favorite spot downtown MKE is Tupelo Honey.
Best thing you did over the summer? The best thing I did over the summer was get engaged!
What are you most excited about this season?
I’m most excited to watch the sports I work with because I usually support and cheer them on academically, so I’m looking forward to supporting them on the field, track, and in the pool this season! They’re rock stars!
Go Panthers!
“How much do mosquitos bother you?” was the first question Sam Blascyk, a freshman cross country runner, then a junior at Duluth East High School in Minnesota at the time, was asked back in 2022.
Just months before embarking with three friends on the 68-mile border route, a wilderness trail that’s an offshoot of the Superior Hiking Trail in the Boundary Waters between Minnesota and Canada. “It was an idea that was just spontaneously thought of at practice one day and we all said we’d do it” Blascyk explained, “We all liked being outside and were good athletes, as soon as the season was done, we just planned it out for the summer and did it.”
Not everyone was as confident as they were however, “Our parents were all pretty skeptical about it, with it being such a spontaneous idea they wanted to make sure we had done our research on it ... so we talked to a friend’s dad who had done it before, and he was telling us that it was harder than we thought, and it would probably take a week to finish,” he added. “The group had a different timeline in mind, “we wanted to finish in 48-50 hours, and everyone telling us there was no way just made us want to do it more.”
The training wasn’t anything special for the group as they felt very confident for the challenge that lied ahead. “Living in Duluth, we had plenty of experience trail running whether on our own or in practice, and we enjoyed doing long runs already so we felt prepared.”
“As far as I could tell, none of us really had any cold feet going into it.” Blascyk said on the days leading up to the run. They embarked on the trail with their goal of finishing in 48 hours still in mind. “It was definitely tougher than we thought going into it,” he admits, “Having to carry all the bags and equipment, the trail was also very treacherous, it was very hard to run on and it was hot.” They were able to keep their pace though sleeping two nights and going 20-30 miles a day. “We were running the whole time through the day, the second day we were actually feeling pretty good at the time I think we went over 30 miles, we felt it later though.”
It’s in times like this that coming from a family like the Blascyks prepared Sam though. His father, Dan, ran collegiately at Minnesota State-Moorhead, “It makes it so that when things get hard or I’m trying to reach my goals my family can support me and push me in ways that
are healthy and help me get to where I want to go. Having older brothers that ran made me better because I always wanted to beat them.”
In the end they powered through and proved their skeptical parents wrong by finishing in about 50 hours on that third day.
Now, just beginning his college career as a runner, Sam can pull from that experience mentally as he faces challenges as a Panther, “It challenges you mentally so much, but when you’re 20 miles in and there’s no buildings for 50 miles it forces you to push through, the only way out is to keep going. It’s something I can always use when I’m competing and continue to push myself.”
As for his goals for his freshman season, “I just want to see how much I can improve” he says. “It’s been a big change just with competition level on the team is great, so I really just want to stay healthy and see how fast I can be.”
Going the Distance
with
with Sam Blascyk
A WHOLE NEW WORLD
Joah Tucker never imagined that he’d become a fundraiser when he left basketball behind and started a career as a successful businessman and entrepreneur.
Then again, he could not have foreseen how the landscape of college athletics would be drastically altered — upended, really -- by the NCAA’s name, imagine and likeness (NIL) policy, which went into effect on July 1, 2021. That allowed student-athletes to control how their identity is used for commercial purposes.
Tucker, who helped lead Milwaukee to its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in program history in 2005 and then played professionally in France, recognized immediately the challenges that NIL would create for college programs everywhere, but especially at mid-majors.
The recruiting and retention of players — given the Wild West nature of the transfer portal — became exponentially more difficult.
It wasn’t enough that Milwaukee was in the process of building a new state-of-the-art basketball practice facility (the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Center). It wasn’t enough that nine months after the NIL policy went into effect, the school would hire Bart Lundy, a proven winner, to coach its basketball team.
The future was crystal clear. The school had to find a way to compensate players through NIL, or the basketball program would not be competitive.
“I felt that UWM, especially being a mid-major school, would really be hurt by this ruling because most of the larger schools would have some type of foundation set up where they would be able to offer incentives to student-athletes,” Tucker said. “I felt that a school like UWM, where we have a great young coach building a foundation, would be hurt because our players would just be poached every year.”
So Tucker rolled up his sleeves and helped found the Panther Future Fund, which he directs. The PFF is a nonprofit organization that raises money from fans, donors, boosters and businesses to support student-athletes, who earn money from the collective for speaking engagements and various forms of community service.
Tucker, 41, was a natural to run the PFF. A graduate of Glendale Nicolet High School and a former star for the Panthers, he has maintained close ties to the university and its basketball program — he was on the hiring committee that chose Lundy — and has deep roots in the community. He owns a lawn care company, manages a small portfolio of properties and has invested in bars and restaurants in downtown Milwaukee.
“What I knew I could bring to the table is that I could utilize the relationships and the bonds I’ve built with people over the years,” Tucker said. “I think people are familiar with my sports background at UWM. I think people are familiar with my business
acumen here in the city and within the community.”
The only problem? He knew little about fundraising and admitted he was somewhat out of his element. Tucker worked hard for everything he’d ever gotten and wasn’t necessarily comfortable putting his hand out.
“I believe in working hard, I believe in earning for my family,” he said. “So it’s against my natural character to ask people for things. In this fundraising effort, I’ve had to really go outside of myself.”
Money that goes into the PFF is distributed to the players for opportunities such as speaking engagements and community service involvement.
“It’s a tricky situation and every university and every collective has a different way to go about it,” Lundy said. “We do the best we can with whatever money is raised. But it’s not even across the board. Although there a few universities that do it that way, there are a very few.”
Lundy describes himself as “old school” and admits that NIL and the transfer portal have added complexities to his job that he couldn’t have imagined when he started out in coaching.
“Not that NIL is a bad thing,” he said. “It’s probably long overdue in college athletics. Instead of looking at this as a negative, we try to turn it into a positive. This city needs us. They need our guys and they need us to make a difference, on the court but
also off the court. We really do try to roll our sleeves up. If these guys are going to get money from the collective, then they get out in the community and give back.”
Lundy said the PFF was necessary not only to recruit players but to retain the players on his own roster. No matter how loyal a player is to his school, his coach and his teammates, the opportunity to make substantially more money in another program is hard to pass up.
“Athletes are getting NILs as early as high school now,” Lundy said. “The current group of players are growing up in this environment where this is the norm. You can feel whatever way you want to feel about the NIL in general, but it’s here to stay.
“So we have to embrace it and do the best we can with it. But as far as being able to recruit new players or retain your players, if you don’t have a collective and you don’t have NIL, then you have no chance. Once they’re in the door, you can sell the education and it doesn’t necessarily become what kind of NIL they’re going to get. But if you have none, then the door never opens for you to sell your program.”
The Panthers were stung in April when star guard B.J. Freeman, who averaged 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists last year in leading Milwaukee to a 20-15 record, transferred to Arizona State.
Lundy didn’t want to divulge exactly how much NIL money
Freeman got, but said it was “closer to $1 million than not.” There’s no way UWM could compete in that arena. To be clear, Freeman loved Milwaukee, the coaches and his teammates, but money — as it always does — spoke loudly.
“I guess it’s good for our fans and the people at the university to understand (why Freeman left),” Lundy said. “That’s life-changing money for him.”
Tucker said he harbored no hard feelings for Freeman, an elite college talent who would still be considered a long shot to play in the NBA.
“Realistically, if someone is offering me an opportunity at another university, it’s just like any other job,” Tucker said. “If you want to put scholarships and all those things into a price, obviously you’re getting some form of compensation. But if I’m able to double what I’m getting (paid), that’s typically what people do. It’s what I would have done.”
For now, Tucker’s focus is on growing the PFF and helping Milwaukee recruit and retain basketball talent. The challenges and the stakes have never been bigger.
“I’ve been given a ton of opportunities due to the game of basketball,” he said. “Obviously, I put in a ton of hard work, but I feel that I was blessed with a lot of opportunities over the years. Now, I’m paying it forward.”
This upcoming season, the Milwaukee men’s basketball team will have six players on the roster who make a claim to their hometown roots from cities inside the state of Wisconsin. That marks the most for an MKE roster since the same total in the 2017-18 campaign.
It’s a trend that has picked up steam since head coach Bart Lundy arrived on campus in 2022. It’s also one that has gained momentum in players with local ties returning to the state to play as Panthers after beginning collegiate careers elsewhere.
On the 2024-25 roster, a trio of players are now back home after they started their collegiate career at a different program following successful local prep careers: Learic Davis, John Lovelace, and Danilo Jovanovich.
Davis made his debut with the Black & Gold last season – following a redshirt year at Tennessee State – appearing in 33 of the 35 games which included a start as a redshirt freshman in the season opener.
As a prep athlete at Bradley Tech in Milwaukee, Davis was a two-time First-Team All-City Conference player and averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 4.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game as a senior in 2021-22. A Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 1 All-State honoree, he became Tech’s first City Player of the Year since 1983 and was a McDonald’s All-America nominee.
Lovelace joins the Panthers following two successful seasons at Youngstown State, which included a Horizon League regular-season title. He appeared in 65 games over two seasons, shooting 48.1 percent (127-of-264) from the floor while averaging 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds. Lovelace spent one season at We Are United Prep (17 points/8 rebounds per game) after playing his high school ball at Brown Deer High School, where his coach was current MKE assistant Jose Winston.
Jovanovich has made stops at Louisville and Miami before coming home. He put together a brilliant prep career at Whitnall High School, finishing as the runner-up for Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin as a senior in 2022. A two-time all-state honoree, he was a McDonald’s All-American Game nominee and a twotime unanimous conference player of the year. He capped his career with Associated Press First Team All-State accolades after averaging 29.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.
Two others have been Panthers from the start following their local runs: redshirt sophomore Vinko Polovic and sophomore Simeon Murchison. Freshman Austin Villarreal (Arrowhead in Pewaukee, Wis.) makes his debut this season while the team nearly has a seventh – newcomer MJ Stackhouse played at Indian Trail High School in Kenosha, but technically calls Zion, Ill., home.
The staff of the Roar Report got the group of six together recently to talk about playing for their state team, what it’s been like since those who are returning have come back, and what the plans are for the future of their careers and getting the opportunity to play in front of family and friends regularly at UWM Panther Arena.
ROAR REPORT: Start with a simple one … why Milwaukee?
SIMEON MURCHISON: “I chose Milwaukee because it was close to home, close to family. I get to play in front of my hometown. It’s been a blessing.”
VINKO POLOVIC: “I chose Milwaukee because a lot of my friends, family, and community are here. It’s where I grew up and a very underrated city in my opinion. It’s a blessing to represent this city.”
JOHN LOVELACE: “I chose Milwaukee because I love the city itself. My family is here and Coach Jose (Winston) played a big part in recruiting me and when I met the whole coaching staff it was nothing but love from there. I just appreciate being here.”
LEARIC DAVIS: “I chose Milwaukee because of ‘home’ and it was close to the crib.”
DANILO JOVANOVICH: “Like everyone else said –it’s home. Being with my family and friends is really nice. And the coaching staff … getting to know everyone has been great.”
AUSTIN VILLAREAL: “I chose Milwaukee mostly because it was close to home. What most people don’t know is I came here for track. Being able to have the opportunity to play basketball here just really blew my mind away. Instead of going to a different school to play, I just stayed here because, honestly, it’s home.”
ROAR: What has it been like since you have been back (asked to the transfers)?
JOVANOVICH: “It’s been great. It’s been easy getting adjusted. Knowing Jose (Winston) and then getting to know all of the other coaches. And then getting to know the guys – I have known these guys (referring to other guys on the roundtable) for years and years. So it’s been an easy adjustment and been great being here.”
DAVIS: “Since I have been back it has been fun and entertaining. My last year of being here has been a fun experience, especially getting to the championship. But hopefully, we can bring back a trophy this time.”
LOVELACE: “It’s been great being around the team. Working hard together and getting to know each other. I have known these guys (in the room) a long time so building relationships and reconnecting with these guys has been big too. Just getting to know each other, working hard, and trying to get better every day.”
ROAR: What do you hope to accomplish in your time as a Panther?
MURCHISON: “We would like to bring a ring back for the city. We haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament in years, I guess. So bringing a ring back, winning the Horizon League, would be a blessing to the city.”
POLOVIC: “Being the first one here (he is in his third year with the team), I think it’s really cool seeing all of the Milwaukee guys come back. Hopefully, winning and bringing a championship back with all of these guys. Seeing the arena filled with all of the community and fans and everyone coming together for a big postseason run.”
DAVIS: “Bring a trophy back home … that’s important to me. Really just being able to say ‘we went to March Madness’.
JANOVICH: “Just piggy-backing off what everyone else said … bringing a Horizon League championship home and then making a deep tournament run in March. I feel like we have the pieces to do it. I think it will be a great year.”
VILLAREAL: “I really want to inspire other kids. When I was growing up, I looked up to other athletes that were shorter, like I am, and ones in the area that want to give back to the community. I want to give back … motivate a kid, like, ‘oh he’s short, if he can do it why can’t I?’ or ‘he’s a minority, he’s Hispanic’. I feel like you don’t really see many Hispanics playing basketball these days, so I want to inspire some kids.”
LOVELACE: “I have won the league before (at YSU), so I know how that feels. So to win it at home would be an even greater feeling. Bringing a regularseason championship home then getting to that tournament. That’s the biggest goal … so we keep grinding every day.”
THANK YOU! Your support of MKE Athletics provides opportunities for over 300 studentathletes to pursue excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community.
Numbers based on contributions to athletics from July 1, 2022 - September 1, 2023
ALL-CONFERENCE
$25,000+
Anonymous
David Bogenschild
Charles Hildebrand
Frederick Sitzberger
$10,000 - $24,999
Anonymous
Amanda Braun
Dennis Klein
David Kriete
Brett and Susan Miller
Ryan Seidel
Stan Stojkovic
Douglas and Nancy Weas
Dennis and Susan Webb
$7,500 - $9,999
Andrew Fogel
Mort and Sarah Sayyed
Steren Management Company, Inc.
$5,000 - $7,499
Anonymous
Gregory Blohowiak
Tim and Stephanie Connolly
Karl and Chris Fiasca
Jamie and Matt Kulasa
Janine Krystkowiak
Matthew and Rachel Mahoney
Glen and Melissa Ringwall
Stephen Schooff
Fred Tabak
Jodi Ulrich
Nicole and Steven Wurster
$2,500 - $4,999
Karen and Kim Anderson
Jason Frederick
Ms. Shawn A. Geinopolos and Mr. Mark Geinopolos
Larry Goad
David Gruber
Michael Orgeman
Emily Phillips
Susan Riesch
Robert Wiltgen
$1,500 - $2,499
Able Drywall Co.
Anonymous
Augustine Agency LLC
Garrett Butrym
James Cleary
Carla Cross
Clifford Ellsworth
Gruber Law Offices, LLC
Bud and Elizabeth Haidet
Patrick Kessenich
Bart Lundy
Paul Mason
Mark Morin
Pi in The Sky Coffee
Keith Noller
Larry Poll
Dr. Erika Sander
Mr. and Mrs. Larry J. Schnuck
Douglas Schwinn
Wisconsin Center District
James Weise
STARTER
$1,000 - $1,499
James Babcock
Baird Foundation, Inc.
James Barwick
Sara Boyle
James Bryce
Richard Buser
Stephanie Chedid
Margaret Dethloff
El Rey Mexican Products, Inc.
Peter Faust
Danette Gilhaus
Lawrence Hackett
Harry’s Bar and Grill
Jack Johnson
Samuel Keele
Steve Masters
Andrew Neary
Normco Ltd
Elisa and Lawrence Pitrof
Jen Bauer Roche and Chris Roche
Kyle Stephens
Peggy Williams-Smith and Timothy Smith
Carrie Smock
Chris Torhorst
Joah Tucker
GOLD
$500 - $999
Deborah Ambruso
Patrick Anderson
Frankie Azzolina
Julie Baron
Andrew Belton
Kathryn and Robert Berkley
Steven Broas
Belinda Cambre
Lisa Cantrell
Connie Coan
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony M. Davis
Macie Dorow
Jocelyn Fischer
Barry Fries
Chris and Karen Giles
Chase Gravengood
Tom Hoffer
Matthew Houk
Charles Hurtgen
Grant Jorgensen
Roger Kamau
Kaye and Mark Kass
Linda Keele
John Kissinger
Thomas Kleewein
Paul Kojis
Mike Kosky
Philip Lorge
Eric Mangold
Dennis McBride
John Morency
Morgan Stanley Gift Fund
Joan Nesbitt
Old Time Ballplayers Association of WI
Kenneth Peterson
James Rosen
James Santarelli
Kahler Slater
Thomas Stefaniak
Somerstone
Joe Sosnowski
Kathleen Sawin
Jill Thistle
Kara Thomas
Trina Van Horn
Michael Vebber
Louis Weiher
Jill Wiedmann
Wayne Youngquist
*Please contact Cody Bohl (bohl@uwm.edu) if you would like to opt out of having your name acknowledged.
* Please contact Zach Beaschler (beaschle@uwm.edu) if you would like to opt out of having your name acknowledged.
Being a part of the Panther Excellence Fund is not only an investment in the athletic program and student-athletes of Milwaukee, it also provides many benefits for you. The Panther Excellence Fund is excited to announce the following benefits for donors who support the Panthers (beginning in the 2023-24 academic year). Benefits will be awarded according to athletics annual gifts and will be available to Panther Excellence Fund members the following sports/academic year.
For more information or to hear about opportunities to get involved with Milwaukee Athletics, please contact Chris Roche (rochec@uwm.edu) or Cody Bohl (bohl@uwm.edu). or contact Chris Roche (rochec@uwm.edu) or Zach Beaschler (beaschle@uwm.edu
2024-25 PANTHER EXCELLENCE FUND BENEFITS
