Retro Night: Game 6 vs. Western Michigan

vs.

Western Michigan (0-2) vs. Milwaukee (3-2)

Klotsche Center – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Doesn’t the awful beginning to the season seem far in our rear-view mirror?  Hard to believe it was just 10 days ago that Florida Atlantic dropped the hammer on our Panthers.

Today, we come into the home game against Western Michigan with a three-game winning streak and spirits high for the first time since the season began.

Saturday’s victory over Northern Iowa is arguably the best non-conference regular season victory of coach Rob Jeter’s tenure.  The Panthers have gotten better every game; even the problem of free throws has fallen by the wayside, with Milwaukee shooting 76% from the line against UNI.

Western Michigan comes into the game fresh off an ass-kicking at the hands of Loyola.  The Ramblers had their way with the Broncos, winning by 18.

They are led in scoring by Flenard Whitfield, a 6’7” junior with size and great inside scoring ability.  Through two games, however, Whitfield has turned the ball over eight times and can be exploited because he puts the ball on the floor when playing in the post.

The Broncos have decent height for a MAC school, with big guards (Demetrius Ward, 6’3” 212) and big post players (Whitfield, Nate Hutcheson, Matt Stainbrook).  Stainbrook is a player the Panthers can take advantage of, because while he has decent height, he’s not a banger down low (Four points, one rebound vs. Loyola).

All in all, expect a capacity crowd at the Klotsche Center that will be unfriendly to the Western Michigan Broncos.