UW-Milwaukee basketball looks to hold pace in the Horizon against Wright State
The Panthers look to get a seventh win in their last eight games
UW-Milwaukee basketball has, surprisingly, been enjoyable to watch this season. The Panthers (14-6, 8-2 Horizon League) are currently tied atop the Horizon League with Northern Kentucky. They are ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 for the first time in over a decade. Tonight, Milwaukee looks to hang on to its share of first place with a game against the Wright State Raiders (11-10, 4-6). The game tips off at 6:00 PM CST; you can watch on ESPN+.
Panthers head coach Bart Lundy must be pleased with the performance of his starting guard and leading scorer, BJ Freeman, as of late. The sophomore has averaged 26 points and 7.25 rebounds in his last four games. In Milwaukee's previous game, an 88-75 victory over Youngstown State, Freeman contributed 30 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists while shooting 60% from the field and making five of 11 three-point attempts.
On the other side of the court, Trey Calvin leads Wright State. The senior guard averages 19 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game - all team highs. In Wright State's previous matchup against Milwaukee, a game the Raiders won in overtime 78-74, Calvin notched 23 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
While prolific scorers lead each team at the guard position, these offenses could not be more different stylistically. According to KenPom, 39.5% of Milwaukee's field goal attempts come from behind the three-point line. On the other hand, Wright State shoots only 26.4% of its field goal attempts from three-point range - a mark that rates in the bottom ten nationally.
Committed to taking away scoring opportunities in the paint, Lundy's Panthers allow teams to shoot the three. Milwaukee allows opponents to take 42.4% of field goal attempts from three; fewer than 50 teams (out of 363) allow more. In their previous matchup, Milwaukee's defense forced Wright State to divert from its typical strategy. The Raiders shot 26 three-point attempts in regulation - well above their average of 16.3 (the 16th fewest in the country).
Wright State's win over Milwaukee 12 days ago was its last win. The Raiders have since lost back-to-back games against Purdue-Fort Wayne and Cleveland State. Milwaukee has won each game since then, recording victories over Robert Morris and Youngstown State.