Yes, these Panthers are the Warriors of Marquette’s bitch but that does not mean they have not found a home and some solid support in the Beer Capitol of the world.  After being Independent for quite some time (before and after their yo-yoing up the different levels) the Panthers decided to join the already established Horizon league.  After showing a few signs of life while an Independent things have not been too rosy for the Panthers in this vastly underrated conference and they are still trying to find their way to be able to compete on a regular basis with the elites of this conference namely the gifted programs from Butler, Loyola of Chicago and Detroit (three other schools that represent large urban areas but have more established programs).  Of course the fans wouldn’t mind if the Panthers could just stay within twenty of the Warriors when they meet once a year and if they ever won that one they might shut down the city as these kids can throw back a few pints. 

The Wisconsin of Milwaukee Panthers will reenter the Horizon with hopes of being able to hang with the Big Dogs in this tougher than you know conference.  New Coach Bruce Pearl (ironically fresh off a D-2 title with Soythern Indiana) will be attempting to put together a team based on superior wing play and defense that is young but now has tons of experience and ‘hopes’ to be a serious contender in the near future.  The Panthers have just come back to Division 1 and do not have much size at all but they plan to bring as many fans as they can to the MECCA.  With the charismatic Pearl leading the way the fans of Milwaukee will have something besides the Bucks and the dreaded Warriors to root for in this basketball season. 

One player who may not have much size but can hang down low is senior stalwart Larry Reed.  Reed loves wearing the yellow and black and is the only Senior expected to play big minutes for the Panthers.  The undersized Reed is a consistent producer in the paint.  A solid rebounder who can also score a little, Reed does his job every night for the Panthers and brought it with gusto and a little bit of a mean streak.  The last remnants of the early days of the Panthers, Reed bounced around much like this program (due to his service in the Air Force) actually sitting out two different seasons so he is much more mature than his teammates.  Pearl leaned on him for leadership and he was a rock for this team both literally and figuratively.  He was so good at this that Pearl has already hired him a job as an assistant for next year and as good as he was for the Panthers he has already accepted this job knowing not many pro teams are looking for six foot four centers.  This hard working and dedicated man will be a success wherever he ends up but in Milwaukee it truly is ‘Hats off to Larry.’ 

The other Upperclassmen who will start and play a vast amount of minutes is Junior point guard Gerry Hardnett.  Hardnett is the glue for this team and does whatever it takes to try to help his team win.  The 6’3 stud is a terrific scorer but will take a back seat to run the show and get his new teammates the ball.  He is that kind of guy.  Athletic for a point guard who loves to get to the hoop but can also hit the open jumper, Hardnett is probably best on the defensive end.  He might not be at the level of some of the great point guards Al McGuire has accumulated over at Marquette but for this Milwaukee team Hardnett is the main man.  There were a few other upperclassmen carryover that Pearl will give the opportunity to early on to see who sticks.  The truth of the matter is that Gerry Grochowski and Tom Reikoswki (we are in Milwaukee after all) as well as Tom Knuesel and Dexter Reisch are solid lower Division players but nowhere near the talent of the Horizon.  I mean these four matching up with Dave Debusscherre and Spencer Haywood at the same positions is just no contest. 

Juniors Glen Allen, Richard Cox, Henry Davis and Kessem Grimes are in the mix for minutes up front.  Grimes will begin the year as the starting center and does go 6’9 after transferring in from Wisconsin after 1 year last year and can score and board but we will see how well he handles playing a bunch of minutes.  Cox and Davis are just too small and Allen is a tweener but all three will get some minutes at least early on.  Sophomores Robert Kukla, Billy Ross and Keith Rosser do have some size (and girth) and will compete with the upperclassmen.  Fellow Sophomore Kevin Jones is a wing (Pearl loves wings and has recruited heavily there) who can flat score but with a little less baggage.  Jones will get minutes and does produce points and should start at the two for now.  Junior Larry Pikes is a more complete player but has been the sixth man as he can play both guard positions.  Fellow junior Harold Lee and sophomore Clarence Wright are also battling for time in the back court but as stated Pearl has brought in a slew of perimeter players so these guys minutes will be fleeting. 

Coach Bruce Pearl knows what he is doing and will bring his show to Milwaukee.  For three months Pearl wants to make Milwaukee a Panther town and challenge the Bucks and Warriors for popularity.  ‘You know I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one,’  He has recruited some real talented players off the streets of Milwaukee and Chicago and has implemented the kind of and down style these streetballers love.  Will the charismatic coach be able to lead this team back from the wilderness into D-1 respectability?  Only time will tell!