Panthers Mens’ Basketball Starts to Rebuild for Next Year

As time expired, the Milwaukee Panthers looked up at the scoreboard one last time: 84-63. It was their third loss to Detroit Mercy Titans that season, and this one officially ended their tournament hopes.

Despite high expectations entering the year, the Panthers’ injury-riddled and ultimately disappointing season came to an end with a tournament loss to Detroit Mercy.

Preseason expectations had Milwaukee favored to win the Horizon League, but the season unfolded much differently. The Panthers finished eighth in the conference with a 12-20 record after back-to-back 20-win seasons.

The biggest factor in the season falling short of expectations was injuries. But in a college basketball landscape shaped by NIL and the transfer portal, non-Power Four programs like Milwaukee face additional challenges in building and maintaining a competitive roster. The coaching staff has already taken steps to improve the team while continuing to develop returning players and attract new talent.

“With the unprecedented amount of injuries we had last year, our pace of play slowed down dramatically.” Head Coach Bart Lundy said “We went from being the number one fastbreak team in the country to playing more of a half-court style. You can expect that we will get back to a faster pace and more pressure defense next year.”

The coaching staff has spent the offseason rebuilding the roster while allowing players time to recover during the less intense summer months. The current roster includes only four returning players after several departures through the transfer portal.

“Retention is one of the most important things you can focus on.” said General Manager Michael Winas “It is great when guys want to stay!”

For a non-Power Four school, NIL and the transfer portal present constant obstacles. NIL, which stands for “name, image and likeness,” allows college athletes to profit from their personal brands, while the transfer portal has made it easier for schools to recruit players away from other programs.

Much of Milwaukee’s strategy has centered on attracting Wisconsin players who may want to return closer to home. The Panthers have also leaned on Milwaukee’s location to recruit talent from around the state.

One notable addition is Jack Hanson, a Wisconsin state champion who spent his freshman season at Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball before transferring to Milwaukee.

Another major addition is Aaron Womack, who played at Whitefish Bay Dominican High School and was a finalist for Wisconsin Mr. Basketball after averaging 28 points per game as a senior.

“I don’t think we could have done much better than we did this offseason,” Lundy said. “The team that the staff has put together will be exciting and should push to win the league championship.”

From a program and messaging perspective, the goal this offseason has also been to introduce the new roster to fans before the season begins and build stronger connections with the community.

“So we’re going to lean really heavily into getting-to-know-you pieces, small interviews and a lot of social media campaigns that help the fans get to know the players already during the summer so that they know them once basketball season starts,” Chris Zills, associate athletic director for athletic communications, said.