UWM hits another scheduling setback
The UW-Milwaukee Panthers should have 10 games in the books so far.
But the total stands at only five after a positive COVID-19 test within the Robert Morris program led the Horizon League to cancel the teams' matchup Saturday.
The stage was set a few days earlier, when three Robert Morris players tested positive leading into Friday's game.
That forced UWM to alter its travel plans, leaving the team to fly into Cleveland and bus to Pittsburgh, and the tip time Friday to be pushed back from morning to late afternoon. The Panthers ultimately lost, 67-64, after a three-pointer by Josh Thomas in the closing seconds failed to fall.
UWM was scheduled to return to Milwaukee after Saturday's game was scrapped, according to the Horizon League.
Now there's a possibility the program could be in danger of being put on pause for the second time this season, assuming the Robert Morris player or staff member took part in Friday's game, possibly exposing UWM.
The Panthers (3-2, 2-1) have had three of their last four games canceled due to coronavirus.
They were forced to pause for two weeks in late November after a positive test within the program, resulting in the cancellation of a three-team tournament the Panthers were scheduled to host at the Klotsche Center.
Last weekend, two games against Illinois-Chicago at the Klotsche Center had to be scrapped due to coronavirus concerns within the Flames program.
UWM's next scheduled games are Jan. 8-9 against Detroit Mercy at the Klotsche Center. They would be the Panthers' first home games this season.
The Panthers had won three straight games heading into Friday, with a twogame sweep at UW-Green Bay the highlight. Including a season-opening setback at Kansas State, UWM's two losses have been by a total of four points.
Balance and depth have defined the Panthers thus far.
Coach Pat Baldwin has routinely utilized all 11 scholarship players at his disposal, with their average minutes ranging from 32.8 (Thomas) to 8.2 (freshman Devin Hancock).
Guards Te'Jon Lucas (13.4) and DeAndre Gholston (13.2) are the only players scoring in double digits per game for a team that has excelled at getting to the free throw line and rebounding but has not shot well from beyond the arc (31.9%). The Panthers have made seven fewer free throws than their opponents have attempted.
Hancock and fellow freshmen Donovan Newby and Grant Coleman have all made significant contributions as well. Coleman made his first start Friday, hitting 5 three-pointers and tying Gholston for the team lead with 16 points.
He started in place of Courtney Brown Jr., who's been dealing with an injury Baldwin described as something akin to turf toe, a malady much more common in football.