UWM earns CBI bid, first postseason game since 2014
A memorable first season under coach Bart Lundy will continue for the UW-Milwaukee men's basketball team.
The Panthers on Sunday learned they will be seeded 11th in the College Basketball Invitational and play sixthseeded Stetson on March 19 at 4:30 p.m. at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida.
It will be UWM's first postseason appearance since 2013-14, when the Panthers advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
“Even though it's not the NCAAs or the NIT, you still have to earn this,” Lundy said. “Milwaukee hasn't been to the postseason since 2014, so to earn the postseason is an honor. We will be able to use this as kind of a growth period for our program.
“These young guys haven't played in the postseason, haven't played in a lot of tournament play to begin with. So, just the opportunity to get better and just the experience and the exposure for our program, it's all completely a positive.”
UWM (21-11) last played on Monday, when it lost to Cleveland State in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament.
Since then, the team has mostly been recuperating. That will all change Monday as practice reconvenes in preparation for the 16-team CBI, which in 2022 served as a springboard for teams such as Drake, Florida Atlantic and UNCAsheville – all of whom are in this year's NCAA Tournament field.
“We were pretty banged up, so we took some time away,” Lundy said. “We're just getting close to functional. Markeith (Browning) played in the Horizon League Tournament but he was in no way ready to play. He's a tough kid and we needed him to play if he could. If the doctor had his way, he may not have played. So, he needed that time to heal.
“(BJ Freeman, Kentrell Pullian and Ahmad Rand) – everybody was kind of banged up, so this was kind of a good time to heal some of those war wounds and give them some time mentally to refresh get ready to go tomorrow.”
Stetson (17-13) finished fourth in the ASUN Conference and like UWM relies on a balanced offensive attack with five players averaging between 15.2 and 8.7 points per game.
The Hatters are also a terrific threepoint shooting team, having knocked down 38.9% of their shots from beyond the arc.
“I have some vague ideas about how they play and their style of play,” Lundy said. “I know (coach Donnie Jones) a little bit, but I don't know much. It's kind of exciting for me. I'm kind of an East Coast guy, and if we can find a way to win we've got Charlotte or Western Carolina in the next game.
“So for me personally and for a couple of our guys, to be able to play a Carolina team would be nice.”
Health issues aside, the Panthers will be down one player with Lundy confirming sophomore forward Vincent Miszkiewicz has entered the transfer portal and is no longer with the program.
Miszkiewicz, who was originally signed by former coach Pat Baldwin, averaged 1.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 6.8 minutes of action this season.
“Vincent's a great kid, he was great for our team – he just wants to play more,” Lundy said. “He came in on Monday and we talked and he said it was probably best for him if he got it rolling. He's kind of that personality where he works ahead, and I completely respect that.”