The 3rd Man In

Panthers will participate in Westin Holiday Classic

Milwaukee Panthers (9-3) vs. Northeastern Huskies (2-8)
Location: New Orleans – Louisiana (Westin Holiday Classic)
Time: 4:00 p.m. CT
Broadcast: Radio – WISN (AM1130)

Due to final exams the Milwaukee Panthers have been off for 10 days, but they will return to action as they participate in the Westin Holiday Classic this weekend. Their first game in the tournament will be on Saturday as they face the Northeastern Huskies.

This will be the Panthers first time playing the Huskies, as they will try to win their seventh game on the road this season. If they are able to win this game, Milwaukee will set a new program record for regular season non-conference victories.

Northeastern has been struggling this season, and will enter this game on a six game losing streak. While the Huskies only have two wins, one of them came against Georgetown in the Puerto Rico Tip-off when they won 63-56. Also in the Puerto Rico Tip-off they lost to Florida State by a close margin of 62-60.

Through the Huskies 10 games this season they are averaging 67.7 points per game while allowing their opponents to score 70.7 points. They are shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 29.9 percent from three-point territory, while usually outrebounding their opponents. One problem the Huskies have had is that they tend to struggle taking care of the ball, turning it over nearly 14 times per game.

One player the Panthers will need to keep their eyes on is junior forward Scott Eatherton. The athletic six foot eight inch big men is averaging a double-double, scoring 17.4 points per game while securing 10.9 rebounds per game.

Joining Eatherton in the starting lineup will be guards David Walker T.J. Walker, and forwards Reggie Spencer and Demetrius Pollard.

Milwaukee will counter with their usual and highly successful lineup featuring guards Steve McWhorter and Jordan Aaron, and forwards Austin Arians, Matt Tiby and Kyle Kelm.

The Panthers will be the favorite entering this game, but the Huskies have shown that they will not back down to better teams. Anything is possible, but as long as Milwaukee plays solid fundamental basketball, they should walk off the court with the victory.

Milwaukee Panthers (9-3) vs. Alabama State (4-3)
Location: New Orleans – Louisiana (Westin Holiday Classic)
Time: 3:00 p.m. CT
Broadcast: Radio – WISN (AM1130)

On Sunday the Panthers will play their second and final game in the Westin Holiday Classic as they take on the Alabama State Hornets. This matchup will be the first time these two programs have ever squared off.

The Hornets will play the Tulane Green Wave on Saturday in their first game of the Westin Holiday Classic.

Through the Hornets first seven games this season they have had mixed results. While they have gotten four wins against some average teams, they have also been blown out in all three of their losses, losing to the University of Illinois, Bradley University and Troy University.

Alabama State’s offense has been successful scoring 71.6 points per game while shooting 43.8 from the floor, but they have struggled shooting from long ranging making only 26.9 percent of their shots. They also average 11 turnovers per game, while usually being outrebounded by their opponents.

Their defense has also had their struggles. They are allowing their opponents to score 72.6 per game while allowing them to make 47.2 percent of their shots.

One player that the Panthers defense will need to slow down is point guard Jamel Waters. He is leading the Hornets in scoring averaging 15.9 points per game on 47 percent shooting from the field. Waters also does a great job of getting his teammates involved averaging 5.9 assists per game.

Joining Waters in the starting lineup will be guard DeMarcus Robinson, and forwards Maurice Strong, Brandon Graham and Luther Page.

Milwaukee will counter with their usual and highly successful lineup featuring guards Steve McWhorter and Jordan Aaron, and forwards Austin Arians, Matt Tiby and Kyle Kelm.

The Panthers have had a great start to the season, and it would be great if they were able to finish the year off on a positive note. Milwaukee has a great chance at winning both games this weekend, but they need to play smart basketball while attacking down low if they want to do so.

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