UWM/Alabama Preview
Mar 17, 2005 7:16:29 GMT -5
Post by Big D on Mar 17, 2005 7:16:29 GMT -5
(12) Wis. Milwaukee (24-5) vs. (5) Alabama (24-7)
Game Info: 12:25 pm EST Thu Mar 17, 2005
Determination and the sharpshooting of Kennedy Winston and Earnest Shelton helped Alabama become one of the biggest surprises of last year's NCAA tournament.
Entering this year's tournament as a more promising contender, the Crimson Tide and their star duo hope their experience will serve them well as they meet Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the first round.
Alabama made it to the round of eight last season as an eighth seed, upsetting top-ranked Stanford and Syracuse to get there. The Tide were finally overmatched against eventual national champion Connecticut.
Winston, an all-SEC first-team selection, is hoping last year's run will aid this team.
``The experience we had gives us a step ahead of everybody else,'' Winston said. ``We've been in this position before. We know what it takes.
``Every team, we're looking right at that team and no one else.''
That means not looking ahead to a possible regional semifinal matchup with top overall seed Illinois.
A major question mark for the Tide, though, is the status of Shelton, who's battling a deep thigh bruise, a twisted ankle and a virus.
Shelton tied a school record with eight 3-pointers in the SEC tournament opener against Mississippi. In a 68-62 loss to eventual champion Florida in Saturday's semifinals, he was 0-for-4 and managed just six points. Shelton limped off the court after taking a charge.
Alabama coach Mark Gottfried doesn't have to look far to find motivation for his team to take Wisconsin-Milwaukee seriously. The Tide needed Antoine Pettway's shot with 5 seconds left to beat Southern Illinois last season in the first round.
Plus, Wisconsin-Milwaukee has won 17 of its last 18 games.
``I've sat on that other side,'' Gottfried said. ``I had a 15th-seeded (Murray State) team play Duke to a one-basket game. We lost 71-68 and our players played like it was the Super Bowl of Super Bowls.
``I think our guys that were here understand that when you play a team like Wisconsin-Milwaukee they have proven that they belong. Those kind of things have gotten our attention.''
This is the first time Alabama has made four consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament since 1989-92.
The Panthers gained an automatic berth by winning the Horizon League tournament with a 59-58 victory over Detroit on March 8.
The NCAA bid is only the second since the school moved to Division I in 1990. The first came in 2003 when Milwaukee also won the league tournament. The Panthers lost 70-69 to Notre Dame in the first round.
Milwaukee's goal is to win at least one NCAA tournament game, but coach Bruce Pearl knows it will be tough against a strong team from the powerful SEC.
``We've accomplished a lot of our goals already, but certainly we'd like to make another step. That's to be able to advance in the tournament,'' Pearl said. ``To do that we'll be wearing that Cinderella slipper because Alabama is going to be a prohibitive favorite against us. But our kids are prepared and they know how to win basketball games.''
Guard Ed McCants, the Horizon League's player of the year, also thinks there is a chance for a victory.
``It's a great opportunity,'' McCants said. ``There are a lot of 12-5 upsets. Alabama is a very tough team but we feel we can play with them.''
The winner advances to face either fourth-seeded Boston College or No. 13 Pennsylvania in the second round Saturday.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Wisconsin-Milwaukee - F Joah Tucker (15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg), F Adrian Tigert (9.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg), F Mark Pancratz (2.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg), G McCants (17.4 ppg, 1.4 spg), G Chris Hill (7.8 ppg, 3.1 apg). Alabama - F Winston (17.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), F Evan Brock (2.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg), F Jermareo Davidson (7.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg), G Shelton (16.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg), G Ronald Steele (7.6 ppg, 4.9 apg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Automatic bid, Horizon League tournament champion. Alabama - At-large berth, Southeastern Conference.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Wisconsin-Milwaukee - 0-1, 1 year. Alabama - 19-17, 17 years.
sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/preview?gid=200503170006
Game Info: 12:25 pm EST Thu Mar 17, 2005
Determination and the sharpshooting of Kennedy Winston and Earnest Shelton helped Alabama become one of the biggest surprises of last year's NCAA tournament.
Entering this year's tournament as a more promising contender, the Crimson Tide and their star duo hope their experience will serve them well as they meet Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the first round.
Alabama made it to the round of eight last season as an eighth seed, upsetting top-ranked Stanford and Syracuse to get there. The Tide were finally overmatched against eventual national champion Connecticut.
Winston, an all-SEC first-team selection, is hoping last year's run will aid this team.
``The experience we had gives us a step ahead of everybody else,'' Winston said. ``We've been in this position before. We know what it takes.
``Every team, we're looking right at that team and no one else.''
That means not looking ahead to a possible regional semifinal matchup with top overall seed Illinois.
A major question mark for the Tide, though, is the status of Shelton, who's battling a deep thigh bruise, a twisted ankle and a virus.
Shelton tied a school record with eight 3-pointers in the SEC tournament opener against Mississippi. In a 68-62 loss to eventual champion Florida in Saturday's semifinals, he was 0-for-4 and managed just six points. Shelton limped off the court after taking a charge.
Alabama coach Mark Gottfried doesn't have to look far to find motivation for his team to take Wisconsin-Milwaukee seriously. The Tide needed Antoine Pettway's shot with 5 seconds left to beat Southern Illinois last season in the first round.
Plus, Wisconsin-Milwaukee has won 17 of its last 18 games.
``I've sat on that other side,'' Gottfried said. ``I had a 15th-seeded (Murray State) team play Duke to a one-basket game. We lost 71-68 and our players played like it was the Super Bowl of Super Bowls.
``I think our guys that were here understand that when you play a team like Wisconsin-Milwaukee they have proven that they belong. Those kind of things have gotten our attention.''
This is the first time Alabama has made four consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament since 1989-92.
The Panthers gained an automatic berth by winning the Horizon League tournament with a 59-58 victory over Detroit on March 8.
The NCAA bid is only the second since the school moved to Division I in 1990. The first came in 2003 when Milwaukee also won the league tournament. The Panthers lost 70-69 to Notre Dame in the first round.
Milwaukee's goal is to win at least one NCAA tournament game, but coach Bruce Pearl knows it will be tough against a strong team from the powerful SEC.
``We've accomplished a lot of our goals already, but certainly we'd like to make another step. That's to be able to advance in the tournament,'' Pearl said. ``To do that we'll be wearing that Cinderella slipper because Alabama is going to be a prohibitive favorite against us. But our kids are prepared and they know how to win basketball games.''
Guard Ed McCants, the Horizon League's player of the year, also thinks there is a chance for a victory.
``It's a great opportunity,'' McCants said. ``There are a lot of 12-5 upsets. Alabama is a very tough team but we feel we can play with them.''
The winner advances to face either fourth-seeded Boston College or No. 13 Pennsylvania in the second round Saturday.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Wisconsin-Milwaukee - F Joah Tucker (15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg), F Adrian Tigert (9.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg), F Mark Pancratz (2.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg), G McCants (17.4 ppg, 1.4 spg), G Chris Hill (7.8 ppg, 3.1 apg). Alabama - F Winston (17.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), F Evan Brock (2.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg), F Jermareo Davidson (7.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg), G Shelton (16.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg), G Ronald Steele (7.6 ppg, 4.9 apg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Automatic bid, Horizon League tournament champion. Alabama - At-large berth, Southeastern Conference.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Wisconsin-Milwaukee - 0-1, 1 year. Alabama - 19-17, 17 years.
sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/preview?gid=200503170006