Strong defense, balanced offense key to 4 & 0 mark

Adjacent photo courtesy of Royal Purple

The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team takes a 4 & 0 record to Menomonie on Saturday and defense has been the key to the Hawks’ unbeaten record.

One statistic prominently shows the Hawks defensive effort.  Whitewater has forced 91 turnovers through four games while committing just 51.  Opponents have turned the ball over at least 20 times each game (22 vs. Beloit, 29 vs. Aurora, 15 vs. Carthage, 25 vs. Illinois Wesleyan)

Whitewater has 34 steals through four games compared to 18 for opponents.

The Hawks have also made more free throws (68) than their opponents have attempted (61).

The Warhawks lead the WIAC in field goal percentage at 53.7% and 43.1% from three-point territory

Scoring balance has also been evident. In each of the four wins Whitewater has had at least three players in double figures including six in the win over Aurora.

Quardell Young leads the way averaging 15.8 points per game. Darnell Harris ranks second at 14.3 followed by Luke Knobel 11.5 and Eric Bryson at 10.5 points per game.  KJ Evans is averaging 9.8 and Cody Odegard 8 points.

It’s early in the season but the Hawks are following the same formula as last year’s run to the NCAA Division III Championship.

Darnell Harris "breaks out" for 32 vs. Illinois Wesleyan

Darrell Harris arrived at UW-Whitewater fresh off playing his senior year of high school basketball at an elite prep school in Humble, Texas.

Harris brought a high profile resume, plenty of ability and great potential with him to U-Du-Dub. The freshman forward flashed that great potential by pouring in 32 points in Whitewater’s 71-65 win at Illinois Wesleyan Tuesday night in a battle of two D3hoops.com Top 10 ranked teams.  

“We got Darnell going and he showed a little bit what he’s capable of doing,” Warhawk head coach Pat Miller indicated on the KOOL 106.5 post game show.  

The freshman finished the game 11 of 19 from the field including 6 of 8 from three-point territory. He also grabbed 6 rebounds. Harris' 32 points is the most by a Warhawk this season and the most since Chris Davis scored 33 in Whitewater's quarterfinal NCAA III tournament win over Virginia Wesleyan last March.  

“He had that look in his eyes and he was playing with confidence,” Miller said. “He was definitely our go-to guys” 

Though just a freshman, Darnell brings some of the same attributes to the table that Chris Davis did the past two years. Left alone, Harris is a deadly three-point shooter and isn’t afraid to pull the trigger. Still needing to get stronger, Darnell has shown steady improvement with his inside game through the Warhawks first four games this season. 

UW-Whitewater will open play in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Saturday, traveling to Menomonie to face UW-Stout for a 4:00 tipoff. UW-W's next home contest will be Saturday, December 8 at 3:00 with the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds visiting Kachel Gym.

Hawk men now 4 & 0 with 71-65 win at Illinois Wesleyan

The game matched two of the top ranked teams in Division III and the game lived up to it’s hype. The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team rode a 32 point performance by Darnell Harris on the way to a 71-65 victory over Illinois Weseyan at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois.

Harris, a freshman from Christian Life Academy Prep in Humble, Texas, hit 6 of 8 of his three point attempts in leading the Hawks to the high profile, non-conference win.

Luke Knoble also was red-hot by hitting 8 of 9 from the field for a season high 18 points.

Quardell Young chipped in with 11 points and a game-high 7 assists for the Warhawks.

UWW found itself down 8-0 to start the game. Whitewater eventually whittled the margin to 17-16 with 5:17 left in the half and found itself down 28-25 at halftime.

The Warhawks changed the complexion of the game in a hurry, outscoring IWU 14-2 to open the second half.

The Titans answered with a run of their own, 11-2, to knot the score at 41-41 in what was a “game of streaks.

Holding a slim 49-48 lead with 7:32 left, Whitewater used a 7-0 run to own some distance at 56-48 with 6:43 on the clock.  The Warhawks eventually increased the lead to eleven, 68-57, with just 1:10 left in the game.

The difference in the game was UWW being able to force IWU to turn the ball over. Whitewater forced 24 Titan turnover marking the third time in four games that the Hawks have forced at least 20 turnover.

Wesleyan had four players in double figures led by Victor Davis’ 13.

The third-ranked Warhawks stay on the road when they open conference play on Saturday at UW-Stout in a men’s-women’s doubleheader.

The men will kick off Saturday’s action with a 4 p.m. tipoff. 

To read Boomington Pentagraph game story CLICK HERE

Warhawk women fall 72-69 at Illinois Wesleyan

The UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team gave defending NCAA Division III champion Illinois Wesleyan all they could handle but fell short 72-69 in non-conference action Tuesday night in Bloomington, Illinois.

The Hawks led 35-30 at halftime. Wesleyan clawed back to tie the game at 47-47 at 11:12, largely on the back of junior center Lexi Baltes' eight points in the stretch. 

Following a UWW timeout the Hawks immediately went on an 8-0 run to reclaim a 55-47 lead.

The Warhawks could not hold the lead as the Titans made 16-19 charity tosses in the second half, compared to 5-7 for the Warhawks.  For the game, IWU was 22-27 from the line, Whitewater 7-10.

Kaitlien Thill took game scoring honors with 21 points, also dishing out eight assists to lead both teams.  Cortney Kumerow added 14 points, and Katie Burton chipped in with 12 along with a game leading eight rebounds.

Mellisa Gardner scored 19 to lead the way for the Titans. Lexi Baltes added 18, Colleen McMahon contributed 17 points as Wesleyan improved to 3 & 2 on the season.

The Warhawks fall to 3 & 2 and will open WIAC play on Saturday at UW-Stout as part of a men’s, women’s doubleheader. The  men will play at 4 p.m. with the women to follow at approximately 6 p.m.

To read Bloomington Pentagraph game story CLICK HERE

Warhawks to now play Tuesday men's-women's doubleheader at Illinois Wesleyan

 SPECIAL GAME NOTICE:  The UW-Whitewater women's basketball game at Illinois Wesleyan University originally set for Wednesday, November 28 at 6:00 has been moved to Tuesday, November 27 at 5:15. The game will be played in the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois as part of a basketball doubleheader, with the Whitewater and IWU men tipping off at approximately 7:30. All four teams are ranked among the top ten in the D3hoops.com preseason poll

Mergs bring competitiveness to Warhawk basketball programs

(The adjacent photo is courtesy of the Royal Purple)

Tenacity, aggressiveness, and plain all-out hustle are attributes one desires in playing the game of basketball.

The brother and sister combination of Alex and Mary Merg bring those attributes to the UW-Whitewater men's and women's basketball programs.  The duo arrived on campus after successful high school careers at Greendale High School in suburban Milwaukee. 

Both were known for their competitiveness while growing up and that hasn't changed at Whitewater.

Both have similarities in their game. Growing up they would always practice together with their dad.  The similarities are most noticeable on the defensive side of the basketball. Both show incredible agressiveness and a ball-hawking ability.

Mary led the Warhawk women last year averaging 13.4 points per game and finished 3rd on the team with 53 steals.   Alex led the Hawk men with 129 assists and was second on the team with 41 steals. 

Why did the Merg's choose UW-Whitewater? "Alex was recruited to play basketball and he also was very interested in UWW's award winning Business School. It was also a good fit for his basketball," Alex's mom Jean said.

Graduating from Greendale High School a year later Mary also decided on attending U-Dub-Dub, but not because Alex was already there.  

 "I didn't choose Whitewater because my brother did," Mary said. "I chose it from an academic standpoint. They had my major and I knew the women's basketball program was really successful. It's just a plus that my brother is here too. 

For more on Mary and Alex Merg's story CLICK HERE

Nationally ranked Warhawk men and women at Illinois Wesleyan this week

The UW-Whitewater men’s and women’s basketball teams will be making the trek south on I-39 on Tuesday as both teams will take on nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan University.

SPECIAL GAME NOTE: The UW-Whitewater women's basketball game at Illinois Wesleyan University originally set for Wednesday, November 28 at 6:00 has been moved to Tuesday, November 27 at 5:15. The game will be played in the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois as part of a basketball doubleheader, with the Whitewater and IWU men tipping off at approximately 7:30. All four teams are ranked among the top ten in the D3hoops.com preseason poll 

Pat Miller’s UWW men’s team, ranked No. 3 in the D3hoops.com national poll, will collide with the eighth ranked Titans. 

The 8^th ranked UW-Whitewater women collide with 5^th ranked Illinois Wesleyan. 

The Illinois Wesleyan men are 4 & 0 and coming off a 62-56 win at Wabash College. 

The Warhawks enter the game 3 & 0 coming off two wins at the Carthage Classic in Kenosha.  Whitewater rolled over Aurora 106-68 on Friday evening. The Hawks defeated host Carthage 74-69 Saturday afternoon.

The Titans will attempt to avenge a regular season 65-53 loss to the Warhawks last year in Whitewater.

“It will definitely be a step up in competition,” UWW head coach said following Saturday’s win at Carthage.

With the WIAC portion of the schedule coming up on Saturday at Stout the Hawks continue to improve.

“It was a good win against a good program,” Miller told Voiceseyeonbasketball.blogspot.com after the win over Carthage.  “It was a hostile environment – a tough place to play and it will help prepare us for Tuesday’s game at Illinois Wesleyan.”

Whitewater, the defending Division III national champions, enter Tuesday night’s game ranked No. 3 in the D3hoops.com preseason national rankings.

Tipoff Tuesday night at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois is set for aqpproximately 7:15 p.m.

You can listen to  boths game with Gary Douglas on the microphone on KOOL 106.5.

To listen to the game CLICK HERE

Hawk Women D-Feat Edgewood 83-39

How dominant was the UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team’s win over Madison Edgewood Saturday evening? UW-Whitewater held an opponent under 40 points for the first time in twelve years, and forced 40 turnovers for the first time in more than two decades, in an 83-39 win over Edgewood College in Kachel Gym in Williams Center.

UW-W coach Keri Carollo used twenty-three players in the game and sixteen of them scored.

Merg led both teams with 21 points in 21 minutes of playing time.  The only other double figure scorer for Whitewater was senior center Cortney Kumerow with 12. Kaitlin Thill & Megan Theune each seven steals. Thill also finished with seven assists in the blowout win. . 

The last time a Whitewater opponent was held under 40 points was December 21, 1999 when the Warhawks defeated Muhlenberg College 58-37.  The 43 turnovers by Edgewood is the fourth highest total ever by a Warhawk opponent, and the most since UW-Stout had 51 December 9, 1989.

UW-W is 3-1, and Edgewood 0-4.

UW-Whitewater, eighth in the D3hoops.com preseason poll, will play at fifth ranked Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois Wednesday.  The Warhawks' next home game will be December 5 at 7:00 with UW-La Crosse visiting Kachel Gym in Williams Center

Luke Knobel brings hard hat and lunch bucket to work

Luke Knoble carries his lunch bucket and hard hat with him on the court for the UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team. The 6-7 senior for the Warhawks has that “pound the rock” attitude – the same attitude that Warhawk football has made famous.

The Hawks are not a big ball club and when it comes to rebounding Knoble is asked to hit the boards – HARD!

“This year we’ve got a bunch of guys that can score,” Knoble tells Voices Eye on Basketball Blog. “I’m in there to give my all on defense, to rebound, and to work all around hard.

Knoble is coming off a junior year that included the Boscobel native being named a 1^st Team All-WIAC selection. Luke averaged 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season. Through three games this year Knobel is averaging 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Knobel also brings tough defense in the paint for the Warhawks.

One of the keys to Whitewater’s run to the NCAA Division III national championship last year was there tenacity on defense. Knobel brought that defensive tenacity to the table each game.

“I just go out there and give glory to God and give it my all,” Knobel said. “It’s all about working hard.”

Hawk men hold off Carthage 74-69

Eric Bryson hits 5 of 6 free throws in final 14 seconds as Warhawks beat Carthge 74-69 Sunday in Kenosha

The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team is now 3 & 0 following its 74-69 win over Carthage College to capture the Carthage Classic in Kenosha Saturday afternoon.

The Warhawks jumped out to a 39-24 halftime lead and then needed to hold off a fierce second half comeback by the Red Men.

Whitewater shot 56% in the half, limiting the Redmen to 38%. Warhawk coach Pat Miller used ten players in the half and nine of them scored.

Carthage methodically cut into the Warhawk lead pulling within two at 69-67 with 58 seconds remaining. Carthage had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead but missed two three point field goal attempts.

The final seconds belonged to UWW’s Eric Bryson who was fouled with fourteen seconds left. The junior from Elkhorn hit both attempts to put UW-W in front 71-67. Bryson again  fouled with :05 remaining, he made the first of two free throws to make it 72-69, and when he missed the second but got his own rebound returned to the line to hit the two charity tosses that made the final 74-69.

Bryson led the Hawks with 19 points. He was joined in double figures by K.J. Evans with 15 and 11 from Quardell Young.  Carthage had four players in double figures, led by Tyler Pierce's 12 and Donte Logan’s 11 points.

Whitewater shot 58% from the floor compared to Carthage’s 48%. The Hawks held a 28 to 27 rebound advantage.

UW-W improves to 3-0 and will travel to Bloomington, Illinois to play Illinois Wesleyan on Tuesday.

Hawks score 107 in win over Aurora

 

The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team exploded for 107 points Friday night rolling over Aurora (Ill) 107-68 in semifinal action of the Carthage Classic in Kenosha.

The Warhawks placed six players in double figures on the way to the lopsided victory.

Young scored his collegiate high 24 points, hitting 8-12 from the floor and 7-9 from the line.  Cody Odegaard and freshman center Darnell Harris had 13 apiece, Eric Bryson finished with 12, sophomore forward KJ Evans added 11, and senior forward Luke Knoble contributed ten.  Harris led both teams with eight rebounds, and Young added to his big game with game highs with four assists and five steals.

Aurora was led in scoring by freshman guard Kalmon Stokes' 13 points, with junior guard Jordan Hester adding ten.  Aurora, the preseason pick to win the Northern Athletic Conference, is 0-3.

The 107 points scored is UW-Whitewater's most since defeating Grinnell College 135-95 November 28, 2009, a span of 84 games.  The thirty-nine point winning margin is the largest since a 95-50 win over Cardinal Stritch College December 18, 2007.

The Warhawks will play host Carthage in Saturday’s championship game.

The Red Men advanced with an 85-73 win over Iowa Wesleyan College in Friday night’s other semifinal.

Tipoff Saturday is set for 4 p.m. The game can be heard live on your “radio home for Warhawk Basketball" – KOOL 106.5.

Warhawk men vs. Aurora in 1st round of Carthage Classic

 

The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team will be in action this weekend participating in the Carthage Classic in Kenosha. The Warhawks open play tonight (Friday) vs. Aurora University (Ill).

The other first round game has host Carthage taking on Illinois Wesleyam.

Whitewater opened its season last Saturday with a 75-68 win over Beloit College at Kachel Gymnasium. Quatrell Young led the Warhawks with 17 points on 7-16 from the field,  Luke Knoble added 14 points and seven boards. Cody Odegaard wrapped up the double digit scorers for UW-W with 13. 

Aurora entered its season as the favorites to win the South division of the Northern Athletics Conference according to the preseason coaches’ poll. Despite it’s lofty prediction the Spartans are off to an 0-2 start to the season. Aurora dropped its season opener to Augustana 85-82 followed by an 84-77 defeat at the hands of CCIW favorite North Central.

Gametime tonight will be 6 p.m. You can listen to all the action with Gary Douglas mike side on KOOL 106.5.

To listen to the game click here 

Q is as cool as the other side of the pillow

Quardell Young scored a team-high 17 points to lead the Warhawks to a season-opening victory. UW-Whitewater defeated Beloit College, 75-68, Saturday. — Daily Jefferson County Daily Union photo by Josh Smith

Quardell Young started his sophomore season the same way he ended his freshman season on the UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team.

The Kenosha Bradford product came off the bench to score a game high 17 points Saturday night to fuel a the Warhawks 75-68 season opening win over Beloit College at Kachel gymnasium.

Young played a key role in keeping UW-Whitewater in the game, scoring nine of his team-high 17 points in the second half. Young scored six points in transition off of steals, including a dunk early in the second half to pull Whitewater within three points.

"He did a great job.. When we were struggling offensively, we were able to get him in some high ball-screen situations," Hawk head coach Pat Miller said of Young, who also led the team with three assists and four steals. "He did a great job of attacking the basket. He got to the rim over and over and was able to set up his teammates. Tonight, that was our best offense."

Flashback now to this past March’s NCAA Division III national championship, 63-60 win over Cabrini College (Penn) where Young keyed the comeback victory.

The freshman came off the bench to fuel a 17-2 second-half run with six straight points, helping Whitewater close within five with 9:41 to play.

"I was just trying to create some holes, and when I could, I could drive to the basket," said Young who finished with 10 points.

"Quardell got to some seams and got to the rijm and he's the type of player that when he gets confence he's unbelievable. That gave us the spark," Miller said.

Young and his teammates will compete in the Carthage College Classic Friday and Saturday. The Warhawks will open the four-team tounament vs. Aurora University at 6 p.m. Friday in Kenosha.

UWW will play either Carthage or Iowa Wesleyan on Saturday.

Warhawk women's basketball team gives me valuable lesson in my battle with cancer

 

I decided to drive down to Monmouth, IL to watch the Warhawk women play Monmouth Sunday afternoon.  I had had a tough week both emotionally and physically in my ongoing battle with cancer. I just needed to “get out of town” for the day to ease my mind.

The UWW women fell in overtime to the Fighting Scots but Keri Corollo’s team taught me a valuable lesson.

For a third straight game this young season Whitewater found itself needing to fight back from a double digit deficit. The Hawks won its first two games in come from behind fashion but fell in overtime on Sunday down in Monmouth.

The Warhawks could have easily said “this just isn’t our day” but they dug down deep and were able to come back. 

I remember sitting in the stands along with a group of Warhawk parents cheering hard and thinking to myself that I need to have the same attitude and fight hard to win my game vs. cancer.

I was so tired driving home Sunday night and I literally had to sit in my garage about ten minutes just to have the strength to get out of car and be able to walk into the house.

Even watching the Hawks lose I watched the Hawk women give an effort that I need to accomplish.  “Never give up”  It’s a phrase Jim Valvano stated that is in the minds of all that face a battle with cancer.

Thank you to the UWW women’s basketball team for your effort and reinforcing my drive to never give up

Hawk women fall in OT at Monmouth

After opening the season with two come from behind wins, the UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team fell in overtime 90-89 to Monmouth College in the championship game of the Monmouth Invitational.

The Fighting Scots outscored Whitewater 13-6 from the charity stripe in the extra session.

The Warhawks led the first eight minutes of the game however Monmouth came back, forcing 12 Warhawk turnovers, to lead 34-27 by halftime. 

Whitewater found itself looking up at a double digit deficit, Monmouth leading 49-37 with 12;57 remaining in the second half.  And, as they had done in the two previous games, the Warhawks came back.

Cortney Kumerow accounted for eight of ten points in a streak that took Whitewater from trailing 64-58 to a 68-66 lead, Whitewater's first of the second half, with 3:33 left.

Kumerow made a pair of free throws with 0:45 left to give Whitewater a 74-72 lead, but Fighting Scot sophomore guard Paige Nord hit a jumper with 0:30 on the clock to knot the game at 74.  After a Monmouth timeout, UW-W missed a three point attempt, then got the ball back when the Scots fumbled the rebound out of bounds with three seconds left but its three pointer at the buzzer failed forcing the game to overtime.

The extra session boiled down to free throws. Monmouth hit 13 of its 15 free throws in the overtime while Whitewater was limited to 6 of 7 from the line.

Kaitlin Thill led all scorers with 23 points, including 5-8 from beyond the arc and 6-7 from the line.  Kumerow added 21, on 6-7 from the floor and 9-11 at the stripel Freshman Abbie Reeves chipped in with 18.  Kumerow and Katie Burton  grabbed eight rebounds each, with Burton also leading the team with four assists.  Whitewater shot 37% from the floor, 33% from three point range, and was 27-35 (77%) from the line.  The Warhawks committed 22 turnovers/

Monmouth was led by Paige Nord's 20 points, going 9-10 from the line.  Zipporah Williams added 19, Caley Corban 15, and Marla Willard 14.  Williams notched a double double, also pulling down 15 rebounds,

UW-W, eighth in the D3hoops.com poll, is 2-1.  Monmouth remains unbeaten at 3-0.  Whitewater will host Edgewood College Saturday, November 24 at 5:00 in a Parent's Day game.

Championship banner unveiled prior to season opener

The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball season opener Saturday night drew a crowd 1,015 to Kachel Gymnasium. The night began with the 2012 NCAA Division III national championship banner unveiled on the south wall of the gymnasium. It is now the 3^rd championship banner that sits just to the right of UW-Whitewater’s 1984 and 1989 banners.

 

The new championship banner isn’t the only new adornments that have been added to Whitewater’s basketball facility at Williams Center.

 

Kachel Gym also has state of the art Datronic’s scoreboards and digital display boards on both the north and south walls of the gym. 

 

Large, black, UW-Whitewater banners ring the upper levels of the east and west walls of the gymnasium. The banners are similar to the banner on the facing of the Perkins Stadium press box.

 

The same atmosphere that has made Perkins Stadium one of the great game-day atmospheres in the country is now evident at nearby Kachel Gym.

 

When the UW-Whitewater starting lineup was announced the houselights go dark, spot lights are turned on, and a twin tower smoke machine is engaged as each Warhawk starter is announced.

 

It’s very cool!!

 

 An opening night crowd of 1,015 was on hand Saturday night.

 

With the spirit and stunt squads, Willie Warhawk, and best student section in the WIAC – the place to be this season is at Kachel Gymnasium watching your UW-Whitewater men’s and women’s basketball teams compete for a WIAC Championship!!

Warhawk men beat Beloit 75-68 in season opener

In the adjacent photo - Quardell Young takes the ball to the hoop as he leads the Warhawks with 17 points in UWW's 75-68 season opening win over Beloit College - photo courtesy of Josh Smith/Daily Jefferson County Union

  The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team found itself down 17 to 3 six minutes into its season opener vs. Beloit College Saturday night at Kachel Gymnasium. The defending NCAA Division III national champions kept its composure – trailed by just seven (37-30) at halftime. 

Whitewater took its first lead of the night at 60-59 on an Eric Bryson three-pointer with 8:37 remaining in the game.  

The Warhawks shot just 37% in the first half compared to 59% for Beloit and Whitewater was outrebounded 21-12 in the first 20 minutes.   

Quardell Young led the Hawks with 8 points in the half while Beloit’s James Lazarcik was 6-6 from the field with 14 points and nine rebounds. 

The pace of the game shifted early in the second half as the Hawks became more physical both offensively and defensively. UW-W scored 18 points in the paint and 15 off turnovers in the second half. 

Young led the Warhawks with 17 points on 7-16 from the field and added four steals. Luke Knoble added 14 points and seven boards. Cody Odegaard wrapped-up the double digit scorers for UW-W with 13. 

Whitewater was 27-57 for a field goal shooting percentage of 47% in the game. Beloit was 29-58 for 50% from the field. The Bucs held the rebound advantage, 41-27. The Warhawks forced 22 turnovers including 12 steals while committing just 10 turnovers of their own. 

Lazarcik led all players with 23 points on a perfect 10-10 from the floor and adding 15 rebounds for the double-double. Tyler Butke added 22 points and Steve Mcafee had 14 for the Bucs. 

Whitewater will compete in the Carthage Classic Friday-Saturday, November 23-24 in Kenosha. The Warhawks will open the classic with a 6:00 game against Aurora University Friday. The other semifinal has host Carthage taking on Iowa Wesleyan.

UWW Women beat Warturg 65-55 at Monmouth

The UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team outscored Wartburg 14 to 3 over the final 3 minutes for a 65-55 win in first round action of the Monmouth Tip-off Tournament Saturday evening in Monmouth, Illinois.

The teams were knotted at 52-52 with 2:53 remaining, but UW-W teeter-tottered back to a 63-52 lead with another run, 11-0, ending with 0:50 seconds left, the only double digit bulge in that span.

Whitewater will play the host, Monmouth Scots Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the championship game.

Whitewater jumped out to a 12-2 lead and saw it increase to 25-10 with 9:50 left in the first half, again held a 15 point margin at 30-15 at the 4:34 mark, and went into the locker room with 36-22 lead.

 UW-W scored the first basket of the second half, putting the Warhawks up 38-22 -- but then the tide turned. Wartburg connected on five threes to key a rally that saw the Knights out-score UW-W 25-5 to put Wartburg in front 47-43 with 7:13 left in the game.

Whitewater regained the lead with a 7-0 spurt for a 50-47 lead. The teams were knotted at 52-52 with 2:53 remaining, but UW-W teeter-tottered back to a 63-52 lead with another run, 11-0, ending with 0:50 seconds left, the only double digit bulge in that span.

The Warhawks pulled out the win at the free throw line. UW-W made 20-29 charity tosses, Wartburg 10-18. Junior guard Kaitlin Thill  led  UW-W to a 15-5 advantage in steals, with Thill accounting for ten. The ten steals equals the second highest single game ever in UW-W basketball. (Thill holds the record at 13)

 

Burton wound up leading UW-W with 15 points, with Thill adding 14, and junior guard Mary Merg 12. Merg also dished out five assists, and senior center Cortney Kumerow  topped the team with eight rebounds. 

Wartburg was led by senior guard Abbi Wiedemann and Jacobs, both with 16 points. Baileigh O'Brien, a senior forward, chipped in with 14 points and a game highs in both assists, seven, and rebounds, nine.

Coach Miller focusing on new season after winning national title

Pat Miler, UW-Whitewater men's basketball coach

UW-Whitewater men’s basketball coach Pat Miller knows quite a bit about winning championships. Miller was a co-captain on UW-Whitewater’s 1988-89 basketball team that captured the school’s second Division III national basketball title in school history.

Last March, Miller’s team won the national championship, becoming the first UWW coach to win a national title both as a player and a head coach.

The 2012 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year wants this year’s squad to put all its focus on this year instead of continuing to bask in the limelight of last spring’s national title victory.

"We were very adamant about that - even last spring. We have to turn the page," Miller indicated during preseason media day. Miller’s team finished 29-4 overall last season, including a 13-3 mark and regular season championship in WIAC play. "We don't let them wear any national championship clothes at practice or in the weight room. We're done with that - it's a new set of guys, it's new circumstances.

"If anything, last year, we learned how difficult that road is."

The Janesville native is now in his 12^th year as men’s basketball coach at Whitewater after being Dave Vander Meullen’s assistant for eight seasons.

Miller obviously learned coaching very well under the tutelage of the iconic Vander Meullen.

Miller has led the Warhawks to five WIAC Championships in his 11 years at the helm.  His .763 winning percentage ranks 4th all-time in WIAC history behind only Bo Ryan, Ken Anderson and Jack Bennett. He achieved his 100th win during the 2005-06 season and was the second fastest coach in WIAC history to do so. 

Coach Miller enters tonight’s game vs. Beloit College as the winningest active coach in the WIAC.   His 238-74 career mark ranks 11^th all-time in WIAC history.

Voice Pattison's upcoming list of games he'll attend

 The following is the tentative list of game's Tom "Voice" Pattison plans to attend through the end of the calendar year with health concerns the determining factor:

 (Sat) 11/17 Beloit at UWW (Men), (Sun) 11/18 UWW vs ?? @ Monmouth (Women), (Fri)  11/23 UWW @ Carthage (Men), (Sat) 11/24 UWW @ Carthage (Men),  (Tue) 11/27 UWW @ IL Wesleyan, (Men),    (Sat) 12/1 UWW @ Stout (Men/Women),  (Wed) 12/5  Lax @ UWW (Women), (Sat)  12/8  Eau Claire @ UWW (Men/Women), (Wed) 12/12 Stevens Point @ UWW (Men), 12/14-15 @ Hope College Tourney (Women),  (Sat) 12/22 UWW @ Edgewood (Men), 12/29-30 UWW @ St Norbert Tourney (Men)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Warhawk men open season Saturday night by hosting Beloit College

Darnell Harris (6'8 Freshman)

Reggie Hearn (6'5 Junior)

 

Men’s basketball fever is alive for UW-Whitewater fans. A full house was on hand at Thursday evening’s Tip-Off Club meeting at Saxe’s Lone Star Inn.

I was fortunate to have highly touted Warhawk freshman Darnell Harris sit at my table at last night’s dinner meeting.

Harris played his sophomore and junior season’s at Milwaukee Vincent High School. The 6’8 forward transferred to Christian Life Academy Prep in Humble, Texas for his senior season. It was a prep program that played all over the country.

Harris was recruited to Whitewater by UWW assistant coach Lou Chapman who was Harris’ coach as a freshman in Milwaukee.

It was interesting to hear Darnell talk about the difference of playing Milwaukee City League high school basketball on a powerhouse team at Vincent and then stepping up to play prep ball for a national program based in the Houston, Texas area.

“Darnell is a little like Chris Davis who helped lead us to the national championship last March,” Hawk head coach Pat Miller told Gary Douglas this (Friday) morning on KOOL 106.5 Radio. “He (Harrris) has the capability to score down low at 6’8, but also has the ability to step our and hit 3’s. He is getting better each day in practice and he is going to be fun to watch.”

Another new player this year is Reggie Hearn, a 6’5 junior transfer from Iowa Lakes Community College. Hearn was a first team all-conference player as a senior at Milwaukee Marshall High School.

Miller says he loves Hearn’s blue collar approach to the game.

“Reggie is a defensive specialist, very long and active an a very good rebounder. He’ll provide us with valuable minutes this season.

Miles Chamberlain (Madison Memorial), K.J. Evans (Beloit Memorial) and Patrick Souter (Racine St. Catherine) are three other transfers that are key additions for Miller’s 2012-13 Warhawks.

They and a solid nucleus of returning starters will open the season Saturday night when they host Beloit College in a 7 p.m. tipoff at the newly renovated Kachel Gym.

WIAC Scoreboard/Today's Games

 

In WIAC men’s basketball Thursday night….

UW-Stevens Point 72, Lawrence 64 
 St. Norbert 79, UW-Oshkosh 49

Northland 51 UW-Superior 80

Platteville 88, Emmaus Bible 35

In WIAC men’s basketball tonight……

Emmaus Bible (IA) vs. UW-Eau Claire (at Platteville)

Goshen (IN) at UW-Platteville 

Edgewood vs. UW-La Crosse (at Wisconsin Dells, WI)

 Ripon vs, UW-Oshkosh (at Wisconsin Dells, WI)  

St. Scholastica (MN) vs. UW-Stout (at Bethel, MN) 

                                                     

In WIAC women’s basketball tonight…..

Carthage vs. UW-River Falls (at St. Norbert)

DePauw (IN) vs. UW-Stout (at Wis. Lutheran)

UW-Stevens Point at Millikin (IL)

Northand at UW-Eau Claire

Simpson vs. UW-La Crosse (at Eau Claire)

UW-Superior at Ripon

UW-Platteville at Loras (Iowa)

Coach Carollo: I’m glad we could squeak out the win. I’m happy!

(Head Coach Keri Carollo)

 Despite being ranked 8^th nationally and being called a prime contender for a WIAC title, the UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team was fully tested Thursday night in its 70 to 60 win over Carroll University in the season opener in Waukesha.

“I knew Carroll was going to give us a game and they did,” Warhawk head coach Keri Carollo indicated on the KOOL 106.5  Postgame Show. “We were not ready for their zone, trapping style of defense.”

‘We were atrocious defensively in the 1^st half,” Carollo said. ‘We didn’t do a good job with helping, boxing out, and our rebounding was not good.” 

“I’m just glad our girl’s were able to hang in there and squeak out the win against a really solid Carroll team.”

Whitewater trailed by 10 points in the second half but finished a monster run outscoring the Pioneers 22 to 2 over the final nine minutes of the game. The spark was lightning quick point guard Kaitlin Thill who scored 12 points in the second half including three three-pointers late in the game to prove to be a dagger in Carroll’s hopes of winning the game.

“None of our girls were hitting perimeter shots and Kaitlin was able to come through down the stretch – that was big,” Carollo said.  Thill’s 20 point effort included 4-5 from three point range and 8-10 from the line, also adding seven steals and four assists for the mercurial guard.

Emily McCullick finished with nine points on four of five from the floor.

“Emily made some big plays tonight,” Carollo indicated. “We needed her scoring because we just weren’t getting the outside scoring needed from a number of players tonight:

Cortney Kumerow was big inside for much of the night finishing her night with 18 points on 5 of 8 from the floor, 8 if 9 from the free throw line, and six rebounds.

“She (Kumerow) really stepped up for us offensively as she adjusted to that tough Carroll zone very well,” Coach Carollo said.

It might not have been the prettiest win but make no doubt Coach Carollo and her team will take it.

“You know, first games are sometimes ugly,” Carollo indicated on the postgame show. “I’m glad we could squeak out the win. I’m happy!

Next up for the Warhawks will be a weekend trip to Monmouth, Illinois to participate in a four-team, early season tournament. The Hawks will open vs. Wartburg College Saturday evening at 5 p.m.

Warhawks beat Carroll 70-60 in season opener in Waukesha



Kaitlin Thill (5'5" Junior (Ozaukee High School

The UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team stormed back from a 10 point halftime deficit to defeat Carroll University 70-60 Thursday evening in the Hawks season opener at Van Male Field House in Waukesha.

Whitewater came out of the gate to take a 9-0 lead with 16:52 remaining in the first half. Carroll bounced back, eventually taking a 30-29 lead at 4:17 on two free throws by junior guard Emily DeNoyer.  The Pioneers' 40-36 lead at halftime was their largest of the first twenty minutes. UWW’s Cortney Kumerow led both teams with 11 points in the half.

The Pioneers' momentum carried over into the second half.  Carroll built its lead to 58-48 with two free throws by Corrine Engels at 9:12. 

Carroll did not score again until Breann Maryanski hit two free throws with 3:40 left --- and those would be the only points for the Pioneers the rest of the way. 

While the Pioneers went cold the Warhawks heated up by outscoring Carroll 22-2 over the last nine minutes of the game.

UW-W junior Kaitlyn Thill hit back to back threes in the Warhawks' run to give the Hawks the lead for the first time in the second half. A third Thill three pointer 1:30 left “sealed the deal.”

Thill was the game's leading scorer with 20 points, 12 in the second half.  She went 4-5 from three point range and 8-10 from the line, also adding seven steals and four assists.  Kumerow chipped in with 18 points, on 5-8 shooting from the field and 8-9 at the stripe, with six rebounds. Emily DeNoyer led Carroll with 16 points, hitting six of 18 field goals.  Breeann Maryanski contributed a double-double for CU with 14 points and a game high 11 rebounds.

Whitewater, ranked No. 8 in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25, will travel to Monmouth, Illinois for a four-team weekend tourney. The Hawks will open play Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. vs. Wartburg College (Iowa). Iowa Wesleyan and Monmouth play in the other first round game Saturday evening.

Cortney Kumerow looks to take next step

The UW-Whitewater women/s basketball team opens the season tonight at Carroll University in Waukesha. The Hawks are ranked No. 8 in the D3hoops.con Preseason Top 25.among the starters returing this year is Cortny Kumerow.

Whitewater returns a veteran lineup including First Team All-WIAC selrctions Cortney Kumerow. The 6'1 senior out of Elgin, Illinois has started since her freshman season.  She has shown steady development in each of her f  four seasons and enters this season as one of the top players in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Cortneyaveraged 11.3 points and 5.2 rebounds last season and will anchor the middle for  Coach Keri Corollo again this season.

Earlier this year David Folz wrote an excellent feature article on Kumerow for WordPress.com.

To view Folz's article click on the following..

http://davidfolz.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/kumerows-career-has-seen-strength-in-herself-and-team/

Warhawk women's basketball team opens season Thursday night at Carroll University in Waukesha

The UW-Whitewater women's basketball team opens the season Thursday night by traveling to Waukesha to take on the Carroll University Pioneers.

 

The Pioneers are picked to finish 6th in the preseason poll after coming off a 13 & 12 mark last season.  The Warhawks were picked last week to capture the WIAC title this season.

 

Last year Whitewater and Carroll opened the season at Kachel Gymnasium. The Hawks opened the second half on an 18-0 run on the way to an 82-68 victory

 

Tip-off Thursday night at Van Male Gymnasium in Waukesha is set for 7 p.m

If you can't make it to Waukesha you'll be able to listen to the game on KOOL 106.5  or online at http://www.940wfaw.com/. Airtime will be at 6:45 p.m.

Hawk men in final preparations for Saturday's season opener vs. Beloit College

The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team parlayed intense defense, the Player of the Year in Division III and great balance into the programs third NCAA Division III national title in school history.

With six of the top eight players back along with a solid recruiting class head coach Pat Miller has designs of capturing the WIAC title this season and making another run in the playoffs. It all begins Saturday night when the Warhawks open the season by hosting Beloit College in a 7: p.m. start at Kachel Gymnasium.

The Hawks are coming off a solid scrimmage last Friday vs. Elmhurst College out of the always tough College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

“It was a very physical scrimmage,” Miller told KOOL 106.5’s Gary Douglas on Monday night’s Warhawk Weekly radio show. “The play was much like what we’ll see in our conference this season.” 

“I’m happy where we are going into the season with our inside game,” Miller said.  “I think Darnell Harris and Reggie Hearn have both progressed very well.  Miles Chamberlain and K.J. will get some time at the 4 (power forward) and those guys are all new to our program.”

“One of the strengths of our program is that we do a lot of different things – we show a lot of things offensively,” Miller said. “The guys that are new to the program are doing well but they still are in the process of getting a firm grasp on the system.”

According to Miller much in this week in practice will focus on getting the newcomers and returning veterans on the same page heading into Saturday night’s season opener.