Warhawk Men's Basketball team look to defend DIII national title

The "Radio Voice" of Warhawk Basketball, Gary Douglas inerviews
Warhark men's basketball coach Pat Miller at Media Day  last week
at the team's Media Day at Kachel Gymnasium.

When the UW-Whitewater men's basketball team met with members of the media at Kachel Gymnasium, there was little indication the Warhawks were the defending NCAA Division III national champions.

First of all, the championship banners and All-American photos had been removed from the walls while the gymnasium's new scoreboards were installed. And secondly, players are banned from working out in clothes that say national champions..

The Warhawks capped off its 2011-12 campaign by overcoming an 18-point second half deficit to earn a thrilling 63-60 victory over Cabrini College (Pa.) in the NCAA Division III men’s basketball national championship game at Salem Civic Center on March 17.

It marked the third national title in school history.  

Reigning WIAC, Midwest Region and national coach of the year Pat Miller has stressed to his players that last year's title run is over, and the team needs to focus on the challenges ahead during the 2012-13 season.

"We were very adamant about that - even last spring. We have to turn the page," said Miller, whose team finished 29-4 overall, 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.

UW-Whitewater - which is ranked No. 3 nationally in the D3hoops.com Top 25 preseason poll - has four returning starters to ease that process, along with five returning lettermen and a number of highly regarded recruits.

Jeff Seisser, sports editor at the Daily Jefferson County Union, has published a preview story on this year's UW-Whitewater Men's Basketball team.

To read the Daily Union Warhawk men's basketball preview article CLICK HERE