Story by WRN/Bill Scott
The Milwaukee Panthers entered the Horizon League Tournament in Detroit riding a nine game losing streak. They had lost 23 games and were the 10th and final seed in the Tournament with a 4-14 record.
Three wins later and the upset minded Panthers are playing for the Horizon League Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Milwaukee knocked off the 6th-seeded UIC Flames 74-68 in last night’s semifinals in Detroit and will face Northern Kentucky in tonight’s 6 p.m. championship game.
With the game tied 61-61 with 3:49 to play, the Panthers finished on a 13-7 run to become the first 10-seed to ever advance to a Horizon League tournament final.
Sophomore Brock Stull had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Brett Prahl and senior Cody Wichmann added 15 points each as the Panthers improved to 11-23.
Pulaski graduate Cody Wichmann eyes another basketball milestone – Story by TCHDailyNews/Tony Bettack
As a high school senior, Cody Wichmann helped lead his Pulaski Red Raiders to a state title in 2013. Now as a college senior, Wichmann hopes to help lead UW-Milwaukee back to the “Big Dance,” for the first time since 2014, Wichmann’s freshman year.
Wichmann has played a key role offensively, averaging 13 points in 34 games. In tournament play, he has scored 36 points in their three games.
Although it’s been a difficult year in the Horizon League for the Panthers, this season has some familiarity to it. In 2014, UW-Milwaukee was picked to finish last in the Horizon league, but ultimately punched their ticket to the tournament.
This season has been much of the same, and should UW-Milwaukee knock off Northern Kentucky, they will have the worst record of any team to play in the NCAA Tournament in its history. The Panthers have faced long odds the entire season, but in March, anything can happen.