High expectations have surrounded the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s basketball team all off-season since former coach Bruce Pearl led the Panthers deep into the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to eventual runner-up Illinois in the Sweet 16.

When Pearl left for the big bucks to become coach at the struggling men’s basketball program at the University of Tennessee, those expectations were not lowered with the hiring of former UW assistant Rob Jeter.

It was no surprise then that virtually every major publication in the country picked the UWM Panthers to be the 2005-2006 Horizon League champion.

The Panthers return with four of five starters, as well as the bulk of the team’s scoring last year. Joah Tucker, the returning senior and Horizon League Tournament MVP, has been picked by many commentators to be the Horizon League Player of the Year.

In last year’s NCAA tournament, Tucker scored a career high 32 points against an overmatched Illini frontcourt.

Boo Davis will replace Ed McCants as the starting shooting guard this year. The Panthers also return their court general, point guard Chris Hill, who will be expected not only to feed the ball to the bucket machines, but also to generate some points himself.

New coach Rob Jeter has already made his mark on the school. The popular online Web site Facebook.com has four clubs inspired by the head honcho, including one that boasts “Jeter for President.”

Jeter is also contributing to the program, bringing in several new recruits who are expected to bolster the team this year, as well as further down the road.

Kaylan Anderson, a freshman guard from Toronto, Ontario, will be playing as a key backup to both guards.

However, another player from Toronto, forward Kevin Massiah, is expected to contribute big right away. Lindy’s Basketball has picked Massiah as the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year.

While the regular season starts on Nov. 15, the Klotsche Krazies in the student section can find solace in the fact that the exhibition season starts tonight at 8 p.m. against UW-Parkside, a non-Division I school.

That game is part of a double-header with the women’s team, which plays at 6 p.m.

The games will take place at the U.S. Cellular Arena, which hasn’t seen UWM basketball since Adrian Tigert drained a free throw to secure the Horizon League championship.

The regular season begins in Memphis, Tenn., where the Panthers will take on a very tough Memphis Tigers team. That game will be followed by Milwaukee’s first appearance in the Preseason National Invitational Tournament.

The tough games continue with Elite Eight participant Wisconsin hosting the Panthers in mid-December.

Can UWM build upon last year’s success and drive further into the NCAA Tournament? Will they take the Horizon League Championship again? The answers can be found on the hardwood.

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