Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s 78-68 loss to Tennessee Tech. Is the team struggling to find its identity?

The Panthers are stuck in a rut. For the first time in years, they are far under .500. UWM, at least in the non-conference season, has been less than stellar. The team is showing signs of improvement, yes, but they no longer are entering the Horizon League schedule as the runaway favorites. In fact, many publications picked Milwaukee to finish in the bottom of the conference.

On the court, they are troubled. They are not pressuring opponents on their shots, evidenced by a near 50 percent field goal percentage by Panther foes. The team is inconsistent. They go on long runs and take control of games, only to let the other team slap them down.

This wasn’t unexpected. UWM came into the season with the least amount of D-I basketball starts than any other program in the country. The seven seniors, who were present for all four of Milwaukee’s postseason appearances, are gone.

There are two seniors on this year’s team, one of which, Kevin Massiah, came to Milwaukee last season as a junior college transfer. The fact is, with 15 players on the team in their first or second year in a Panther uniform, early season bumps and bruises have been expected.

So, where is this identity? A squad with an identity, such as the teamwork-driven Wisconsin Badgers and Marquette Whatever-They-Are-This-Weeks, knows their game. They know what they are going to do going into every contest.

The Panthers’ identity, so far this year, is in doubt. They definitely don’t want to settle as the team who scores in bunches and can’t contest a shot. What can help them along this road?

A leader.

One player on the team needs to step up and lead. He needs to set an example for his teammates on the floor and in the locker room. The team needs to go to him when they have problems. Last year’s team had that player. In fact, last year’s group was full of leaders. However, this team has an identity crisis.

Who is going to step up?

Paige Paulsen is a good player, but he sat out last season after transferring from Northern Illinois, and he gets into foul trouble too much. You can’t lead if you’re not on the court.

Avery Smith scores easily, is very talented, and is a goofball in the locker room that everyone likes. However, he hasn’t started in a few games, and it seems he has fallen out of favor with the coaches to start at guard.

I think the answer is obvious: Allan Hanson, the hometown hero. The stop-and-pop three-point specialist, Hanson has played his whole career as a point guard. This year, however, he moved to the shooting guard position, and while his performance against Central Michigan was appalling, (0 points, four turnovers, three fouls) he is still the best candidate to lead this squad.

He is more vocal than any player, and it’s easy to see on the basketball court. He is the one who corrals the team at dead balls, he is the one who shouts across the court to keep the guys on task. Hanson is a leader in the purist sense, despite moving to a more individualistic position. “Big Shot Al” needs to step up and accept the leadership role of the team.

Then, the Milwaukee Panthers will be able to form a new identity.

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