Rob Jeter enjoyed the most successful first year for a coach in University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee history when he took the Panthers to a 22-9 record and the second round of the NCAA tournament. The story has been the same all of this season, however.

Seven seniors gone, least experienced team in D-I, it all rang true in this 2006-2007 campaign. The season was not a complete disaster, but one could argue that it wasnt far off.

So where does that leave Milwaukee? Where are the Panthers headed in 2007-2008?

Youre going to have to wait for answers. Speculation, predictions, looking into the crystal ball? Lets take a gander.

First off, youll have to judge what UWM has coming back next season, along with how much they lose.

Perhaps the easiest statement to make is that Milwaukee will not fall further down the Horizon League totem pole next year. So what is UWM losing?

Kevin Massiah is going to be the greatest export. The graduating senior ended the season third on the team in scoring (7.8 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.2 rpg), but perhaps will be missed mostly as the Panthers most efficient scorer. The 47.8 percent shooter was a great player down low, and no one can say they wont miss his electric dunks.

Of course, fans can always look to the incoming monster.

Torre Johnson is a beast; it may not be a stretch to say that he is the most electrifying player to compete for UWM in recent memory; anyone who attended Panther Madness will tell you that. He wowed the crowd with a cookie jar dunk and a 360 slam, among others.

Johnson transferred to UWM from Oklahoma State, where they went under a coaching change from the effective Eddie Sutton to his hapless son. The fact that their third leading scorer and fourth leading rebounder a year ago makes you wonder how good they would be right now if they had the big-time player Johnson.

While Massiah was a big cog in this offense, Torre Johnson will be the man in Milwaukee come November.

Nick Hansen and Kevin Massiah were consummate leaders this campaign, but their careers will not be defined by this disastrous 9-22 season. Massiah was a key backup for the team that defeated Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament last year, and Nick Hansen came in and banged a big three pointer over A.J. Graves in the Horizon League championship game in 2006.

The frontcourt of the Panthers was lacking this season. A combination of junior transfer Sam Mauldin, juco recruit Marcus Skinner and Paige Paulsen manned the lane. Mauldins time as the starting center dropped considerably over the course of the season.

In the off season, he was still recovering from knee problems, but by the time Parkside came rolling into town with exhibition upset on their minds, he was good to go. Sadly, his production diminished around the middle of December, to the point where he was put on the bench to stay.

Skinner also began the season as part of the rotation, making six starts before Christmas. However, he also fell to a reserve role, coming off the bench when the Panthers needed to catch a rebound underneath. Skinner made one more start, against UIC, but it was because starter Paige Paulsen was throwing up a lung in the locker room.

As for Paulsen, he proved to be the most consistent player in the frontcourt. Paulsen was second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg) and first in rebounding (5.7 rpg).

Next season, hell be getting some big time help. Milwaukee native and Bradley Tech star Anthony Hill, a 6-foot-8-inch senior, is leading the Trojans in scoring with 13.9 ppg. Hell be joined by Tim Flowers, the big forward from Simeon High in Chicago, a team that is ranked high in the nation and steamrolling its way to another state championship.

Flowers, a bit short at 6-5, more than makes up for it with his burly broad shoulders and strength of a bull underneath. Hell have an inside track to a starting job as a freshman in November.

Ricky Franklin and other guards were forced to play prominently in the three spot because the Panthers lacked a swingman that could start this year. That will be remedied by Kevin KJ Johnson, a 6-7 small forward who jumps out of the gym and can score from anywhere.

Johnson was considered a solid mid-major prospect at the beginning of the season, but his phenomenal senior year suggests he has skyrocketed to the point where many power conference teams wish he didnt sign a letter of intent to Milwaukee back in the fall.

Junior guard Al Hanson, the most experienced player in a Panthers uniform, spent his third season in Milwaukee as a starter at point guard.

The six-footer from Wauwatosa East High School finished the season fourth in scoring at 7.7 ppg. Franklin played a bunch at point guard as well, finishing with 31 steals, second only to Avery Smiths 36. The trio of guards split up most of the duties with Charlie Swiggett until he tore his ACL over semester break.

The guard position will be mighty crowded in November, with Tulsa transfer Deion James and Notre Dame Prep point Deonte Roberts being added to the mix. Roberts has a sweet pass that will definitely come in handy next season, one of many things that will be a pleasant surprise in Milwaukee come November.

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