Rob Jeter has done an incredible job since losing some major players earlier this season, but the Panthers have done an even better job climbing the standings in the Horizon League.

The men’s basketball team at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has turned a below average season into a potential Horizon League Championship year, but they still have two teams ahead of them to surpass in order to earn that honor, along with a line of teams looking to take their place.

Though the Panthers, consisting of only a 10-man roster, sit in third place in the Horizon League with a - overall record, - in the Horizon League, Jeter and co. still have work to do.

They lost their first game against Butler, which was on the road, but still have a home game against the currently ranked No. 14 Bulldogs on Feb. 12, schedule changed from the 11th due to the game being televised on ESPNU.

The Panthers also have one more game at Horizon League leader Cleveland St. a little more than a week after hosting Butler. So there are two outcomes that could come of the games yet to come.

The short-benched Panthers could be on the fast track to taking sole leadership of the Horizon League by winning all of their five games, or they could fall to the cellar of the Horizon League if they lose more than half of those games between now and the Feb. 23rd BracketBuster.

Even if the Panthers split their games against the conference favorites, Jeter could see his underdog Panthers in the third or fourth seed in the Horizon League Tournament, still giving them an opportunity at an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

UWM needs to split games with Butler and Cleveland St. and get a win against Valparaiso at home in order to have hope at a third Horizon League Championship in four years.

That being said, the Panthers can do it. Winning _ of their last _ games (7 of 8) the Panthers have pulled stunning wins against Green Bay, Valparaiso, Wright St. and Youngstown St., with their only loss being to Butler, who fell to Cleveland St. a week later.

What UWM needs to do is keep shooting and continue to play aggressive defense. This is a new team than earlier this season and they are getting the rightful attention of every team in the Horizon League.

If the Panthers can in fact keep the defense up and the shooting percentage high Jeter will see his UWM squad making a few upsets along the way.

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