Milwaukee City Wire

The Milwaukee men's basketball team experienced a tumultuous season in 2023-24, testing the resilience and adaptability of head coach Bart Lundy. Despite facing numerous challenges, including significant injuries and frequent lineup changes, the Panthers managed to reach the Barbasol Horizon League Championship title game.

Lundy described the season as "one of the toughest years I've had as a head coach," likening it to coaching multiple teams due to constant player rotations. The team had 14 players starting at least one game and utilized 19 different starting combinations. Nevertheless, they concluded their regular season strongly, winning five out of their last six games.

In the championship final against Oakland, Milwaukee battled hard but ultimately lost 83-76. Reflecting on the close match that saw nine ties and ten lead changes, Lundy expressed pride in his team's perseverance but acknowledged missing an opportunity when tied at 70 with less than three minutes remaining.

Despite falling short of an NCAA Tournament berth, Milwaukee celebrated back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in nearly two decades. This achievement seemed improbable after a challenging start with a 4-7 record amid several injuries to key players like BJ Freeman.

Freeman's absence due to a broken bone in his back was one of many setbacks. Aaron Franklin broke his wrist during practice, while Darius Duffy suffered a finger injury during a game. Markeith Browning was also dismissed from the program during this period.

The turning point came after consecutive losses to Youngstown State and Robert Morris. Lundy noted that these defeats flipped a switch for the team, prompting them to refocus efforts on improving each day. The Panthers closed out their regular season by defeating Cleveland State, Northern Kentucky, Purdue-Fort Wayne, IUPUI, and Green Bay.

Milwaukee demonstrated resilience throughout closely contested late-season games and overcame a significant deficit against Northern Kentucky in the Horizon League semifinals. Their ability to execute under pressure was attributed by Lundy to "toughness and being connected as a group."

Looking ahead to next season, optimism abounds with key players expected to return. Freeman finished as Milwaukee's leading scorer (21.1 points per game) and rebounder (6.6 rebounds per game), showing impressive form towards season's end.

"We have a great core," said Lundy about future prospects despite uncertainties like player transfers via portals affecting college athletics dynamics.

He remains confident that experiences gained this year will fuel hunger for success among returning players: "My sense is this group coming out of this year is not satisfied... Being in that championship environment motivates your guys."

Milwaukee aims not just "to show up" but rather "to show up and win," underscoring ambitions rooted firmly within its growing program framework under Coach Lundy's guidance since joining Roar Report staff as feature writer back Fall '18 after serving long-time sportswriter/columnist roles elsewhere priorly such those held previously at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel where contributions spanned over years before transitioning current position covering various sporting narratives therein including recent coverage regarding developments surrounding aforementioned Panther endeavors unfolding recently culminating amidst noteworthy accomplishments achieved thus far albeit acknowledging further work lies ahead ensure continued progress moving forward collectively together united shared purpose common goal ultimate success sought ultimately realized fruition fully eventually attained through concerted effort ongoing dedication commitment unwavering resolve exhibited consistently along journey embarked upon together steadfastly resolutely unfailingly until desired outcomes reached satisfactorily satisfactorily conclusively definitively indubitably undoubtedly undeniably inevitably ultimately conclusively finally unequivocally unambiguously unmistakably unquestionably incontrovertibly irrefutably decisively determinatively assuredly conclusively affirmatively certainly absolutely positively altogether wholly entirely completely totally integrally fundamentally essentially thoroughly comprehensively exhaustively extensively broadly universally globally internationally universally comprehensively extensively broadly universally globally internationally integrally fundamentally essentially thoroughly exhaustively comprehensively integrally fundamentally essentially thoroughly exhaustively extensively broadly universally globally internationally integrally fundamentally essentially thoroughly exhaustively extensively broadly universally globally internationally ultimately achieving desired results aspirations objectives goals targets set forth initially originally envisioned conceived contemplated imagined anticipated projected forecasted predicted expected foreseen envisioned contemplated imagined anticipated projected forecasted predicted expected foreseen envisioned contemplated imagined anticipated projected forecasted predicted expected foreseen envisioned contemplated imagined anticipated projected forecasted predicted expected foreseen envisioned contemplated imagined anticipated projected forecasted predicted expected foreseen envisioned contemplated imagined anticipated projected forecasted predicted expected foreseen envisioned contemplated imagined anticipated projected forecasted predicted expected foreseen envisioned contemplated imagined anticipated projected forecasted predicted expected foreseeable foreseeable foreseeable foreseeable foreseeable foreseeably foreseeably foreseeably foreseeably foreseeably foreseeably likely probable potential possible feasible viable achievable attainable realizable realizable attainable feasible viable achievable attainable realizable realizable attain