APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University men's basketball team, fresh off the finest season in school history, opens its 2004-05 campaign with an exhibition game at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The Division I Panthers host Lawrence, which advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Tournament last season, on Nov. 10. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
"It is an exciting opportunity for us," Lawrence head coach John Tharp said. "We have a lot of kids from the Milwaukee area and to have the opportunity to play a Division I school will be exciting.
"It's an honor. We appreciate UW-Milwaukee and coach Bruce Pearl thinking of us and giving us a small taste of the Division I world. It also gives us a chance to see what we need to work on as a team, to see our strengths and weaknesses, before we begin our regular season."
The Panthers are the defending Horizon League champions and finished 20-11 last season. UWM lost 65-62 to the University of Illinois-Chicago in the Horizon League Tournament Championship Game and was denied a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers played in the NIT, defeating Rice in the first round before losing at Boise State in the second round.
Despite losing star Dylan Page to graduation, UWM returns a number of talented players. Senior guard Ed McCants, who was second on the team last season at 17.1 points per game, was a first-team all-conference selection last season.
The Panthers also feature several local players. Junior forward Adrian Tigert is a former star at Oshkosh West High School, and guard Nick Hansen was a standout at Appleton West. New to the squad for the Panthers is former Kaukauna center Steve Hoelzel.
While the Vikings lost forward Chris MacGillis and guard Rob Nenahlo to graduation, Lawrence does return 13 letterwinners from a season ago. Leading that group is Division III All-America forward Chris Braier (Wauwautosa/East), who averaged 15 points and 13.4 rebounds per game on his way to being named Midwest Conference Player of the Year.
Other starters who return for Lawrence are senior guards Dan Evans (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) and Jason Holinbeck (Neenah/Neenah), senior forward Brendan Falls (Park Ridge, Ill./Loyola), and senior center Tony Olson (Green Bay/East).
Lawrence finished 24-5 last season and won the Midwest Conference championship and Midwest Conference Tournament title. The Vikings routed Lakeland 86-51 in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Alexander Gymnasium. The Vikings then won 72-66 at Buena Vista to advance to the Sweet 16 in Tacoma, Wash. Lawrence topped Sul Ross State 86-79 in overtime before UW-Stevens Point rallied to beat the Vikings 82-81 in overtime.
"For our basketball players, they will look back and say that was a great experience," Tharp said. "When they're older and telling people about their careers, they will tell people about this game."
Lawrence opens its regular season Nov. 19-20 at the UW-Platteville Tournament.