UW-Milwaukee coach Pat Baldwin heads into first big weekend with new team

Just four months into his new job as UW-Milwaukee men's basketball coach, Pat Baldwin is looking for any and every opportunity to evaluate and test his new charges.

This weekend will prove valuable to him in that regard. The Panthers played their annual Black and Gold scrimmage Friday at the Klotsche Center, and then Sunday they take on Marquette at the Al McGuire Center in an exhibition game that will benefit hurricane relief efforts.

"It gives us two opportunities to get film and demonstrate to our guys how we want to play," Baldwin said Friday at UWM's media day, first noting the importance of the charity being generated from the exhibition for the American Red Cross.

"And we wanted to do it because of our league and how they schedule games, with Thursday-Saturday games. Here we are with Friday-Sunday games with one day of prep in between. So this is a great dress rehearsal for our guys, and for me.

"I'm new, and this is an opportunity for me to devise our game plan in that one day and get ready for Marquette."

UWM returns four of five starters from a team that finished 11-24 and in last place in the Horizon League in 2016-'17. But three of those victories came in the conference tournament, where the Panthers unexpectedly advanced to the title game before falling to Northern Kentucky.

That run helped pave the way for first-year coach LaVall Jordan to return to coach his alma mater, Butler, and for UWM to hire Baldwin, who'd spent the previous four seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Northwestern.

Among the holdovers for Baldwin are Brock Stull, who led the Panthers in scoring (13.5 points per game) and rebounding (6.6); leading assist man August Haas (3.8); big men Brett Prahl and Bryce Nze; and top reserve Jeremiah Bell.

Baldwin has stressed to his players that he has no preconceived notions about anyone, and that consistent effort on both ends of the court will determine UWM's starting five and top reserves. 

"I want to see these guys compete first," Baldwin said. "Whether they're making shots or doing anything else, I want to see them compete. Then that, for me, will determine who's starting and who's going to get minutes out there on the floor.

"That's going to be the No. 1 thing for me."

UWM will have another scrimmage opportunity next weekend as well, when it travels to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to take on Nebraska-Omaha. 

The Panthers play another exhibition game Nov. 2 at the Klotsche Center against Wisconsin Lutheran College, then open the regular season against Division III UW-La Crosse at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Nov. 10.

Impact addition: Among Baldwin's top priorities when he took over was to try to add size and athleticism on the wing.

Enter DeAndre Abram, a transfer from George Mason who will redshirt this season and then have two years of eligibility beginning in 2018-'19.

"First of all he's a great kid, and that's what we want in our program," Baldwin said of the Carrollton, Texas, native who checks in a 6 feet 7 inches and 195 pounds.

"He's a versatile forward who can play out on the wing at 6-7, and that was very attractive. I thing what he brings to the table is the ability to shoot the basketball. Someone with length and athleticism that I think you need to compete."

Abram averaged 6.6 points and 2.9 rebounds while playing in all 32 games as a freshman at George Mason, only to see his playing time and production fall off considerably .

Abram first landed on Baldwin's radar while Baldwin was recruiting at Northwestern, and he signed with the Panthers after the coach re-opened contact with him after taking over at UWM.

"We didn't have room there and nothing came about, and I almost let it go when I came here because I thought he was at a different level from a recruiting standpoint," said Baldwin. "But we stayed persistent with him and got the release, and he committed to us sight unseen because he trusted in what we're doing.

"For us to get him in the late summer was a huge get, and he's going to help us next year -- I guarantee it. This will be a great year for him to sit out and get stronger. He's 192 and we're trying to get him up to 205, 210 and be functional with that.

"I guarantee you he'll be a definite factor in us being successful next year."