Panthers need Skinner to stay on the court
Marcus Skinner's contribution to the UW-Milwaukee cause when the Panthers lost at Butler, 72-56, on Jan. 12 was two points, six rebounds and a boatload of moral support."I encouraged the team a lot," Skinner said. "And I told them to keep going strong."
Skinner, the Panthers' top interior player, was reduced to a glorified cheerleading role by circumstances. He picked up a pair of ticky-tack fouls within 10 seconds of each other, less than 3 minutes into the game, and spent most of the rest of his afternoon spectating.
He re-entered the game late in the first half and picked up his third foul. All told, he spent 13 minutes on the floor that day and 27 off it.
He will have a chance to rectify that situation tonight when the ninth-ranked Bulldogs visit the U.S. Cellular Arena at 6 p.m.
While Skinner was away, the Bulldogs, and especially freshman Matt Howard, played. Panthers coach Rob Jeter rotated sophomore walk-on Jason Averkamp and freshman Anthony Hill on Howard, but the 6-foot-8 freshman scored a game-high 17 points and pulled down seven rebounds in 26 minutes.
"We need for all our guys to stay in the game, but especially Marcus," said Jeter, who sees just five potential substitutes when he peers down his bench these days. "When you look at our guards, we can bring in players off the bench who are similar.
"But we don't have big guys with the kind of athleticism that Marcus gives us. We don't have that off the bench."
With 10 days to prepare for Butler (21-2, 10-2 Horizon League), you might guess Skinner would have gotten a daily briefing from Jeter on avoiding fouls and staying in the game. But you would be wrong.
"You look at that game, and the second foul, the one that set the tone, isn't called 90% of the time," Jeter said. "I mean, you could call a foul every time there is contact or you could rarely call that. This time of year, you expect it to be called rarely."
The play in question found Howard attempting to back down Skinner on the blocks. There was contact and Skinner was called for the foul.
Jeter was equally unhappy with the third foul. Skinner and a Butler player were scrambling for a loose ball and Skinner was whistled.
"Marcus and a Butler player were scrambling for a loose ball," Jeter recalled. "He was the bigger guy, so they gave him the foul."
Jeter doesn't see Skinner's woes in that contest being the result of overly aggressive play, just aggressive play. Thus, there was no lecturing, just friendly reminders this week.
"(Jeter) tells me before every game to avoid foul trouble," said the senior from Flint, Mich. "He tells me not to react too late. I know I have to play smarter and move my feet.
"As I was sitting there that day, it was very difficult. I kept telling myself I shouldn't have picked up this foul, or done this or that."
That game also might have solidified Averkamp's role as the Panthers' main backup to Skinner in the post. Although not gifted athletically, the 6-6 space eater from New Berlin West is a gritty and wide presence who doesn't shy away from contact.
"Jason is getting the minutes because he deserves the opportunity," Jeter said of the sophomore walk-on. "He is doing a lot of things the right way.
"It's not that Anthony isn't, but Averkamp deserves the opportunity."
The ultimate goal for the Panthers (12-10 overall) is still to catch Butler in the Horizon League standings. But with a 7-5 league mark and a three-game deficit to make up, that is becoming increasingly unlikely as March approaches.
"Everybody in our league is fighting for position and they are all trying to get to that first spot," Jeter said. "Where it all shakes out, we'll see.
"If it doesn't happen for us, the top two spots are most coveted."
Under the Horizon League tournament format, both the No. 1 and No. 2 finishers during the regular season are automatically seeded into the semifinals for the league tournament.
"I think what separates Butler from the rest at this point is how they play together," Skinner said. "They play together so well as a team, make the extra pass, take care of the little things."
Marcus Skinner's contribution to the UW-Milwaukee cause when the Panthers lost at Butler, 72-56, on Jan. 12 was two points, six rebounds and a boatload of moral support."I encouraged the team a lot," Skinner said. "And I told them to keep going strong."
Skinner, the Panthers' top interior player, was reduced to a glorified cheerleading role by circumstances. He picked up a pair of ticky-tack fouls within 10 seconds of each other, less than 3 minutes into the game, and spent most of the rest of his afternoon spectating.
He re-entered the game late in the first half and picked up his third foul. All told, he spent 13 minutes on the floor that day and 27 off it.
He will have a chance to rectify that situation tonight when the ninth-ranked Bulldogs visit the U.S. Cellular Arena at 6 p.m.
While Skinner was away, the Bulldogs, and especially freshman Matt Howard, played. Panthers coach Rob Jeter rotated sophomore walk-on Jason Averkamp and freshman Anthony Hill on Howard, but the 6-foot-8 freshman scored a game-high 17 points and pulled down seven rebounds in 26 minutes.
"We need for all our guys to stay in the game, but especially Marcus," said Jeter, who sees just five potential substitutes when he peers down his bench these days. "When you look at our guards, we can bring in players off the bench who are similar.
"But we don't have big guys with the kind of athleticism that Marcus gives us. We don't have that off the bench."
With 10 days to prepare for Butler (21-2, 10-2 Horizon League), you might guess Skinner would have gotten a daily briefing from Jeter on avoiding fouls and staying in the game. But you would be wrong.
"You look at that game, and the second foul, the one that set the tone, isn't called 90% of the time," Jeter said. "I mean, you could call a foul every time there is contact or you could rarely call that. This time of year, you expect it to be called rarely."
The play in question found Howard attempting to back down Skinner on the blocks. There was contact and Skinner was called for the foul.
Jeter was equally unhappy with the third foul. Skinner and a Butler player were scrambling for a loose ball and Skinner was whistled.
"Marcus and a Butler player were scrambling for a loose ball," Jeter recalled. "He was the bigger guy, so they gave him the foul."
Jeter doesn't see Skinner's woes in that contest being the result of overly aggressive play, just aggressive play. Thus, there was no lecturing, just friendly reminders this week.
"(Jeter) tells me before every game to avoid foul trouble," said the senior from Flint, Mich. "He tells me not to react too late. I know I have to play smarter and move my feet.
"As I was sitting there that day, it was very difficult. I kept telling myself I shouldn't have picked up this foul, or done this or that."
That game also might have solidified Averkamp's role as the Panthers' main backup to Skinner in the post. Although not gifted athletically, the 6-6 space eater from New Berlin West is a gritty and wide presence who doesn't shy away from contact.
"Jason is getting the minutes because he deserves the opportunity," Jeter said of the sophomore walk-on. "He is doing a lot of things the right way.
"It's not that Anthony isn't, but Averkamp deserves the opportunity."
The ultimate goal for the Panthers (12-10 overall) is still to catch Butler in the Horizon League standings. But with a 7-5 league mark and a three-game deficit to make up, that is becoming increasingly unlikely as March approaches.
"Everybody in our league is fighting for position and they are all trying to get to that first spot," Jeter said. "Where it all shakes out, we'll see.
"If it doesn't happen for us, the top two spots are most coveted."
Under the Horizon League tournament format, both the No. 1 and No. 2 finishers during the regular season are automatically seeded into the semifinals for the league tournament.
"I think what separates Butler from the rest at this point is how they play together," Skinner said. "They play together so well as a team, make the extra pass, take care of the little things."
