J.J. Panoske: Facts and Figures
• The 6-foot-10 senior forward from Brodhead has started 70 of the 113 games he has played in for UW-Milwaukee, including all 21 so far this season.
• Panoske scored a career-high 22 points Dec. 13, 2015 against Judson.
• He grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds Nov. 14, 2015 against Lipscomb.
• He holds the Panthers' career record in blocks with 135.
• He finished his freshman season (2012-13) with a school-record 41 blocks. He has 35 so far this season.
J.J. Panoske: BY THE NUMBERS
Ppg Rpg
2012-13 5.0 3.7
2013-14 3.2 2.5
2014-15 7.7 3.7
2015-16 10.0 5.3
MILWAUKEE - Two years ago, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 6-foot-10 forward J.J. Panoske could be seen dancing to Pharrell Williams' "Happy" after the Panthers made a run in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
"I've had an up-and-down career at UW-Milwaukee," Panoske said. "When I came from a small town like Brodhead, there were a lot of older players ahead of me. I had to learn the mental aspect of the game. Coach (Rob) Jeter is a perfectionist and is very detailed. The best part is you learn from it and grow from it. My ultimate goal is to make money playing professional basketball overseas, and that is still in front of me."
It hasn't been all a dance party for Panoske and the Panthers. Panoske red-shirted as a freshman as he worked to become stronger and develop his game even more. After making an NCAA tournament appearance in 2014, UW-Milwaukee's men's basketball team was on probation last year and ineligible for the postseason due to low cumulative academic performance rate scores.
Panoske is now a fifth-year senior starter for a UW-Milwaukee team that has a 14-7 record and could be on the verge of returning to the March Madness stage.
Panoske is enjoying his expanded role on the court as a starter on a team that features Michael Jordan's nephew, Jordan Johnson, and fellow starters Matt Tiby, Akeem Springs and Madison Edgewood graduate Austin Arians.
"Wherever you are, you have to feel engaged and good things will come," Panoske said. "He (Jeter) will not give you anything easy. He will make you earn everything you get."
Panoske is averaging 10 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He's shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from 3-point range. He's been one of the team's best free-throw shooters at 82.1 percent.
"I know this is my last year," Panoske said. "My expectations coming into the year were high. I knew we had a lot of talent."
Panoske not only had to become stronger but also develop the right mindset to play Division I college basketball.
"The big thing about college basketball is not playing the victim on the court," Panoske said. "I have improved at staying in the moment and not thinking about negative or positive plays. I think my growth and maturity as a person is being portrayed through basketball."
Valparaiso and Wright State are tied atop the Horizon League at 7-1. Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay, who face-off Friday night at Panther Arena, are tied at 5-3 in conference play. The automatic berth in the NCAA tournament will go to whichever team wins the Horizon League tournament to be held March 5-8 in Detroit.
"We know we can play with anyone when we step on the court," Panoske said. "We have some strong-minded players like Matt Tiby and Jordan Johnson. When they set their minds to something it usually goes their way. Our biggest challenge is not to look too far ahead. We have to treat every game like it's a tournament game. We just have to make sure we are ready to play every time we step on the court."
"I've had an up-and-down career at UW-Milwaukee," Panoske said. "When I came from a small town like Brodhead, there were a lot of older players ahead of me. I had to learn the mental aspect of the game. Coach (Rob) Jeter is a perfectionist and is very detailed. The best part is you learn from it and grow from it. My ultimate goal is to make money playing professional basketball overseas, and that is still in front of me."
It hasn't been all a dance party for Panoske and the Panthers. Panoske red-shirted as a freshman as he worked to become stronger and develop his game even more. After making an NCAA tournament appearance in 2014, UW-Milwaukee's men's basketball team was on probation last year and ineligible for the postseason due to low cumulative academic performance rate scores.
Panoske is now a fifth-year senior starter for a UW-Milwaukee team that has a 14-7 record and could be on the verge of returning to the March Madness stage.
Panoske is enjoying his expanded role on the court as a starter on a team that features Michael Jordan's nephew, Jordan Johnson, and fellow starters Matt Tiby, Akeem Springs and Madison Edgewood graduate Austin Arians.
"Wherever you are, you have to feel engaged and good things will come," Panoske said. "He (Jeter) will not give you anything easy. He will make you earn everything you get."
Panoske is averaging 10 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He's shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from 3-point range. He's been one of the team's best free-throw shooters at 82.1 percent.
"I know this is my last year," Panoske said. "My expectations coming into the year were high. I knew we had a lot of talent."
Panoske not only had to become stronger but also develop the right mindset to play Division I college basketball.
"The big thing about college basketball is not playing the victim on the court," Panoske said. "I have improved at staying in the moment and not thinking about negative or positive plays. I think my growth and maturity as a person is being portrayed through basketball."
Valparaiso and Wright State are tied atop the Horizon League at 7-1. Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay, who face-off Friday night at Panther Arena, are tied at 5-3 in conference play. The automatic berth in the NCAA tournament will go to whichever team wins the Horizon League tournament to be held March 5-8 in Detroit.
"We know we can play with anyone when we step on the court," Panoske said. "We have some strong-minded players like Matt Tiby and Jordan Johnson. When they set their minds to something it usually goes their way. Our biggest challenge is not to look too far ahead. We have to treat every game like it's a tournament game. We just have to make sure we are ready to play every time we step on the court."
