Milwaukee Panthers 2024-25 WBB Preview

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Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Athletics

Is this year for Cream City to claw to the top?

Coming into last season, it would have been easy to say that Milwaukee was young and retooling. It would not have been correct, though. In any case, they are now a group of young veterans looking to take the next step.

The Panthers proved themselves as a tough bunch last winter, and it shouldn’t have come as too big a surprise around the Horizon League. Just a year removed from an 11-win campaign, Milwaukee won sixteen games, finished fifth in their conference, and found some stalwarts younger and older to lead the program forward. The Panthers even got the satisfaction of knocking off rival Green Bay in the final conference game Kevin Borseth, their iconic head coach, ever stalked the sidelines for.

Now, Kyle Rechlicz, who is embarking upon her 13th adventure in Milwaukee, is the longest-tenured head coach in the Horizon League. She’s returning a proven batch of experienced players – including one that was poached from within the conference. With their combined experience and developing chemistry, the Panthers’ confidence is high.

“The character of this group is top notch,” Rechlicz explained to the HoriZone Roundtable this summer. “It’s a pleasure to get to coach them…and seeing their growth already, it’s really exciting.” The transfer portal may have ravaged other teams this offseason, but most of Milwaukee’s key pieces are back from a year ago. With further improvements, the Panthers are beginning to look like a squad which may become a significant problem for foes who have dominated league play the past few seasons.

Kamy Peppler is at the head of a playmaking group of Panther guards (photo: Milwaukee Athletic Communications)

The straw that stirs the Brew City’s drink is exciting junior point guard Kamy Peppler. She broke out last winter as one of the most entertaining players in the Horizon League, and now returns as a seasoned star to spark the Panthers. Leading Milwaukee’s offense, Peppler has begun to show that she is a threat to pull up for a jumper at any time and can also drive into the teeth of the defense for points or to distribute. A talented passer who sees the action well anywhere on the floor and will push the tempo when opportunities are there, Peppler forces defenders to make decisions and keep up. She handed out the second-most assists of any Horizon League player as a sophomore, and Peppler’s dynamic ballhandling draws plenty of extra defensive attention away from her teammates. After struggling to get her shot going as a freshman, more than half of Peppler’s made field goals last year came from downtown. She ranked sixth in Horizon League play with 36 made triples, as well, and Peppler’s threat from the outside is part of an evolution the whole team has undergone in the past year or so.

A couple of years back, Milwaukee was not particularly threatening from the land of three. Last fall, MKE trotted out a rotation full of players who could hit jumpers, and the results were very positive. The Panthers finished in the top 100 nationally in made triples and shot almost 33% as a team last year – each significant improvements over the previous campaign. Even better, Milwaukee sank 78.8% of their free throws as a group, which was the ninth-best rate in America.

Now that Peppler and her friends have shown that they must be accounted for on the perimeter, it will be up to the rising junior to keep things better organized. Even though her pushing of the pace and attack-mode style were catalysts for so many of Milwaukee’s positive moments a year ago, Peppler has been particularly turnover-prone thus far. Unfortunately, Peppler has coughed up the most turnovers in the Horizon League in each of her first two seasons, and last year, her 135 miscues ranked eighth nationally. The Panthers play slow enough that they can rarely afford to have one player give away more than four possessions per game, so Peppler must strike a better balance between forcing the action and making safe plays.

Just like Peppler two years ago, Jorey Buwalda was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman team as a rookie, and she’s back as Milwaukee’s top scoring threat in the paint. When injuries struck the Panther frontcourt early last year, Buwalda got thrown into the fray despite her inexperience, and she fared quite well. In just her third career start, which was also the Panthers’ third day in a row competing at the McNeese MTE last November, Buwalda put up 20 points and 12 boards. 

Jorey Buwalda stepped straight into the Panther lineup and made an impact (photo: Milwaukee Athletic Communications)

She quickly proved capable of fighting for good position and Buwalda isn’t afraid to play a physical game. She immediately showed off quick feet and a decisive approach near the basket, and Buwalda got off to a strong start in conference play. Her 18 & 12 against Horizon League Rookie of the Year Carter McCray made for an impressive performance to lead Milwaukee at Northern Kentucky in early January, and Buwalda followed that up with 17 more in a home victory over Robert Morris. Part of Milwaukee’s outstanding work at the charity stripe, Buwalda cashed in 82.6% of her freebies as a rookie and is developing legit three-point range on her jumper.

Back for her third season, Anna Lutz did tireless work up front and, really, all over the floor last year. Though she was nicked up late in the year, Lutz powered through to help her younger teammates figure things out. Along the way, Lutz proved that she’s going to be one of the Panthers’ top players in the year to come.

Lutz ranked top ten in the Horizon League in rebounds and blocked shots in her first campaign as a starter, and each rejection was important for a Milwaukee side which didn’t have anyone else who consistently protected the rim. The Panthers occasionally struggled in close games to limit their opponents on the offensive glass, and Lutz threw herself into that fray with tremendous abandon, picking up key rebounds late in multiple wins. Another player who is both comfortable on the perimeter and at home crashing around in the lane, Lutz and Buwalda figure to help one another as they look towards a future as one of the league’s top post duos.

The biggest loss this spring was Kendall Nead, but Rechlicz & Co moved quickly to fill her spot with someone who knows the Horizon League well. The Panthers managed to plunder their conference rivals at Wright State for one of the best guards returning to the league, and Kacee Baumhower looks ready to step into a prominent role in Cream City. As the #2 option behind Raiders star Alexis Hutchinson, the Horizon’s top scorer last winter, Baumhower has developed a complete game and can fill a variety of roles.

“Her experience is huge,” Rechlicz explained this summer. “Kacee…brings an understanding of our league and how hard you have to work to compete near the top…she knows how to lead and lead by example.” Capable of playing on or off the ball, Baumhower is naturally creative and can manufacture good looks early in the shot clock. Though she wasn’t WSU’s top scorer, Baumhower scored in double figures twenty-three times in 33 games last year, and she ranked top ten in the Horizon in both scoring and assists. Baumhower also finished eighth in free throw attempts, sixth in makes, and third with a terrific 84.5% rate at the line – all of which is sweet music to the Milwaukee coaches. If Baumhower can combine with Peppler to give opponents multiple lead guards to worry about, the Panther attack will become significantly more dangerous.

One of the most reliable ballhandlers anywhere, Jada Donaldson is back for her fifth season to provide steady play on the perimeter. Donaldson enjoyed her best offensive year last winter, stepping forward as a solid shooter who the Panther coaches trust deeply to make good decisions at both ends of the floor.

“We’re really excited to have Jada back to use her extra year,” Rechlicz declared this summer. “She’s very steady and understands what we want to express to all our players…it’s not by accident that Jada ended up top ten (in the Horizon) in minutes last year.” Though she didn’t do a great deal of scoring two years ago, Donaldson proved quickly that she’s a calming presence at the point. A classic facilitator, Donaldson allows Peppler to hunt good looks off the bounce and should provide Baumhower that same luxury. That’s not to discount Donaldson’s scoring prowess; she leveled up in a big way as a deep threat last winter. After making just nine triples across her first three seasons combined, Donaldson tossed in thirty deep balls at a terrific 40.5% last year, and a couple of them came late in games to provide needed breathing room for the Panthers. 

Jada Donaldson brings all of the reliability you would hope for from a 5th-year senior (photo: Milwaukee Athletic Communications)

Milwaukee’s second ‘Jada’ is sophomore Jada Williams, who lived up to expectations as a fierce defender who plays larger than her listed height as a rookie. Rechlicz enjoys the rambunctious style Williams employs, and the coach is looking forward to Williams showing off more of her all-around game this season. A strong rebounder and abrasive bother to whoever she’s guarding, Williams will take on any assignment and always brings tremendous energy to the floor. Having a guard who can throw herself into any tough assignment the way that Williams does helps set an example for the young players Milwaukee is adding this fall.

“I’ve really enjoyed the level of competition already in practices. We’ve had about a dozen players show us things already and that they’re able to make an impact,” Rechlicz declared when discussing the team’s enhanced depth. “Not that we’re probably going to play 10-to-12 deep, but that we feel like we could play any of those 10-12 players if needed and they’ve all shown that they can contribute, and that competition is making each of them better.”

There is more veteran depth to strengthen the backcourt, too. Hallie Majoros is back after missing last season due to a knee injury and hopes to kick in some three-balls of her own off the bench. After playing in seventeen games last winter, Justina Hernandez is also looking to affirm her spot in the rotation. The Panthers’ second incoming transfer is Grace Lomen, who played for Division II Wisconsin-Parkside last season. She’s a capable ballhandler, defender, and shooter, and Lomen will get her chance to snag some minutes as well.

“I really enjoy the people in the program,” Rechlicz reflected on the experienced players that she and the Milwaukee coaching staff have assembled. “Our core group is very experienced; Kacee finished top ten in the Horizon League in minutes played, too. Having this group of veteran guards has been really nice in practice.”

There will be contributions from among a varied group of young players, as well. Kiwi post Izzy Pugh, rising guard Sophia Rampulla, and Payton Rechlicz – the coach’s daughter – are all coming off redshirt seasons. After seeing their efforts over the course of the past year, Kyle Rechlicz expects each of them to add new versatility to the Panther rotation this fall.

“Izzy is a post player from New Zealand who gave us really good looks last winter,” Rechlicz analyzed the youngsters. “Sophia can help in different ways…Payton is more of a guard but can also play inside, she can do some things in and around the post.”

Meanwhile, true freshmen Kendall Barnes, Cece McNair, Kallie Peppler are new but working hard to earn a place among their veteran counterparts. McNair, a post player who has already shown effective strength and some touch inside, may have the quickest path to minutes, but all the fresh players will have to grind against the Panthers’ ramped-up depth.

As you may have noted, Kallie Peppler shares a last name with Kamy, and that’s because they are sisters. That Milwaukee has a literal pair of family bonds strengthening their roster is great, but to hear Rechlicz tell it, that sense of closeness existed for the Panthers even before the familial element.

“People comment on that (Milwaukee’s family connections) all the time,” Rechlicz mused when asked about it this summer. “Honestly, that togetherness and feeling of family was already here…we’ve got a great group, and they work for each other, work as a family.”

Despite some roster shuffling and coaching changes, it will still be difficult to unseat Green Bay and Cleveland State from atop the Horizon League perch. Even so, given their experience as a veteran group plus the added perspective which Baumhower will bring, the Panthers will have their say this winter. Milwaukee always forces their opponents to manufacture good looks in the halfcourt, and if added depth in the post can be effective on the defensive glass, these Panthers could easily pick up a couple two-tree of the close contests which went against them a year ago.

Milwaukee is a team that’s growing and evolving. It was clear to see on the court last season, and that positive momentum has been carried forward this summer. With a culture already in place and the continuity they have built, the task of becoming a Horizon League contender shouldn’t daunt these Panthers.

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