Panthers Welcome Basketball Alums, Celebrate 2002-03 Team Saturday

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is celebrating Alumni Night when the Panthers host Wright State Saturday at 7 p.m.

The annual Alumni Game is set for 4 p.m., and admission to that contest is free. More than 30 former players are expected to be in attendance.

Then, during the evening contest with the Raiders, UWM will recognize its 2002-03 NCAA Tournament squad, the first-ever Panther men's basketball team to make the Division I postseason. The 1992-93 Panthers that won 23 games and beat Wisconsin will also be highlighted.

For the Alumni Game, the group has been split into two teams, with the rosters subject to change. The black team will include: Marc Mitchell; Chris Hill; Deion James; Jerard Ajami; Deonte Roberts; Derrick Wimmer; Marcus Conigliaro; Joah Tucker; Deon Edmonds; Vidal Handford; James Eayrs; Michael Bendall; Pat McCabe; Rob Sanders; Pat Easterlin; Steve Pitrof; and Ryan Allen.

The gold team will include: Kaylon Williams; Ronnie Jones; Jose Winston; Allan Hanson; Kalombo Kadima; Tone Boyle; Jason Frederick; Craig Greene; Jason Averkamp; Justin Lettenberger; Nate Mielke;Adrian Tigert; Burleigh Porte; James Wright; Tom Hecker; and Dylan Page. 

A number of Panther players will not be back in town for Alumni Night as they are still playing professional basketball. That list includes:

Mitchell Carter - BC Beroe (Bulgaria) - averaging 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest in 13 games as a reserve

Boo Davis - SK Dnipro Azot Dniprodzerzhynsk (Ukraine) - team-leading 15 points per game; playing 31 minutes per game and he has made 39 threes in 27 contests

Derek Durham - ESC Trappes Saint Quentins En Yvelines (France)

Ricky Franklin - Sport Lisboa Benfica (Portugal) - 7.1 points and 3.1 assists per game; team is 11-1 and in first place

Anthony Hill - Angers BC 49 (France) - 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game; stands eighth in league in scoring

Avery Smith - Summerside Storm (Canada) - 9.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game

Plus, Clay Tucker, who has played professionally for the last 10 years, has just signed to return overseas. Tony Meier has just signed with the Frankston Blues in Australia and Dylan Page, who will be at the Alumni Game, is headed back overseas shortly after playing 14 games earlier this season for Union Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia.