Jeter led the Panthers to fourth consecutive Horizon League Championship and the second round of the NCAA Tournament after his first season. Last year, the team - decimated by graduation - slumped to a 9-22 record. Things haven't been much better this year as UWM is (after Wednesday's loss) just 3-7. Jeter had to make a touch call early in the season when he dismissed last year's leading scorer, Avery Smith, from the team for disciplinary reasons.

Nonetheless, the mentor is proud of his pupil. Never mind the 22-point defeat he handed his pupil, Ryan likes what he sees in Jeter and the Panthers.

"UWM is going to be fine," Jeter said. "Rob's going to keep those guys working. As long as they keep listening to him, they're going to be just fine."

While Ryan and Jeter maintain their close relationship, the mentor would prefer to not have to take on his student.

"I definitely don't want to play against him," Ryan said. "His jump-hook would kill me."

A few other thoughts, observations and comments from the U.S. Cellular Arena Media Room:

Familiar face: Ryan wasn't the only person in red that was close with the UWM head coach. Many of Wisconsin's players were recruited by Jeter during his time in Madison. Marcus Landry was finishing his senior year at Vincent High School when Jeter took the job at UWM.

"Me and Coach Rob have a great relationship," Landry said. "He recruited me coming in. He came and sat down with me and Coach Ryan when we found out he was leaving."

Landry led Wisconsin with 16 points Wednesday night and wanted to use the opportunity to show Jeter that he was recruited for the right reasons. He also appreciates the efforts Jeter made to bring him to Madison.

"I'm glad he took the time out to recruit someone like me," he said.

Game on: Give the Milwaukee students this much: when it's a big game, they turn up in droves. During the Panthers' short but sweet heyday under Bruce Pearl, "The Cell" was loud, obnoxious and fun. As the team has suffered, so have the crowds. While big-time programs become successful because of on-the-court performance, fans are also there every night. Just look across the street where Marquette will probably pack the student section for a tilt against powerhouse Savannah State.

A house divided: The crowd of 10,017 was the biggest of the season for UWM. Of course, a lot of that had to do with the Badgers, whose fans filled roughly half of the stands - especially on the northern end of the building.

Save your breath: UWM played Marquette a little more than a week ago and the Golden Eagles traveled to Madison last Saturday. The Badgers' next opponent is UW-Green Bay, which comes to the Kohl Center this weekend. As is often the case this time of the year, there is much discussion of the four Division I teams playing a tournament of sorts. Let's just get this out of the way: it will not, ever, under any circumstances happen. The big boys in Madison and on the western edge of Downtown will never give up the revenues or the cupcakes. Sorry to crush any hopes.

Five-star dining: UWM games don't exactly draw the largest media contingents on most nights. But Wednesday night, an influx of reporters from Madison, elsewhere in Wisconsin and even some Milwaukee folk who don't usually get down to the arena gave rave reviews to the pre-game media spread. It's served on actual dishes with real silverware ... and it's left out through halftime.

See you real soon: Ryan and Jeter will see a lot of each other in the next few years. The two schools are under contract to play each season through the 2011-12 season, which will also mark the next appearance by Wisconsin at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The game Wednesday night was the fifth in a nine-year deal.

Hey, look who's here: Among those taking in the Badgers' first trip to Milwaukee since 2001: Former Milwaukee Brewers TV broadcaster Daron Sutton (he handles similar duties for UWM broadcasts), the Miller Park Racing Sausages, two-time U.S. Open Champion - and Wisconsin alum - Andy North, local restaurateur Steve "Saz" Sazama and Milwaukee Admirals owner Harris Turer (a UWM alum).