[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE QUALIFIES FOR THE SCHOOL'S FIRST NCAA 
                               TOURNAMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2003

  Mr. KLECZKA. MR. Speaker, On Tuesday, March 11, 2003, the University 
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Men's Basketball team qualified for the NCAA 
tournament by defeating the Butler University Bulldogs. The Panthers 
(24-7) are making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, 
and gained an automatic berth into the field with a 69-52 win over 
Butler in the championship game of the Horizon League Tournament. UWM 
will be seeded number 12 in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament.
  This outstanding achievement is a proud moment for the university, 
alumni, students, and the community. I would like to join with the UWM 
family in recognizing this enormous accomplishment, and it's with great 
pride that I offer my congratulations and applaud their efforts.
  Tournament MVP Clay Tucker scored a game-high 23 points in leading 
the No. 2 seed University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee over No. 1 seed Butler 
University in the championship game. He also had team-high eight 
rebounds to go with game-bests in assists (4), steals (4), and blocks 
(2).
  UWM's Head Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl coaching talents have been 
recognized nationally. In the May 1999 issue of Sport Magazine, Coach 
Pearl was listed as one of the ``Five Head Coaches on the Rise,'' 
placing him in a group with Paul Hewitt (Georgia Tech), Mike Brey 
(Notre Dame), and Buzz Peterson (Tennessee).
  Before coming to coach the UWM Panthers, Coach Pearl ended 14 years 
as an assistant at the University of Iowa. Prior to coaching at Iowa, 
he was an assistant coach at Stanford, and, at the age of 23, was 
promoted to Associate Head Coach at Stanford. Bruce Pearl helped lay 
the groundwork for the resurgence in men's basketball at Stanford.
  So, I am pleased to join with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 
to recognize the Men's Basketball Team for their notable play and 
excitement for the community at large and the State of Wisconsin.

                          ____________________