UW-Green Bay Men’s basketball team on the rise

GREEN BAY (WFRV) — Last season, UW–Green Bay went 4–28 and won just two league games. The setback sparked questions about the program’s future.

“I felt like Marcus, Rootie, and I were all feeling so much pressure to win. I try to block out all the outside noise, but it’s really hard,” head coach Doug Gottlieb said. “I think the biggest thing holding us back was us.”

But early in the 2025–26 season, the Phoenix have already matched last year’s four wins and are riding a three-game winning streak.

“I told the team they had to let go of last year,” Gottlieb said. “We are a different team, a different mentality. I’m more experienced, and the players are more experienced.”

The program is also using the season to deepen its community ties. In their game against Haskell Indian Nations University, the Phoenix wore special uniforms honoring the Oneida Nation and celebrating Indigenous history and heritage.

“They’re such a big part of the history of Wisconsin and this university,” Gottlieb said. “This is just the first step. We want this partnership to last for years and years.”

From a four win season to a team now finding its footing, the Phoenix are moving forward with purpose and plenty to still prove.

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