Game Thread: Wyo @ Utah State

[CowboyNV]

Grabau, Adams, and Hankerson cost us this game.

Grabau passed up SO many open 3-point shots. He ended up making a few, including the 80 foot heave, but passed up too many, then either threw the ball away, turned the ball over, or passed it to someone who just missed a shot.

Adams got hacked and flustered and laid an egg. He tried to do too much, and didn't play within himself.

Hank is just in a funk. He didn't do anything particularly bad, just missed his shots.

The team shat themselves. They played scared and didn't look like a team that knows how to take control of a game.

I expect them to turn it around. They will hit their mid-MWC stride like they did last season. We have gotten lucky with 2 OT wins, and are still in first place in the MWC.
We need to figure our crap out, and go on another run.

Pokes need to step up right now. Nevada, CSU, and AFA right now. Wake up and win or kiss this season goodbye.

I am really hoping tonight was an anomaly - nothing more than a bad night where 3 of our starters just didn't play like starters. I agree that the Pokes MUST win the next 3 games. There is no margin for error on those games. The kids just need to settle down and play better....up to their potential. This is a senior laden team so I am sure they will get their heads on straight and take care of business on Saturday.

 

[pokefanchaz7]

When we play our best game we can play with anybody. When we play our worst game we are capable of getting beat by anyone.

I just hope we are done with our worst games.

 

[Cowduck]

You motherfuckers overreact worse than my college girlfriend when she was five drinks deep. It was one game. Easily our worst performance of the season, but it was one game. I sure am glad we have a steady hand on the tiller rather than this fucking pitchfork wielding mob.

 

[JimmyDimes]

This loss does nothing to prevent the Pokes from winning the conference title. It was a bad game. Just like SDSU losing at Fresno, etc. No team is going to go undefeated on the road. We looked like shit, but it was one game. When the night is over, Wyoming will still be in first place. And they will have plenty of opportunity to make up for this loss.

What are you smoking? Losses like this are exactly what prevents you from winning the conference title. Losing to a team that was picked 10th preseason with road games against UNM, SDSU, UNLV, Nevada and Air Force remaining..... I see Wyoming losing anywhere from 3-4 of those games. We will play everyone in the league close from SDSU to SJSU although tonight wasn't even really that close, but playing close is our style. Unfortunately our style also means we live on the razors edge every single night. We won't get any games where we can let our offense cruise to an easy victory over a lesser opponent when maybe someone is having an off night. We need each and every guy to be bringing his A game every night to compete. Unfortunatelys just not possible. We struggle to generate any kind of consistent offense.

It is a road loss. Road losses happen in conference play. Boise lost at USU too, and beat CSU last night. I'm willing to see how the season plays out. I think the Pokes can still lose two and be in position for an at large. Need to take care of the home court, win the games we should (at UNR and at AFA) and win one of two at SDSU, UNLV, or UNM. Definitely not an unsurmountable task.

I'm still on board. You?

Go Pokes!!

 

[JimmyDimes]

You motherfuckers overreact worse than my college girlfriend when she was five drinks deep. It was one game. Easily our worst performance of the season, but it was one game. I sure am glad we have a steady hand on the tiller rather than this fucking pitchfork wielding mob.

Got that right....it's like a high school girls locker room in here at times. Wyoming has it's share of drama queen fans.

 

[calpoke25]

This loss does nothing to prevent the Pokes from winning the conference title. It was a bad game. Just like SDSU losing at Fresno, etc. No team is going to go undefeated on the road. We looked like shit, but it was one game. When the night is over, Wyoming will still be in first place. And they will have plenty of opportunity to make up for this loss.

What are you smoking? Losses like this are exactly what prevents you from winning the conference title. Losing to a team that was picked 10th preseason with road games against UNM, SDSU, UNLV, Nevada and Air Force remaining..... I see Wyoming losing anywhere from 3-4 of those games. We will play everyone in the league close from SDSU to SJSU although tonight wasn't even really that close, but playing close is our style. Unfortunately our style also means we live on the razors edge every single night. We won't get any games where we can let our offense cruise to an easy victory over a lesser opponent when maybe someone is having an off night. We need each and every guy to be bringing his A game every night to compete. Unfortunatelys just not possible. We struggle to generate any kind of consistent offense.

It is a road loss. Road losses happen in conference play. Boise lost at USU too, and beat CSU last night. I'm willing to see how the season plays out. I think the Pokes can still lose two and be in position for an at large. Need to take care of the home court, win the games we should (at UNR and at AFA) and win one of two at SDSU, UNLV, or UNM. Definitely not an unsurmountable task.

I'm still on board. You?

Go Pokes!!

You're living under a rock if you think Wyoming can get by with anything less than basically winning out and making the MW championship game to have a shot at an at large bid. With our road performances to date, I'm not encouraged that we're going to win 2-3 much less 4-5 of our remaining road games.

Just because I point out the difficult truths doesn't mean I am any "less on board" than you. I will still be there Saturday and I think this team is good enough to be a NCAA team, but we will be lucky to have even an NIT resume. This team is still a great group of guys playing hard for the University of Wyoming so I'll always be on board.

 

[djm19]

It was an enjoyable atmosphere last night. The crowd does matter. Several of our guys seemed so rattled.

A few thoughts now that we are halfway through conf play

1- Seems like the team is so timid to shoot in fear it is "too early" in the shot clock. I would take a mediocre look with :15 left on the clock than a fade away prayer with :4 left
2- We lack a scorer. i.e., a 6'5" wing player who can create his own shot. Marcus Bailey type.
3- Our offense is not equipped to come back. Simple as that. When I looked up and saw there was 4 mins left and down ten, I immediately thought, "Well, that is only like 5 more possessions for us." I was right.
4- See #1. SHOOT THE BALL! I don't care about the shot clock. When someone has a good look, they need to take it.
5- We are still #1 in the MWC, and I will reiterate the fact that UW has to win the MWC Season title or the Tourney to get in. I have said that for months, and stick to it. After seeing last night, it confirms my assumption.

 

[kansasCowboy]

If WYO wins against UNR and we maintain in (RV) then we will be okay.
Boise is right back in the mix for NCAA tourney chance. If they continue their strong showing they will be moving up the rankings. And we will have beat them by 11 this year. That will show come resume time. So will CSU. UNM is not quite there, but I wouldn't put it past them to make a run also. And you never really know where UNLV is gonna finish. All these are quality opponents that will help us on our resume.
Road win at 18-3 CSU. Home win against 15-6 BSU. UNM, UNLV home wins and a few of our OOC wins are starting to make runs in their conf and could be tourney bound by the end of the whole thing, NMSU has won 5/6, Southern has won 7/9. SMU 13/14. They are looking really good.
The only "bad" loss might be @ Cali, depending on how the rest of their season plays out. Shoot, USU might have a better record than them by the end of it all. Plus we get USU again.
We have SDSU, UNM, CSU, UNLV, all still on the schedule, all which can really help our resume by either going 2-0 or splitting.
Everyone acts like we HAVE to win out to make the tourney. And since we lost this game, faith has fallen for most. That's the very definition of The Bottom Falling Out. And we've yet to do that. If we lose to AFA, Nev, Fresno, or SJSU and drop USU at home, then the bottom has fallen out. Till then, get over it.

And someone saying we need Bradley Mann? Grabau, buddy... 5-9. Gorski 2-3. And with the way everyone bitches about us shooting too many threes, I don't think we need to be begging for another 3 pt shooter. Since Cooke never really showed up last night, we definitely could've used an Uche Amadi or Josh Davis down low with Nance.

 

[WestWYOPoke]

It was one game. Easily our worst performance of the season, but it was one game.

The problem here is that it hasn't been just one game, it's been the last 4. SDSU we played very lackluster the entire game, and even though they are a good team, we were never really in it. Fresno, despite what people are saying, is not that good of a team and home or away we should not have taken 3 OTs to beat them. UNM outside of Greenwood looked horrible, we should have beat them by 5-10 even with him shooting lights out. And then last night...well, I don't need to go into further detail there.

So, it hasn't been just one, it's been several now. This is a good team, but we are in the midst of a funk. I'm hoping this was the wake-up call to end it and we can get back on track for the next 2 home games and actually win comfortably for once against a team that we SHOULD beat comfortably, slow offense or not.

 

[stymeman]

it's only 1 game at a place we never play well at anyway, if you woulda told me that on Jan 28, we' d be tied for 1st place in conference with only 2 losses and 17-4 overall, I woulda laughed in your face, but I'll sure take it.
It's time to right the ship against the Wolf Pack and the Sheep, we are a ok with 10 to go, but yes we need all players to contribute and play as the team we all know we can

 

[jessejames02]

It's a case of unrealistic expectations. This has been a CBI level team the past few years. Anyone know how often CBI also-rans make the jump to tourney contender in one season?
We have a damn good coach and a few good players. We're getting steadily better each year and actually competing for the conference championship. I think everyone that follows WYO taking off the brown and gold tinted glasses knows Wyoming making the tourney this year would be a long shot and not being a first round bust a much longer shot. This team is steadily improving, able to recruit better and better athletes each year. You can't do what New Mexico or SDSU has done overnight. But we're building a great foundation.

 

[NowherePoke]

It's a case of unrealistic expectations. This has been a CBI level team the past few years. Anyone know how often CBI also-rans make the jump to tourney contender in one season?
We have a damn good coach and a few good players. We're getting steadily better each year and actually competing for the conference championship. I think everyone that follows WYO taking off the brown and gold tinted glasses knows Wyoming making the tourney this year would be a long shot and not being a first round bust a much longer shot. This team is steadily improving, able to recruit better and better athletes each year. You can't do what New Mexico or SDSU has done overnight. But we're building a great foundation.

Kind of disagree on both counts. I know that technically this team was in the CBI last year, but I feel that is very misleading. They were clearly a NIT team with Larry Nance, Jr. in the lineup (17-9, better RPI than this year at that stage). A NIT team returning 4 starters including the preseason conference POY? Yeah, that team should have NCAA aspirations.

Also, we aren't recruiting at a high level. Our strategy is to recruit mid-major recruits and develop them over 2-3 years so that as upperclassmen we can build a contender.

I actually think the strategy was working, but was derailed by Nance's injury and then poor scheduling and a little bad luck (the MWC sucked OOC, they also invited SJSU, both of those are killing the league RPI). If you give this team the 12-13 team OOC and MWC schedule? They wouldn't win the league but they would make the NCAA tourney (IMO). I actually think the 12-13 team would have made the tourney if Luke's incident hadn't occurred. However, I think this year's team is better even though the RPI numbers won't indicate that.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

Two words: Heath Schroyer

USU is not that good of team but they do fit the MWC bball bill of being a tough venue, regardless. Tough venues are pretty common in the MWC and this shit happens. Yeah, we aren't a Top 15 team, but we are still an upper level MWC team. Relax, just as the @CSU win was not predictive of how the @USU game ended up, the @USU has no bearing on our future games.

We are clearly not a major contender in the NCAA tourney, but, back to those two words, it is one hell of a lot better.

One thing that is very odd at WYO, when you are losing, the fans seem more patient than if you are winning. :lol:

 

[TSpoke]

That lose hurt and it made our "life" much harder. But thats all it did. We are still in this. Now we have to hold court like we had to do before and win all the rest of our home games and win at Nevada and Airforce. Nothing changed there. Before this game I had us Losing @UNLV, @SDSU, @UNM and depending on the tourney we were still a bubble team. Now we have to win one of those games. Hard but not impossible. Especially @UNLV we have a very good chance to win that game. 14-4 will put us close to the conference title with a lil luck.
We seem to do this after every loss this season. Even after we lost to SMU....the season was over. We'll rebound. This was the worst game we've played all year. Onward. Beat Nevada

 

[johnywyo]

Waxing philosophically as so many are prone to do. It's one game at a time. Shyatt had us prepared for tempered expectations and he nailed it. We will not win every game in this league. We are capable of beating every team in this conference. Much better to win that game in Laramie with NM, and lose in Logan. Adams, Hank and Cooke need to step it up. Grabs is hitting again, and Aka is getting playing time along with Mac and Alan. I'm not overly distressed, would really be great to be in contention for the MWC title, but beating SDSU at SD is another tough venue. I like this team, just like everyone after last night, my heart was ripped from my soul with our level of play. Lets net UNR.

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

Didn't get to see the game but I'm not that surprised by this loss. Utah State at home is always gonna be tough. We're not the kind of team that is going to win MWC games that easy this year. It's just the damn hard facts, but we've shown that we can be clutch in these close game situations. The road to the tourney is gonna be a rocky one though indeed. The scariest part right now is that we've kinda regressed a little the past 4 games. Our D hasn't been quite as stout and the O in downright struggling.
Now what makes this season a success? Well how about sweeping the FUCKIN GREENIES BABY!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Let's not lose to CSU and Air Force no matter what the cost Cowboys! For me that's legendary Cowboys shit and I'd be fine with whatever happens afterward. Best on the Front Range for college hoops your Wyoming Cowboys!!! :dance: :rockon: :bad: :clap:

 

[stymeman]

if it's not in our future(which I can't see) if we don't make the dance, I'll take an NIT berth anyday of the week, plus we get more home games to boot

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

if it's not in our future(which I can't see) if we don't make the dance, I'll take an NIT berth anyday of the week, plus we get more home games to boot

Agreed and we need to stay positive about this season no matter what. These kids have been nothing but outstanding towards their commitment to our squad. They've played their hearts out for that Wyoming shirt on their chest. It's been awesome and we are overachieving our preseason doubts/expectations/fears. It's time to just let this season ride continue and back them the whole way to whatever end may come. :twocents:

 

[seattlecowboy]

if it's not in our future(which I can't see) if we don't make the dance, I'll take an NIT berth anyday of the week, plus we get more home games to boot

Actually from my understanding is we won't get anymore home games. We have phase two of the remodeling of the AA to be done which starts right after the regular season. So we will be playing road games. NIT is better than where we have been before for sure so that is good. I'm still fully supporting this team. Lets hope we can play well enough to get an NIT bid. Far better then when Heath Schroyer was here that is for sure.

 

[joshvanklomp]

Actually from my understanding is we won't get anymore home games. We have phase two of the remodeling of the AA to be done which starts right after the regular season.

Construction in Laramie is set to start after the UW men's and women's basketball teams have finished postseason training.

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