Personally.....

[BigHorn]

I think that despite what has been said, Wicks has NOT built this team to be successful in a conference like the MWC.

If this team were a ship it would have turned turtle and sank. This team is so heavily focused on the guard position it is almost a one trick pony. In a conference, any of the better conferences you have to have a balanced roster that can accomplish different things on different nights. We are woefully unprepared for battle in the paint. You are asking 6'-8" guys to go up against 6'-10" or better on a regular basis and beat them.....imo this like a DUH moment. We have to hold our guards back to rebound so the advantage of speed is lost. We have one true freshman big that is very talented but he needs help. In a lesser conference you can get away with heavy guard rosters, but here where the better teams have length and height, it is athletic suicide. Wicks is an intense coach and maybe he has lost the team some because he is expecting them to do things that they just can't.

In my opinion this team has to play above its head on a constant basis to just stay competitive, and if the coach screams that might end up tuning him out?

 

[PorkerPoke]

From my armchair I have noticed the same thing that Wyoming is pushed around by more physical teams.

If I am counting correctly, the known departures will be Walker, Belic and Saxon. I get confused on all the eligibility variances so correct me if I’m wrong.

So far two players are signed - a 6’7” forward and a 6’4” guard. Both from HS. That doesn’t solve the front wall challenges.

As for bigs:

Gores - if he returns - is the tallest at 6’ 10” and looks to be a solid interior player who should be improved.

Dare I mention the 6’ 9” almost 300 lb Wyoming resident Summers with a question mark? I have heard him referenced by one of our radio personalities as the redshirt who will be looked upon to provide interior muscle. He might be a factor in helping the situation. The last big from a Wyoming HS was routinely abused in the MWC. The D1 level is light years different than Wyoming HS basketball.

Will the 6’ 9” Saadi develop? Not much else to analyze on that.

So far the ability to match up with size is woefully inadequate. Will Wicks be recruiting a big? GCU has a 7’2” guy in development mode that as long as he sticks around has the ability to make us look like a mediocre JC team. There must be some kind of plan going forward with this relatively young team, but I am having trouble seeing a response to the power punches even the weaker MWC programs can hit us with.

Wyoming is overall a young team. I simply have concerns about the future and the portal is more likely to be a detriment than a provider.