3 minute read
Ed Seidel
ExpEriEncEd Group rEady To MakE noisE This sEason
Head coach Jeff Linder and the Wyoming Cowboys officially opened the season on Monday with their first official practice of the 2022-23 season. The Pokes return 85 percent of their scoring after making the NCAA Tournament a season ago finishing the campaign with a 25-9 record. "We are in a good place considering the guys we have back and our new players," UW head coach Jeff Linder said. We had a great scrimmage in the early part of practice in the Arena-Auditorium and it was great to see our guys under the lights and show the progress we have made in the offseason."
Wyoming recorded 24 wins during the regular season in 2021-22 for the most in a regular season since the Pokes recorded 24 during the 1951-52 campaign. Along with 85 percent of the scoring returning, the Cowboys return 84 percent of the rebounding from last season. Wyoming led the conference in defensive rebounds per game last season at 27.4 per game.
Offensively, the Pokes were one of the MW's teams getting to the free throw line leading the conference with 669 attempts and 485 makes. The Cowboys also led the conference with 275 made three-pointers, which ranked fourth in single-season school history. "We will try to play a little bit faster this season," Linder said. "I always tell our guys everyone wants to play fast until they have to play fast and we won't be the Paul Westhead Nuggets back in the day, but with our depth which is the strength of our team and by using the altitude to our advantage will create a few more opportunities to help us in close games."
The Pokes return four starters and four other letter winners along with a pair of redshirts. Wyoming also welcomes five newcomers including three transfer and two incoming freshmen. "For us to take the next step of the program our players have to know you will have to go out and compete against somebody," Linder said. "We have guys pulling towards the same goals and have developed into great teammates. The beauty is we have a lot of guys that can produce and have played major minutes in college basketball." RETURNERS
Wyoming returns its top two scorers in guard Hunter Maldonado and froward Graham Ike. Maldonado was a First Team All-Mountain West selection averaging 18.5 points per game to go along with 6.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per night. He became Wyoming's all-time leader in assists in the closing games of last season, as he ranked No. 5 in the nation in helpers.
Ike was a First Team All-MW selection by the media and Second Team by the coaches. He ranked second in the conference with 19.5 points per game. He also grabbed 9.6 rebounds to rank second in the conference and No. 21 in the nation. He recorded 14 double-doubles on the season to rank No. 19 in the nation.
Other returning starters include forward Jeremiah Oden had a strong season for the Pokes in his second season with the Program. He appeared in all 34 games and started 32 on the season. He averaged 7.8 points per game to go along with 4.5 rebounds per contest. He shot 52 percent from the field for the season. Guard Xavier DuSell played in 30 games with 20 starts on the season. DuSell added 7.5 points per game to go along with 2.3 rebounds and one assists per game. He ranked second on the team connecting on 54 three pointers and has 111 in his career.
The Wyoming bench returns four players who have seen significant playing time in the Brown and Gold. Guard Brendan Wenzel gave the Pokes a strong presence off the bench and in a starting role. He appeared in all 34 games making 14 starts. He averaged 5.2 points per game to go along with 2.9 rebounds. Forward Hunter Thompson played a key role off the bench for the Pokes. He played in all 34 games with three starts. He averaged 2.7 points per game and 1.5 rebounds. He shot 37 percent from behind the arc with 25 on the season. Guard Noah Reynolds was the only true freshman to see action appearing in 23 games for the Pokes. He averaged 2.9 points per game to go along with 1.0 rebounds. Guard Kenny Foster appeared in nine games during the season struggling with injuries. He averaged 1.8 points per game and 2.7 rebounds.
