Jackson looks back on season

March 12th, 2010 No comments »

True freshman guard Desmar Jackson was the only Wyoming player to earn any kind of All-Mountain West Conference honors this season. He made the third team as he averaged 11.8 points per game and around 14 in conference play.

“I was third-team all-conference and that’s a big honor for a freshman,” he said. “I feel I had a good season and was given an opportunity to show the coaches that I can play. I need to keep working hard and be coachable.”

Jackson’s playing time increased after the season-ending knee injury Jan. 20 to leading scorer and 2008-09 MWC Freshman of the Year Afam Muojeke. Injuries to other players and ineffective play by others increased Jackson’s role and minutes as the season.

Some UW fans felt Jackson should have played more minutes earlier in the season. When I asked him if he was ready to for that he said: “At the beginning of the season I wasn’t ready to play 25 to 30 minutes a game. Toward the end of the season I got better with the flow and tempo of the game. I just adapted to it.

“Next year I feel my game will be better. We all will be more used to each other. “I feel our ofense is there, but we need to step it up on defense and reboudning.”

I also asked Jackson if he will return next season, and he quickly said: “I will be back.”

See Sunday’s paper for wrap-up and analysis on the UW men’s basketball season. Also see WTE assistant sports editor Jeremiah Johnke’s coverage of the Cheyenne East girls basketball team in the Class 4A state championship game from Casper.

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Posted in UW men's basketball

UW-SDSU women post-game thoughts

March 10th, 2010 No comments »

Tough to see the Cowgirls lose another close game, this time a 60-51 loss to the Aztecs here at the MWC Tournament.

But it was good to see Cheyenne Central graduate Hillary Carlson play like she did with 25 points and 18 rebounds. Her rebounding mark was a tournament record. See my column in Thursday’s paper for more on her.

She set the tournament record for field goals made in a second-round game with nine.

Some other notes from the game:

–SDSU had 11 blocked shots; and seven by Jessika Bradley.

–UW’s bench contributed only 30 minute out of a possible 200.

–UW had 23 offensive rebounds.

Cowgirls must wait until Monday for post-season possibilities. I think they’re in, but we will see.

Thanks to everyone who joined me on live blogs for the men’s and women’s games. It’s been a long one here. I’m out for now.

See Thursday’s paper for more tournament coverage.

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Posted in MWC Basketball Tournament, UW women's basketball

UW-Air Force post-game thoughts

March 10th, 2010 2 comments »

“We knew what they were going to do pretty much every single play. We knew their options and what they could possibly run,” said Air Force senior forward Grant Parker after his team beat Wyoming 59-40 Wednesday afternoon in the play-in game at the MWC Tournament here at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Talk about a slap in the face.

All UW could do was put the ball in true freshman guard Desmar Jackson’s hands and see if he could score. He had a game-high 18 points. But he also had seven turnovers.

Sophomore point guard JayDee Luster didn’t play because of a groin injury. UW’s two main ball-handlers — Jackson and sophomore Arthur Bouedo — had 10 of UW’s 13 turnovers. Most of those came early in the game.

Air Force made seven 3-pointers and shot 48 percent from the field.

Even though UW shot 45.5 percent, it attempted a season-low 33 shots.

“It’s not brain surgery. It’s pretty simple. When you shoot 2 of 16 from 3 and 42 percent from the free-throw line you’re not going to win,” UW coach Heath Schroyer said.

Some other notes from the game

–UW used its 13th different starting lineup of the season. It went with Jackson, Bouedo, senior forward Ryan Dermody, sophomore center Adam Waddell and junior forward Djibril Thiam.

–Jackson scored in double figures 11 times in his last 12 games.

–After losing 16 straight conference tournament games, Air Force has won two of its last three.

–UW is now 7-11 in the MWC Tournament.

–Waddell broke his nose near the end of the game, and didn’t attend the post-game interview session because he was having it set by doctors.

See Thursday’s paper for more coverage from the MWC Tournament, including my column on Jackson’s progression this season and how that was handled by the coaches.

Hope you will join me later for the live blog for the Cowgirls’ game with San Diego State at about 7:45 p.m. I’m hearing a win tonight would go a long, long way to securing a WNIT berth for UW.

Join me at http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/03/10/live-blog-wyoming-vs-san-diego-state-ladies-mwc-tournament/

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Posted in MWC Basketball Tournament, UW men's basketball

Live Blog: Wyoming vs San Diego State (Ladies MWC Tournament)

March 10th, 2010 No comments »

With last nights win over UNLV, the Cowgirls move on to play San Diego State tonight and Robert will be manning the live blog helm once again!

The game starts at 8pm and Robert will begin live blogging around 7:45.

Also Robert will be live blogging the men’s game at around 2:45 this afternoon. You can get to that chat by clicking on this link.
» Read more: Live Blog: Wyoming vs San Diego State (Ladies MWC Tournament)

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Posted in Live Blog, MWC women's basketball

UW-UNLV post-game thoughts

March 10th, 2010 No comments »

Heck of a game for the Cowgirls.

It wasn’t necessarily a work of art: 37 missed shots for both teams, UW was outrebounded 53-34 and it allowed 24 offensive rebounds. Tjhe Cowgirls also missed 11 free throws.

But they won just their third game in 13 in the MWC Tournament with their 60-55 win over UNLV.

Great crowd of UW fans, and UNLV coach Kathy Olivier even said it felt more like a Wyoming crowd in her post-game interview session.

Aubrey Vandiver and Jade Kennedy were huge for UW. Hillary Carlson played well early.

San Diego State is next at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The men play Air Force at 3. Both times are Mountain Time.

Hope you will join me for a doubleheader of live blogging.

See Wednesday’s paper for more men’s and women’s coverage from the MWC Tournament.

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Posted in UW men's basketball, UW women's basketball

UW-UNLV women’s hoops live blog tonight

March 9th, 2010 No comments »

The Mountain West Conference Basketball Tournament begins today with three women’s games.

The Cowgirls play UNLV at 8 p.m. MST in the final game of the night.

Check out the live blog during the game and join me from the Thomas & Mack Center at http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/03/08/live-blog-wyoming-vs-unlv-ladies-mwc-tournament/

Also see Wednesday’s paper for Cowgirls coverage and for a look ahead to the UW men’s game with Air Force.

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Posted in MWC Basketball Tournament, UW men's basketball, UW women's basketball

Four UW players earn All-MWC honors

March 8th, 2010 No comments »

Three Wyoming women’s basketball players and one men’s player were named all-conference Monday by the Mountain West Conference.

Cowgirls junior forward Hillary Carlson of Cheyenne and junior guard Aubrey Vandiver of Laramie both made the Second Team. It was Carlson’s second all-conference honor in as many years.

Sophomore forward Emma Langford made the Third Team.

Cowboys true freshman guard Desmar Jackson made the Third Team on the men’s side.

Here is a complete list of the men’s and women’s teams:

Men

First Team

F Kawhi Leonard, Fr., San Diego State

F Darington Hobson, Jr., New Mexico

G Dairese Gary, Jr., New Mexico

*G Jimmer Fredette, Jr., Brigham Young

G Tre’Von Willis, Jr., UNLV

Second Team

G Jackson Emery, Jr., BYU

G Ronnie Moss, So., TCU

F Andy Ogide, Jr., Colorado State

F Roman Martinez, Sr., New Mexico

F Malcolm Thomas, Jr., San Diego State

Third Team

G Tyler Haws, Fr., BYU

**G/F Jonathan Tavernari, Sr., BYU

G/F Chace Stanback, So., UNLV

G Carlon Brown, Jr., Utah

G Desmar Jackson, Fr., Wyoming

Honorable Mention

G Evan Washington, Jr., Air Force

G Phillip McDonald, So., New Mexico

G D.J. Gay, Jr., San Diego State

F BillyWhite, Jr., San Diego State

F Zvonko Buljan, Sr., TCU

G Oscar Bellfield, So., UNLV

G Luca Drca, Sr., Utah

G Marshall Henderson, Fr., Utah

All-Defensive Team

G Jackson Emery, Jr., BYU

G Dairese Gary, Jr., New Mexico

G/F Chace Stanback, So., UNLV

G Tre’Von Willis, Jr., UNLV

C David Foster, So., Utah

Player of the Year:Darington Hobson, Jr., New Mexico

Defensive Player of the Year: David Foster, So., Utah

Sixth Man Award:Jonathan Tavernari, Sr., BYU

Coach of the Year: Steve Alford, New Mexico

*Number of previous All-Conference selections

 Women

First Team

*#G/F Helena Sverrisdottir, Jr., TCU

*G Emily Carter, Jr., TCU

**F Kalee Whipple, Sr., Utah

**#G Jene Morris, Sr., San Diego State

**G Amy Beggin, Sr., New Mexico

Second Team

*G Mindy Bonham, Jr., BYU

G/F Kim Mestdagh, So., Colorado State

*C Paris Johnson, Jr., San Diego State

C Taryn Wicijowski, Fr., Utah

*F Hillary Carlson, Jr., Wyoming

G Aubrey Vandiver, Jr., Wyoming

Third Team

**G Quenese Davis, Sr., San Diego State

G TK LaFleur, Sr., TCU

G Erica Helms, Jr., UNLV

F Emma Langford, So., Wyoming

Honorable Mention

G Raimee Beck, Jr., Air Force

G Jazmine Foreman, Jr., BYU

G Haley Hall, Jr., BYU

F Kristen Riley, So., BYU

F Coriann Wood, Jr., BYU

G/F Amanda Best, Jr., New Mexico

F Jessica Kielpinski, Jr., New Mexico

F Starr Crawford, Fr., TCU

G Eboni Mangum, Sr. TCU

G/F Jamie Smith, So., UNLV

All-Defensive Team

G Mindy Bonham, Jr., BYU

G Jazmine Foreman, Jr., BYU

G Amy Beggin, Sr., New Mexico

G Jene Morris, Sr., San Diego State

G Eboni Mangum, Sr., TCU

F Halie Sawyer, Sr., Utah

Player of the Year:Helena Sverrisdottir, Jr., TCU

Defensive Player of the Year:Jene Morris, Sr., San Diego State

Freshman of the Year: Taryn Wicijowski, Utah

Newcomer of the Year: Jessika Bradley, San Diego State

Sixth Player Award:Coriann Wood, Jr., BYU

Coach of the Year:Jeff Mittie, TCU

#Unanimous First Team selection

**Three-time All-Conference selection

*Repeat All-Conference selection

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Posted in MWC basketball all-conference teams, UW men's basketball, UW women's basketball

Monday morning news and notes

March 8th, 2010 No comments »

Good morning from Las Vegas. I’ve been here since Friday night and I’m not broke yet.

Getting ready to get on the final Mountain West Conference men’s basketball coaches teleconference. The all-conference teams will be announced later today. Will be interesting to see where, if any where, UW freshman Desmar Jackson ends up.

And who will be the Player of the Year? Darington Hobson of New Mexico or Jimmer Fredette of BYU?

I think it will be Hobson.

Before I left I did some spring football stories, and here is today’s on the Cowboys’ move to a 4-3 defense.

http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/03/08/sports/19sports_03-08-10.txt

Will live blog the Cowgirls’ game Tuesday at the MWC Tournament against UNLV, as well as the men’s game Wednesday against Air Force. Here are the links for these games. Hope a lot of you join me for some coverage and conversation during the games.

http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/03/08/live-blog-wyoming-vs-unlv-ladies-mwc-tournament/

http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/03/02/live-blog-wyoming-vs-air-force-mwc-tournament/

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Posted in MWC Basketball Tournament, UW men's basketball, UW spring football 2010, UW women's basketball

Live Blog: Wyoming vs UNLV (Ladies MWC tournament)

March 8th, 2010 No comments »

We’re going to get Robert to live blog the women’s MWC tourney game on Tuesday evening. Wyoming plays UNLV at 8 and Robert will begin live blogging around 7:45pm.

As a quick reminder the men play on Wednesday afternoon. You can follow this link to get to the live blog that Robert will be doing on that game.
» Read more: Live Blog: Wyoming vs UNLV (Ladies MWC tournament)

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Posted in Basketball, Live Blog, MWC women's basketball, UW women's basketball, Uncategorized

UW-UNLV post-game thoughts

March 6th, 2010 No comments »

I don’t think Wyoming’s 74-56 loss came as a surprise.

UNLV is just better and it showed why. It’s defensive pressure forced 16 first-half turnovers that resulted in 22 points. UW trailed 44-23 at the break and it was pretty much over at that point.

It was disheartening to see sophomore point guard JayDee Luster go down in the first half with a groin injury. He didn’t return and really looked in a lot of pain on the bench. He kept ice on it the rest of the game. Luster has had shoulder, ankle and now groin injuries this season. His absence, as well as foul trouble for freshman guard Desmar Jackson, were factors in UW’s turnover trouble.

Other thoughts and notes from the game:

–Junior forward Djibril Thiam had his second-career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. He scored UW’s first nine points, and had a ball fake on a UNLV player that resulted in a nice basket that even drew awes from the UNLV fans.

–Sophmore center Adam Waddell had just one point and four rebounds. Wasn’t much of a factor in the game at all.

–After four 3-pointers and 12 points Tuesday against Air Force, senior forward Ryan Dermody played just nine minutes and missed his only shot.

–Four players — Jackson (21), Thiam (13), freshman Amath M’Baye (13) and freshman Daylen Harrison (eight) scored 55 of UW’s 56 points.

–UW had just six assists on its 21 field goals.

For more on the game, and pairings for the upcoming MWC Tournament, see Sunday’s paper.

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Posted in UW at UNLV men's hoops