Did this for football so I thought it would be good to do it for basketball, for both the men’s and women’s games on Saturday.
Cowboys host Loyola Marymount, Cowgirls are at Washington State:
1. Outside shooting: The Cowboys are shooting 19 percent from 3-point range, and until they show they can make some perimeter shots any opposing coach should be fired for not playing zone. UW doesn’t need to make 10 3-pointers a game, but it needs to make more than one or two.
2. Group effort: With sophomore Afam Muojeke doubtful (knee) against LMU, the rest of the Cowboys need to make up the absence of Muojeke’s 17 points per game. It doesn’t need to fall on one guy. Sophomores A.J. Davis and Adam Waddell, and junior Djibril Thiam are the main guys. Freshman guard Desmar Jackson could also figure into this. Coach Heath Schroyer said Jackson struggles against zones. That needs to get fixed.
3. Faster starts: Difficult to be critical of the Cowgirls since they are 7-0. But they have gotten off to slow starts in some of their games, especially on the road. What matters is the final score, but starting slow on the road is playing with fire.
4. Instant offense: I like how the men bring Waddell of the bench and the women do the same with sophomore guard Kristen Scheffler. Both provide a lot of production, and seem to give their teams an instant shot in the arm when they are in the games. Hope this continues.
5. Maintain focus: The men were in a whirlwind last week with four games in five days. Saturday’s game is their lone game so it would be nice to see them come out focused and improved. For the women, it’s always nice to win the first of a two-game road swing. A lack of focus has never been a problem with this team. Let’s hope it doesn’t start Saturday.
Live blog for Saturday’s men’ game will begin around 6 p.m. at http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2009/12/01/wyoming-vs-loyola-marymount-live-blog/
