Archive for the ‘CSU at UW men’s hoops’ category

UW-CSU five things to watch

February 5th, 2010

1. Does UW show up?: The Cowboys are coming off a 78-50 home loss to UNLV, the worst in Arena-Auditorium history. Sophomore guard A.J. Davis has left the team. There are only seven fully healthy players on scholarship. CSU is fresh off a big road win at Utah and is in the running to finish as high as fifth in the conference. Nothing would make the Rams’ happier than to boat race the Cowboys. That could happen unless UW finds a way to put all of this other stuff behind it.

2. Waddell’s way: Even with a bum ankle, sophomore center Adam Waddell must play and play well for the Cowboys. He had 18 against CSU in Laramie, but Rams junior forward Andy Ogide had 22. The weight of world doesn’t need to be all on Waddell’s shoulders, but he is the heart and soul of this team and if he plays well will reflect on the rest of the team.

3. Foreign connection: Along with Waddell, UW also must get good play from junior forward Djibril Thiam and freshman forward Amath M’Baye. CSU’s strength is along the forward line with Ogide and Travis Franklin. CSU can hurt teams in other ways, but if these guys get rolling the rest of the Rams roll.

4. Better half-court defense: With the lineup depleted, UW probably won’t be able to press or use as much pressure defense as it would like. That doesn’t bode well because that’s how the Cowboys generate most of their turnovers. Even when they press the Pokes are last in the MWC in scoring defense. They must play better half-court defense and limit CSU to just one shot, not second and third opportunities.

5. Make shots: UW shot 28 percent from the field and 54 percent from the free-throw line in the loss to UNLV. The Cowboys won’t beat anybody shooting that poorly. Everyone must shoot the ball better.

I think we all agree that this season would be one of transition for UW, but I don’t think anyone saw this coming. What does this team have in them to get through all this?

See Saturday’s paper for analysis stories on the Cowboys and Cowgirls as they head into the second half of conference play. See my column in Sunday’s paper for someone at UW who must be feeling the heat right about now and better do something now to put out the fire.

Going to live blog the men’s game starting at about 6:30 p.m. Join me at http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/02/05/wyoming-vs-csu-mens-basketball-live-blog/

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Posted in CSU at UW men's hoops, UW men's basketball, UW women's basketball

Wyoming vs CSU Mens Basketball Live Blog

February 5th, 2010

Robert will be live blogging the CSU vs Wyoming Mens Basketball game this Saturday evening. Game starts at 7pm, but will start blogging around 6:30pm.

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Posted in Basketball, CSU at UW men's hoops, Live Blog

UW-CSU five things to watch

January 5th, 2010

1. Luster gone? No, Wyoming sophomore point guard JayDee Luster has not left the team or anything like that, but he has to play well. How does he play with ankle and shoulder injuries? How well can he play defense and distribute the ball? Everyone for UW must play well, but especially him.

2. Fab frosh: Two of the better freshmen guards in the MWC will play in this game in UW’s Desmar Jackson and CSU’s Dorian Green. Green leads the conference among freshmen in scoring (13.7 ppg) and Jackson is fifth (8.9 ppg). Should be fun to see these guys play against each other Wednesday night, and for a long time to come.

3. Forward force: CSU’s strength is with its forwards like Andy Ogide, Travis Franklin and Pierce Hornung. UW must not let these guys go off, or at very least, not all of them.

4. Feel the pressure: UW should be at full strength in terms of players. So, the Cowboys need to press and use pressure defense to force CSU into turnovers and some easy baskets. That doesn’t mean a foul-fest, but hopefully to fluster CSU, especially with the freshman Green.

5. Shoot the rock: I wanted to say the Cowboys must “play a complete game” and while that is still very important, so is making some perimeter shots. UW can’t rely on driving to the basket. It’s got to make more than 22.5 percent from 3-point range like it has so far this season. If it makes 30 percent its chances of winning go up a lot. Let’s see if sophomore guard Arthur Bouedo, who makes his UW debut, is the kind of shooter coach Heath Schroyer has touted him as.

See Wednesday’s paper for a mid-season analysis of the Cowboys, along with coverage of the Cowgirls MWC opener at CSU Tuesday night. The plan is to live blog Wednesday from Laramie, but I hear Mother Nature may prevent me from that. But if I’m there, I hope you will join me at http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/01/04/wyoming-vs-csu-live-blog-2/

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Posted in CSU at UW men's hoops, UW men's basketball