The University of Wyoming men’s basketball team will look to bounce back from back-to-back losses on Saturday when they take on the Boise State Broncos at home in the Arena Auditorium at 4 p.m. Below, the Branding Iron’s sports staff weighs in on the matchup.
Adam Croft
acroft2@uwyo.edu
Things are bleak for the Cowboys right now. Larry Nance Jr. will not be back until December. Charles Hankerson Jr. will likely never don the brown and gold again as anything other than a fan. Their roster is down to 10. This season seems to be all but concluded. Boise State on the other hand managed a three-game winning streak just last week, during which they averaged 82 points a game. They will be next to impossible to stop, especially considered the sorry state that Wyoming’s defense seems to be in. On top of it all, the Pokes do not seem to be playing with much heart at this point. Sophomore guard Josh Adams exhibited body language comparable to a kid being forced to go to the dentist for the majority of Tuesday’s game against Air Force. This team does not seem to want to play. They will not be able to stop Boise State; they probably won’t get another win this season. Wyoming fans’ time would be better spent cheering for Nance’s March 5 knee surgery to go well.
Prediction: Boise State 85, Wyoming 60
Kendyll Ferrall
kferral1@uwyo.edu
A win would be nice for the Cowboys. Actually, maybe ‘nice’ is not the right word. A win is needed for the Cowboys. In the last week, they have lost their team leader and starting forward junior Larry Nance Jr. due to a season-ending injury. Most recently, redshirt junior forward Charles Hankerson Jr. was suspended indefinitely surrounding criminal charges. So when the Boise State Broncos travel to Laramie this Saturday, the Cowboys will need a win. If not to maintain their number five position in the Mountain West, to boost team morale and boost their confidence. The Cowboys last two games have been attempts to prove they can still compete without their leading scorer, rebounder, blocker (do I really need to go on?), but their efforts fell short after back-to-back losses to Colorado State and Air Force. Earlier in January when the Cowboys and Broncos first met, the Cowboys walked away with a small two-point victory, but this meeting will most likely have a different result. They are facing the same team, but they are not the same team they were.
Prediction: Boise State 70,Wyoming 55
Breann Lujan-Halcon
blujanha@uwyo.edu
The Cowboys will look to break a two-game conference-losing streak Saturday in an upset over the Boise State Broncos, who currently sit ahead of them in the Mountain West standings.
The Cowboys, (17-11, 8-7) are currently fifth in the conference, trailing behind the Broncos (18-10, 8-7) who are sitting at fourth.
After a loss to Fresno State by 20 points, the Broncos largest point deficit this season, the beginning of Boise State’s two-game road trip is off to a rough start.
Look for the Cowboys to capitalize on the Broncos lack of momentum.
Prior to the road loss, the Broncos were on a three-game winning streak in which they averaged 82 points per game.
With a ten-man roster, the Cowboys are going to have to pick up the pace. A sluggish first half Tuesday led to a one-possession loss to Air Force. This must have left a bitter taste in the mouth of senior guard Nathan Sobey and company.
Look for the Cowboys to channel their recent frustrations into tenacious play.
Prediction: Boise State 68, Wyoming 72
