Leonard Washington gives fellow Cowboy Derrious Gilmore a few words of encouragement in the final minutes of the game against Boise State in the Arena Auditorium.
While exhausted students have taken a much-deserved break away from school to spend the holidays with friends and family, Cowboy and Cowgirl basketball players have spent most of their break dribbling the ball up and down the court.
So what have Pokes fans missed during the winter vacation?
There has been a lot of buzz going on about the men’s basketball team. From the indefinite dismissal of senior Luke Martinez to its tremendous achievements in its 2012-13 season, the team has a topic of conversation.
An announcement released from head coach Larry Shyatt stated that Martinez would no longer be a part of the University’s team due to charges filed against him. The charges were filed after he fractured his hand in a bar fight at the Buckhorn Bar in Laramie on Dec. 30, according to the Associated Press. The suspension is expected to involve ongoing legal action. Shyatt and other UW officials have expressed their views but have no further comments concerning the matter.
Aside from the dispute against Martinez, the team’s performances have been remarkable.
The milestones they have reached this season are the best in the program’s history. A poll taken from ESPN/ USA Today Coaches ranked the team as No. 25 in the nation, making it their best season since 1988, the last time the team made an appearance at the Conference Tournament Championships.
Hyped up on their sensational performance, the Cowboys exhibited a lot of anticipation for their big conference opener against Boise State.
“I expect a very tough, competitive game,” senior guard Derrious Gilmore said in a pre-conference interview. “Both clubs really want to show they can compete in this conference and we definitely want to show that we are one of the better teams in the conference.”
Unfortunately, the Cowboys’ streak was broken that night when they fell to the Broncos after they hit a clutch 3-pointer as time expired. Disappointment from players, coaches and fans filled the court as the team exited having its first loss after its 13-game winning streak.
“It’s going to make us a better team,” Gilmore said in the post-conference interview. “Adversity is something we face all year. We’ll get back in the gym tomorrow and prepare but this will make us a better team, I promise you that.”
Despite the loss, the players were not going to let the first defeat put a damper on the remainder of their season. As Gilmore stated, the loss would improve their team, and they won their most recent match up against Nevada 59-48.
Although the team has lost one of its leading scorers, its has the talent to potentially bring back a MW title.
Fans also have been excited about the Cowgirls’ achievements so far this season.
Cowgirl Kaitlyn Mileto attempts a shot in the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack at the Arena Auditorium.
With a strong record in the first half of the season (12-3 overall, 1-1 in the Mountain West Conference), the Cowgirls are showing promise that they will carry themselves far in the conference this year.
Like the Cowboys, the Cowgirls dropped their most recent loss against the Lady Broncos in Boise. They fell short by two points just like the men’s team with a final score of 70-68.
With the defeat in their first game in the conference season, the Cowgirls found themselves raising the bar and pushing themselves to a win over Nevada on Saturday. The game was a blowout, with the final score of 94-41. It was the team’s highest score of the season.
Although Poke enthusiasts have missed a month of excitement, fans can get back to supporting the teams in the remainder of their games. Both teams will be up against Fresno State this week. The men’s team will be away, but the Cowgirls will be competing at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Arena Auditorium.
