Cowboys host Johnson & Wales

Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming coaches Fred Langley, left, and Heath Schroyer watch action Tuesday against Prairie View A&M.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

Johnson & Wales reminds Wyoming head coach Heath Schroyer a little of Prairie View A&M in that the Wildcats are a small and athletic team that will once again test his Cowboys.

Early-season tests are what the Cowboys are all about and it will be the Cowboys third in the regular season. Tip-off Saturday will begin at 6 p.m.

It will also be another chance for Wyoming post players Adam Waddell and Mikhail Linskens, along with senior guard Sean Ogirri to get some much-needed rhythm.

Wadell, a redshirt freshman, is averaging 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds a game, while the 7-foot Linskens, a sophomore, is averaging 2.0 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.

"It was hard because when you look at their minutes -- Mikhail played 17 and Adam played 12 -- it was a really hard matchup for them," Schroyer said. "As easy at it sounds ... we're just going to pound in there, we have to guard them on the other end of the floor. They went five guards, so it was hard on them. It's especially hard on Adam because he has been getting some cheap fouls because he is physical. I thought Mikhail started the game really well. It was a tough matchup for them."

The biggest player on Johnson & Wales is just 6-foot-6.

Ogirri, who is in his first and only season on the court with the Cowboys, transferred from Wichita State, sitting out last season. He’s averaging 11.5 points a game, but has struggled at times both offensively and defensively.

Wyoming senior guard Brandon Ewing, though, said he is not worried about his backcourt mate.

“Sean knows what it takes to win,” Ewing said. “Even though the stat line doesn’t show it, his leadership in the huddle, his leadership on the court … Sean has been where we are trying to go.
Sean never averaged 30 points for Wichita State, but Wichita State was also a Top 10 team. He knows what it takes to win.

“Sean is good. When the University of Wyoming Cowboys win, Sean is great.”

Schroyer pretty much echoed Ewing’s thoughts.

“Sean is still kind of feeling his way and getting back into the game after sitting out last year, but I have confidence in Sean Ogirri,” Schroyer said. “I believe after he gets a few games under his belt, he will be a special player for Wyoming.”

The Cowboys had to hold off Prairie View A&M 80-75 on Tuesday after blowing out Cal State Bakersfield in their opener.

Having to play at crunch time proved to be beneficial for the Cowboys.

“Offensively, I was pleased with the way we attacked the basket and got to the line. We work hard on free throws. We spend about 15 to 20 minutes a day working on them, and that showed tonight,” Schroyer said Tuesday night. “Prairie View is a good team, not a great team, but they provided us with some tough matchups and they played hard. It was good to have a close game in that we had to come up with stops at the end, we had to make plays and we had to hit free throws.”

After Saturday’s game, the Cowboys will return to action Wednessay at home against Texas State, before hosting Denver Nov. 29.
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WYOMING (2-0 Overall)
Probable Starters Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown PPG RPG APG
F #11 Afam Muojeke 6-7 210 R-Fr. Jamaica, N.Y. 27.0 4.0 0.5
F #21 Tyson Johnson 6-7 245 Sr. Long Island, N.Y. 16.0 7.0 2.5
C #15 Adam Waddell 6-10 235 R-Fr. Cody, Wyo. 4.0 3.5 1.5*
G # 0 Sean Ogirri 6-3 200 R-Sr. Denver, Colo. 11.5 2.5 2.5
G #23 Brandon Ewing 6-2 190 Sr. Chicago, Ill. 14.0 3.5 7.0
Reserves
PG # 1 JayDee Luster^ 5-9 165 So. San Diego, Calif. Redshirting
G # 2 Arthur Bouëdo 6-2 165 Fr. Aix en Provence, France Hasn't yet played
F # 5 Ryan Dermody 6-9 205 Jr. Loveland, Colo. Hasn't yet played
G #12 Galand Thaxton 6-2 175 Fr. Laramie, Wyo. 0.0 0.0 0.0
C #13 Mikhail Linskens 7-0 260 So. Bredene, Belgium 2.0 5.5 1.5*
F #25 Djibril Thiam# 6-10 205 So. Dakar, Senegal Hasn't yet played
F #32 Mahamoud Diakite 6-7 225 Jr. Paris, France 4.0 4.5 1.0*
C #33 Boubacar Sylla^ 7-2 275 So. Paris, France Redshirting
G #51 A.J. Davis 6-6 195 Fr. Columbus, Ohio 3.5 3.5 1.5
Johnson & Wales (1-3 Overall)
Probable Starters Ht. Cl. Hometown PPG RPG APG
F #22 Nick Maly 6-4 So. Broomfield, Colo. 8.0 4.3 3.3
F #30 Andrew Baker 6-6 Jr. Broomfield, Colo. 8.3 5.0 2.6
G # 1 Chris Lambrecht 5-9 Fr. Colo. Springs, Colo. 5.7 1.7 2.7
G #11 Ryan Goodenburger 6-2 Sr. Pagosa Springs, Colo. 8.0 4.0 0.3
G #24 Chris Brunson 5-10 Jr. Commerce City, Colo. 5.7 2.3 1.7
Reserves
G # 2 Ethan Fisher 6-0 Jr. Ft. Collins, Colo. Hasn't yet played
G # 3 Corey Puckett 5-10 Fr. Erie, Colo. 1.0 0.3 0.0
F # 5 Sasha Pate 6-5 So. Dallas, Texas 7.7 3.7 2.3
F #10 Sean McGee 6-5 Jr. Boulder, Colo. Hasn't yet played
F #14 Dexter Lewis 6-4 So. Deerfield Beach, Fla. Hasn't yet played
F #15 Nate Lark 6-6 Jr. Dayton, Ohio 7.3 7.3 0.7
G #20 Julius Rowe 6-0 Jr. Salt Lake City, Utah Hasn't yet played
G #21 Tyler Hunt 6-0 So. Carbondale, Colo. Hasn't yet played
G #23 MJ Crespin 6-1 Jr. Greeley, Colo. 17.5 5.5 2.5
G #32 Ethan Evenson 6-2 So. Hillsboro, N.D. 3.3 1.3 2.0
F #33 Shane Chase 6-5 Sr. Honolulu, Hawaii Hasn't yet played