Alumni basketball slideshow

Brown wins alumni game

Richard Anderson photos
Bill Garnett high fives former Cowboys A.J. Johnson and Fennis Dembo among others after being introduced Saturday night the Cowboy alumni basketball game. Below, Kenny Smith tries to get past, from left, Rick Henry and Brad Enzi, with Garnett and Kerry McIntyre in the background.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

Reggie Slater was a little worried that no one would show up for what he hopes is an a semi-annual Cowboy basketball alumni event.

No worries, Big Cat.

“We had close to 5,000 people out here. That’s beautiful, that is wonderful man. It is something to build on,“ Slater said. “Hopefully, if guys are interested, if the fans are interested, maybe we can do this again. It was awesome.”

After a tough football game at War Memorial Stadium earlier in the day, Cowboy fans had a lot of cheer about Saturday night. Who wouldn't enjoy seeing Fennis Dembo sink a 3-pointer? How about Slater dunking the basketball or Ugo Udezue pulling down a rebound? How about Bill Garnett finishing a fastbreak? There was also Brett McFall, Kenny Smith and Sly Johnson knocking down 3-pointers like it was yesterday.

Blasts from the past, certainly, but there was a little of everything Saturday night.

How about Jim Brandenburg walking the sidelines again or having a nice conversation with current Cowboy coach Heath Schroyer before the game? How about Charles Bradley and Kenny Sailors on the bench as well? Then there is Theo Ratliff in attendance but unable to play because of his current NBA contractual obligations.

“This is what Wyoming basketball is all about,” Dembo said. “We got Coach (Brandenburg) here, we got the guys here, we’re all coming together for a great cause. We also had a lot of fun. I hadn’t seen a lot of these guys in a long time. We had a great time.”

It was special night for Brandenburg, who helped guide the Cowboys through one of their most success times in history in the 1980s.

“This means everything to me,” Brandenburg said. “The Wyoming fans are fantastic. My former players and the other former players who came back have been fantastic. It’s just been such a wonderful experience for me. Truthfully, all of the former players are still part of Wyoming basketball. It’s been a blast.”


Of course, one of the reasons everyone was at the Arena-Auditorium was to support former Cowboy Oliver Wilson, who is fighting cancer. Early in the second half, Wilson subbed in for Smith after a foul for the two free throws. Instead, he took it to the basket and made two layups to a standing ovation.

Wilson has a big spot in Brandenburg’s heart and he said he believes the Wyoming basketball fans have the same affection for the former Cowboy player and his family.

“Oliver is a very, very special guy,” Brandenburg said. “He was a real glue-team guy when I was coaching here. He was very popular with his teammates. He gets his Doctorate degree and he’s the vice president of student affairs at Grand Valley University (Michigan). He’s really doing well when he comes down with colon cancer. He and family have given it a great fight. It is just a wonderful opportunity for the Wyoming people to help with those medical bills. I truly appreciate it.”

By the time the coaches and players were signing autographs, over $10,000 was raised at the event -- about 5,000 in donations and t-shirt sales, which was matched by Ratliff.

“It was great to come back for such a worthy cause,” Ratliff said. “Ollie has been through a lot and he has fought off death. We just want to do all we can do to help him. We want to keep him supported and keep his family supported.”

The game
It wasn’t the prettiest of games at times, but the competitiveness and adrenaline was apparent. The Brown team came out on top of the Gold team 105-96.

Dembo only played five minutes, but he was able to hit a 3-pointer to send the fans into a frenzy. It felt good to the player also known as the“The Electric Man,” who was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

“It was fun to hit that 3-pointer, run up and down the floor a little bit again,” Dembo said with his classic smile. “It was really nice.”

The victorious Brown team was led by Slater and McFall, who each scored 22 points. Slater, the event organizer, finished with a double-double in the game, as he also had 11 rebounds. Smith added a double-double of his own with 11 points and 11 assists.

The Gold squad, which was coached by Bradley and Sailors, had six players score in double figures, with Sly Johnson leading the way with 20 points. Kerry McIntyre and Rick Henry each chipped in 18 points.

The Brown team roster included Clint Bean, Justin French, Garnett, Tim Hunt, McFall, Slater, Smith, Bobby Traylor, Udezue, Wilson and Mark Wrapp.

The White team consisted of Mike Brown, Dembo, Brad Enzi, Henry, A.J. Johnson, Sly Johnson, McIntyre, Joe Ries, Gregg Sawyer and Roman Totta.

Other former Cowboys who were in attendance but did not play included Les Bolden, Turk Boyd, Sean Dent, Willie Jones, Rod Tyson, Ratliff and Tony Windis.

“It’s a great to see all of these guys,” Ratliff said. “Man, some of these guys I have never seen before, but I have heard stories about them.”

While there was a matador defense for much of the night, the players got into it offensively, and when it was all said and done, both teams played to win.

“That’s what we said when we took a time out,” Slater said. “We said, ‘Hey, this is all good and fun, but we do want to win.’ I thought both sides were competitive.”

Brandenburg said he didn’t have to coach, but just sat back and enjoyed the atmosphere.

And the quality of play?

“It was OK,” Brandenburg said with a smile. “For a bunch of fat old guys, they got up and down and did pretty well.”

In the end, you couldn’t help but see the smiles on the players faces. Chances are, Slater won’t have to twist any arms for many of the players -- and others who couldn’t make it this time -- to come back.

“We’re going to try to keep this thing going because we’re still away from each other too long,” Dembo said. “We want to try to get together and keep in touch with each other more often.”
The Cowboy basketball fans will likely be here again as well.

“I love these people to death,” Slater said.

Prior to the game, there was also a 3-point contest that pitted alumni players against current Cowboys. Cowboy senior Brandon Ewing won the contest by netting 15 points in a one-minute period.

Watch and learn
The current Cowboys were also in attendance and sat behind the bench with some of the former greats.

“It was a great time, a fun weekend, hanging out with those guys,” Ewing said. “Like I have said before, I always have had a great relationship with those guys -- Reggie Slater, Fennis Dembo and Theo Ratliff. It was great to see the other guys face-to-face. It was great for the university.”


While it has been years since many of the former players were with the program, they still keep tabs on what is going on. They’re also excited about the future.

“I really like this new coach,” Dembo said. “The air is very different around here.”

Slater, though a businessman in Houston, comes back often to talk to the team and help in any way he can.

“I know Heath is determined to turn this program into a very winning program; he’s been working these guys hard. When you have hard work, good things come from that,” Slater said.

Although Ratliff can’t make it back as much as he would like as he continues his NBA career, he said he enjoys his time back when he can get it.

“I just love seeing the young guys. I know how much respect they have for me and what I do and where I’ve been throughout my career. It is always great fun to come out and see the guys,” Ratliff said.

And Ratliff expects the team to continue growing to the future.

“I had a nice conversation with the coach,” Ratliff said. “He’s working hard to make sure they keep the right attitude about the game and working hard. Whatever I can do to help, I will.”

Anyone interested in donating to Wilson and his family may do so on the internet at www.owcancerfund.org. Donations can also be made through UniWyo Federal Credit Union in Laramie.

Alumni game to bring former Cowboys back together again

By Wyoming Sports.org

It will be turn back the Cowboy basketball clock day Saturday at the Arena-Auditorium.

Some of the greatest players in Cowboy basketball history will return to their old stomping grounds for an alumni basketball game.

The game, which was organized by Cowboy Hall of Fame basketball player Reggie Slater, is free to the public and will be after the Cowboy football game with Bowling Green.

The evening will begin with a 3-point shooting contest at 6:30 p.m. and the game is to tip-off after that at around 7 p.m. There will be an autograph session following the game and the players will also have a tent at Pepsi's Tailgate Park prior to the football game.

"I have always loved the University of Wyoming and have kept up with everyone in Laramie over the years," said Slater. "I try to come back to Laramie every year and be a positive influence on the current guys. While doing this, I have been fortunate enough to bring some other former players with me. All of those trips sprung the idea of bringing a big group of guys into Laramie and playing a game."

Some of the most notable names in Cowboy basketball history will be back in Laramie for this event, including seven Wyoming Hall of Fame inductees and one Hall of Fame coach. Those Hall of Fame athletes include Charles Bradley, Fennis Dembo, Bill Garnett, Eric Leckner, Theo Ratliff, Kenny Sailors and Slater, along with Hall of Fame coach Jim Brandenburg.

"I have been working hand in hand with the athletics department and we have a great group of guys coming back," said Slater. "With every guy I have talked to over the past few months, the reflection in their voices shows complete love and affection for Wyoming. The university is a part of who we all are."

The game will feature 21 former Cowboys split onto a Brown and Gold team. The Brown team roster will consist of Clint Bean, Justin French, Bill Garnett, A.J. Johnson, Brett McFall, Slater, Kenny Smith, Bobby Traylor, Ugo Udezue, Oliver Wilson and Mark Wrapp. The Gold team roster will consist of Mike Brown, Brad Enzi, Rick Henry, Tim Hunt, Sly Johnson, Eric Leckner, Kerry McIntyre, Gregg Sawyer, Roman Totta and Rod Tyson. Brandenburg will coach one team and Bradley and Sailors will coach the other. Dembo, Sean Dent, Mike Hamilton, Ratliff and Jon Sommers will also be in attendance but will not play in the game.

"I hope that this will be a fun experience for all of the fans," Slater said. "It will be fun for them to see all of these former players and find out what has happened to them. I also hope that this will be an exciting game atmosphere. It will be great to see everyone's competitive juices start flowing once the game tips off."

This alumni game is also raising funds for the Oliver Wilson Cancer Fund. Wilson was a big part of the Cowboy basketball team during the late 1980s and will be a member of the Brown team. Any donations for Oliver and his family can be made through UniWyo Federal Credit Union. There is also a website where donations can be made at www.owcancerfund.org