Wyoming senior Tyson Johnson drives on a Utah player on Saturday.By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
When you’re in a somewhat of a slump, whether a team or individual slide, sometimes that long bye week comes at the right time.
That is certainly the case for the Wyoming Cowboys and Tyson Johnson.
Wyoming head coach Heath Schroyer said that he is looking forward to the long week to get back in the gym and prepare for the rest of the Mountain West Conference schedule.
Schroyer said Monday on his weekly MWC teleconference, that the Cowboys, loser’s of three straight games, will take one day off this week -- either Tuesday or Wednesday -- as they get ready for Saturday night’s game at San Diego State.
“We’re just trying to work as hard as we can and clean up as much as we can,” Schroyer said. “There’s a lot of basketball left and there is a lot to play for. We just have to get better. We just have to stay together, stay focused and not get too up or too down.”
Johnson, meanwhile, will be looking for his offensive game again after two sub-par efforts that saw him fail to score in double figures. Averaging 14.7 points a game this season, Johnson is just 8-of-23 from the field and has scored 25 points in his last three games.
Schroyer said it is a combination of teams trying to take Johnson away defensively, along the 6-foot-7 senior simply being in a little slump.
“Going back and watching film, I think we got him three or four really good looks early against BYU and a couple good looks early in the New Mexico game,” he said. “I believe in Tyson and I believe he will play better coming down the stretch. I do believe he is in a slump and it is not uncommon to go through some slumps in a year. We’re just in a situation where, in this league, this year, if we are not clicking on every cylinder, it is hard to win games.”
Schroyer said that all Johnson really needs to do is spend a little extra time in this gym, which he will get this week.
“Tyson understands, and we are going to keep reiterating that we have confidence in him, especially on the offensive end of the floor," Schroyer said. “He understands that he is our best post presence offensively and without a post presence offensively, you end up shooting a lot of jump shots, which lead to transition baskets on the other end. You have to a have guy in there who can deliver in the post, and Tyson, since the middle of last year up until the last couple of weeks, has really done that.”
Linskens for 3
It has been no secret that Wyoming center Mikhail Linskens, like most European big men, has the ability to shoot from the outside.
Last season, Linskens hit 7 of 29 3s in averaging 4.2 points a game. The 7-foot sophomore, however, went into Saturday’s game not attempting a 3-pointer, scoring 3.0 points per game.
On Saturday, Linskens hit 3 of 4 3-pointers and scored 10 points.
“Coach gave me the green light to shoot the 3 because I had to play outside to get (Luke) Nevill out of the way,” Linskens said. “It was good that my shots went down so that we could get him a little more out, but we lost, so it doesn't matter anymore.”
Schroyer said that Linskens played a good game against Utah.
"I have a lot of respect for Mikhail, in the fact that he's never whined, he's never complained, he's always been a good teammate,” Schroyer said. “He came out ready to play and I think this can propel him and lead him to a few more minutes coming down the stretch.”
Although he hadn’t attempted a 3-pointer this season until Saturday, Linskens said he was ready.
“Since the day I started playing basketball, they always told me to shoot,” Linskens said. "I didn't shoot yet this year, but that doesn't mean I didn't work on it. I was prepared."
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