Cowboy basketball to tip with Regis

by UW Athletics Media Relations

The 2009-10 University of Wyoming men's basketball team will take the floor for the first time Saturday evening as the Cowboys host Regis University in their only exhibition game of the season. The game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium.

Led by third-year head coach Heath Schroyer, the Cowboys are anxious to play their first game since opening practice on Oct. 16.

Wyoming is currently enjoying an 18-game winning streak in exhibition games. In fact, the Cowboys have not lost an exhibition game since the 1999 season. Since playing their first exhibition game during the 1982-83 season, Wyoming has posted an all-time exhibition record of 39-6 (.867). In exhibition games against other universities, the Cowboys have never lost and are a perfect 9-0 (1.000).

The Cowboys enter the 2009-10 season with a great deal of momentum. Last season, the Pokes reached the postseason for the first time since the 2002-03 season and played in the College Basketball Invitational. They finished with an overall record of 19-14 and beat four teams that eventually played in the postseason. The Pokes also advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Championship.

While the Cowboys are tied for the third fewest upperclassmen in the nation with three, they have a great deal of young talent set to take the floor for the first time this season. They will be led by the 2009 Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, Afam Muojeke. Muojeke became the MWC’s all-time leading freshman scorer and averaged 14.8 points and 5.3 rebounds a game.

The Cowboys also welcome back another starter in sophomore Adam Waddell. Waddell became UW’s starting center as a redshirt freshman and averaged 5.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.64 blocks per game. Unfortunately, Waddell had to have knee surgery last week and is expected to miss one to two more weeks.

In addition to Muojeke and Waddell, the Cowboys welcome back three other letterwinners in senior Ryan Dermody, junior Djibril Thiam and sophomore A.J. Davis. They also welcome back one team member, Arthur Bouedo.

The Cowboys have an exciting group of young players led by a pair of Division I transfers -- JayDee Luster (New Mexico State) and Boubacar Sylla (Auburn). In terms of newcomers, the coaching staff is excited about sophomore Thomas Manzano and freshmen Desmar Jackson, Daylen Harrison and Amath M’Baye.

Following Saturday’s exhibition game, the Cowboys will open the 2009-10 regular season on Nov. 13 as they host South Dakota State.