Wyoming Cowboys
2023-2024 Result: 15-17 record (8-10 MWC)
Wyoming decided to part ways with Jeff Linder after 4 seasons, with one of those seasons resulting in an NCAA tournament appearance (2022). 2024 Horizon League coach of the year Sundance Wicks will take over the program, as he spent just one year at Green Bay where he led a program with fairly low expectations to a 13-7 conference record. The hire makes a lot of sense, as Wicks was an assistant under coach Linder from 2020-2023. Wicks was able to gain some traction in the transfer portal as well, recruiting a pair of former 4-star recruits in Jordan Nesbitt and Dontaie Allen. There will still be somewhat of a bigger rebuild going on in Laramie, but it is a great sign for the program to already be acquiring some talent.
The Cowboy offense could be competent right away with the shooting ability of Kobe Newton and Dontaie Allen on the wing along with the floor spacing in the frontcourt of Touko Tainamo. Wicks’ offense at Green Bay ranked in the top 10 in 3-point attempt rate last season (48.2% rate), so expect this to be a massive part of the offense. It will be a matter of getting these shooters open, as there may not be a reliable creator/playmaker for this offense to get consistent quality looks. Jordan Nesbitt is projected to be the primary ball handler and he is an explosive guard off the dribble, but he has shown inefficiencies throughout his career. D-II transfer Obi Agbim is another guard to watch for, as he can create his own shot off the dribble at a high level. The frontcourt may be able to provide some value on the offensive glass, as centers Scott Ebube (17.7% OREB) and Oleg Kojenets (9.6% OREB) are above average in this area, but this group looks to have a limited skill set outside of rebounding. Overall, the Cowboys should have an offense that can hold its own in the Mountain West, but the amount of roster turnover here could take time to gel.
The defense doesn’t have too many bright spots in year one of the Sundance Wicks era. The frontcourt group looks to bring a solid overall rebounding presence, but this group is very limited mobility-wise. There isn’t a frontcourt lineup combination to feel great about from a defensive standpoint, as opposing teams with solid guard play will expose the Cowboy big men in space. As for the backcourt, there is some length and athleticism with Nesbitt, Allen, and Agbim, but this unit will most likely not move the needle in either direction this upcoming season. The floor shouldn’t be too low for this defense though, as the rebounding ability will keep them away from disaster.
This Wyoming program looks to have a positive long-term outlook, as Wicks is already accumulating talent in his first year on the job. With that being said, the Cowboys ceiling is finishing no better than 7th in the Mountain West, but don’t be surprised if they finish in the bottom 2 or 3. They may be able to steal a few games from the top teams in this conference with their high 3-point attempt rate creating some positive variance, but don’t expect the Cowboys to make much noise besides that this upcoming season.
Key Additions
Dontaie Allen (Western Kentucky)
Jordan Nesbitt (Hampton)
Touko Tainamo (Denver)
Obi Agbim (DII Fort Lewis)
Matija Belic (UC Santa Barbara)
Cole Henry (Northern Iowa)
Scottie Ebube (Southern Illinois)
Key Losses
Cam Manyuwa
Brendan Wenzel
Caden Powell
Akuel Kot
Sam Griffen
Mason Walters
Projected Starting Lineup
Head Coach: Sundance Wicks (1st season)
Guard: Kobe Newton (SR)
Guard: Jordan Nesbitt (SR)
Guard: Dontaie Allen (SR)
Forward: Touko Tainamo (SR)
Center: Scottie Ebube (JR)