2023–24 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team
American college basketball season
The 2023–24 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The Cowboys were led by Jeff Linder in his fourth and final season and played their home games for the 42nd season at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming . They participated as members of the Mountain West Conference for the 25th season.
Previous season
The Cowboys finished the 2022–23 season 9–22, 4–14 in Mountain West play to finish in last place. They lost to New Mexico in the first round of the Mountain West tournament .
Offseason
Three players left the team during the season,[1] and had 6 more players transfer after the season.[2] The Cowboys also hired two new assistant coaches, Bryston Williams and Nick Whitmore, to replace Marc Rodgers and Sundance Wicks .[3]
Departures
Name
Number
Pos.
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
Reason for departure
Ethan Anderson
20
G
6'1"
208
Jr.
Los Angeles, CA
Transferred to Pepperdine
Max Agbonkpolo
23
G/F
6'9"
196
Jr.
Laguna Niguel, CA
Transferred to Utah State
Nate Barnhart
15
F
7'0"
190
RS Fr.
Lenexa, KS
Transferred to South Dakota State
Xavier DuSell
53
G
6'4"
199
Jr.
Scottsdale, AZ
Transferred to Fresno State
Graham Ike
33
F
6'9"
255
Jr.
Aurora, CO
Transferred to Gonzaga
Jake Kyman
13
G/F
6'7"
213
Jr.
Aliso Viejo, CA
Transferred to Eastern Washington
Hunter Maldonado
24
G
6'7"
202
RS Sr.
Colorado Springs, CO
Graduated; Signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder Summer League team
Jeremiah Oden
25
F
6'8"
201
Jr.
Chicago, IL
Transferred to DePaul
Noah Reynolds
21
G
6'3"
195
So.
Peoria, IL
Transferred to Wisconsin Green Bay
Nathaniel Talich
0
G
6'4"
191
Fr.
Cheyenne, WY
Transferred to Casper College
Hunter Thompson
10
F
6'10"
230
RS Sr.
Pine Bluffs, WY
Graduated
Incoming transfers
2023 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
Commit date
Kael Combs G
Nixa, MO
Nixa HS
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Apr 15, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: N/A
Nigle Cook G
DeLand, FL
DME Academy
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Apr 14, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : N/A 247Sports : ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: N/A
Cameron Manyawu F
Kansas City, MO
Staley HS
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Apr 25, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : N/A 247Sports : ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: N/A
Jonas Sirtautas F
Kaunas, Lithuania
Žalgiris
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Aug 7, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: N/A
Jacob Theodosiou G
Waterloo, Canada
Western Reserve Academy
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Jul 1, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
Roster
2023–24 Wyoming Cowboys men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G
0
Nigle Cook
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
176 lb (80 kg)
Fr
DME Academy
DeLand, FL
G
1
Brendan Wenzel
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
208 lb (94 kg)
Sr
Utah
San Antonio, TX
G
2
Kobe Newton
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
178 lb (81 kg)
Jr
Fullerton College
Portland, OR
G
3
Sam Griffin
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
188 lb (85 kg)
Sr
Tulsa
Miami, FL
F
5
Cam Manyawu
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
228 lb (103 kg)
Fr
Staley HS
Kansas City, MO
F
7
Jonas Sirtautas
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Fr
Žalgiris
Kaunas, Lithuania
G
10
Levi Brown (W)
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
167 lb (76 kg)
Fr
Laramie HS
Laramie, WY
G
11
Kael Combs
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Fr
Nixa HS
Nixa, MO
G
13
Akuel Kot
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
167 lb (76 kg)
Sr
Fort Lewis
Amarillo, TX
F
15
Oleg Kojenets
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
228 lb (103 kg)
So
Nebraska
Kaunas, Lithuania
G
22
Kenny Foster
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
Sr
Smoky Hill HS
Aurora, Colorado
G
24
Jacob Theodosiou
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
188 lb (85 kg)
Fr
Western Reserve Academy
Waterloo, Canada
G
31
Cort Roberson (W)
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
So
Stanwood HS
Arlington, WA
F
33
Mason Walters
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
221 lb (100 kg)
GS
Jamestown
Jamestown, ND
F
44
Caden Powell
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
So
Midway HS
Waco, TX
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
Roster
Schedule and results
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
October 27, 2023 *6:30 p.m.
MSU Denver
W 79–67
—
24 – Griffin
9 – Tied
7 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (1,027)Laramie, WY
Non-conference regular season
November 7, 2023 *6:30 p.m., MW Network
Northern New Mexico
W 104–56
1–0
23 – Griffin
10 – Manyawu
10 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (3,362)Laramie, WY
November 11, 2023 *7:00 p.m., MW Network
Cal Poly
W 80–66
2–0
19 – Manyawu
10 – Manyawu
5 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (3,826)Laramie, WY
November 16, 2023 *12:00 p.m., ESPN2
vs. Saint Louis Myrtle Beach Invitational quarterfinals
L 69–79
2–1
17 – Powell
12 – Manyawu
4 – Griffin
HTC Center (1,201)Conway, SC
November 17, 2023 *12:30 p.m., ESPNU
vs. Charleston Myrtle Beach Invitational consolation 2nd round
W 67–60
3–1
24 – Griffin
8 – Wenzel
6 – Wenzel
HTC Center (1,152)Conway, SC
November 19, 2023 *8:30 a.m., ESPNU
vs. Furman Myrtle Beach Invitational 5th place game
W 78–71
4–1
26 – Griffin
13 – Powell
4 – Tied
HTC Center (1,136)Conway, SC
November 26, 2023 *1:00 p.m., LHN
at No. 15 Texas
L 63–86
4–2
12 – Tied
10 – Manyawu
3 – Griffin
Moody Center (9,926)Austin, TX
December 1, 2023 *6:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Portland
L 70–81
4–3
17 – Griffin
6 – Wenzel
5 – Griffin
Chiles Center (1,076)Portland, OR
December 5, 2023 *6:30 p.m., MW Network
South Dakota Mines
W 80–59
5–3
20 – Manyawu
11 – Manyawu
7 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (3,272)Laramie, WY
December 9, 2023 *2:00 p.m., MW Network
Stephen F. Austin
W 78–70
6–3
23 – Griffin
10 – Powell
5 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (3,584)Laramie, WY
December 17, 2023 *7:00 p.m., MW Network
Weber State
L 71–84
6–4
24 – Kot
7 – Manyawu
3 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (3,447)Laramie, WY
December 21, 2023 *5:00 p.m.
vs. South Dakota State Sun Bowl Invitational semifinals
W 78–65
7–4
22 – Kot
9 – Griffin
3 – Griffin
Don Haskins Center El Paso, TX
December 22, 2023 *7:00 p.m.
at UTEP Sun Bowl Invitational championship
L 67–78
7–5
16 – Walters
11 – Powell
3 – Kot
Don Haskins Center (4,310)El Paso, TX
December 30, 2023 *4:00 p.m., ESPN+
at No. 14 BYU
L 68–94
7–6
25 – Griffin
5 – Tied
5 – Griffin
Marriott Center (18,987)Provo, UT
Mountain West regular season
January 2, 2024 6:30 p.m., MW Network
San Jose State
W 75–73
8–6 (1–0)
23 – Griffin
6 – Griffin
3 – Walters
Arena-Auditorium (3,368)Laramie, WY
January 6, 2024 8:00 p.m., CBSSN
at New Mexico
L 60–77
8–7 (1–1)
18 – Griffin
9 – Manyawu
3 – Tied
The Pit (12,611)Albuquerque, NM
January 9, 2024 7:00 p.m., MW Network
at No. 20 Utah State
L 59–83
8–8 (1–2)
17 – Walters
7 – Wenzel
3 – Kot
Smith Spectrum (8,214)Logan, UT
January 13, 2024 2:00 p.m., MW Network
Fresno State
W 68–67
9–8 (2–2)
17 – Wenzel
8 – Wenzel
4 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (3,763)Laramie, WY
January 20, 2024 5:30 p.m., MW Network
Nevada
W 98–93
10–8 (3–2)
26 – Griffin
8 – Walters
7 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (4,136)Laramie, WY
January 23, 2024 7:00 p.m., CBSSN
at San Diego State
L 65–81
10–9 (3–3)
22 – Griffin
8 – Wenzel
3 – Griffin
Viejas Arena (12,414)San Diego, CA
January 27, 2024 2:00 p.m., MW Network
No. 24 Colorado State Border War
W 79–76 OT
11–9 (4–3)
24 – Griffin
9 – Wenzel
4 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (7,113)Laramie, WY
January 30, 2024 7:00 p.m., MW Network
at Air Force
W 83–72
12–9 (5–3)
25 – Wenzel
7 – Tied
5 – Kot
Clune Arena Colorado Springs, CO
February 3, 2024 6:00 p.m., CBSSN
at UNLV
L 48–62
12–10 (5–4)
13 – Manyawu
13 – Walters
3 – Walters
Thomas & Mack Center (5,963)Paradise, NV
February 6, 2024 6:30 p.m., MW Network
No. 25 New Mexico
L 73–91
12–11 (5–5)
20 – Wenzel
7 – Manyawu
4 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (3,685)Laramie, WY
February 14, 2024 8:00 p.m., FS1
Utah State
L 76–84
12–12 (5–6)
24 – Wenzel
11 – Manyawu
4 – Griffin
Arena-Auditorium (3,401)Laramie, WY
February 17, 2024 8:00 p.m., MW Network
at San Jose State
W 80–75
13–12 (6–6)
21 – Griffin
7 – Tied
3 – Griffin
Provident Credit Union Event Center (1,891)San Jose, CA
February 20, 2024 9:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Nevada
L 58–76
13–13 (6–7)
17 – Wenzel
12 – Manyawu
3 – Griffin
Lawlor Events Center (8,604)Reno, NV
February 24, 2024 5:30 p.m., MW Network
Boise State
L 72–92
13–14 (6–8)
16 – Griffin
9 – Manyawu
5 – Combs
Arena-Auditorium (5,180)Laramie, WY
February 27, 2024 7:00 p.m., CBSSN
UNLV
L 69–75 OT
13–15 (6–9)
20 – Wenzel
10 – Manyawu
4 – Manyawu
Arena-Auditorium (3,283)Laramie, WY
March 2, 2024 2:00 p.m., MW Network
at Colorado State Border War
L 62–70
13–16 (6–10)
15 – Manyawu
10 – Manyawu
3 – Tied
Moby Arena (8,083)Fort Collins, CO
March 5, 2024 6:30 p.m., MW Network
Air Force
W 74–63
14–16 (7–10)
20 – Wenzel
14 – Manyawu
2 – Tied
Arena-Auditorium (3,681)Laramie, WY
March 9, 2024 5:00 p.m., MW Network
at Fresno State
W 86–47
15–16 (8–10)
17 – Kot
9 – Walters
5 – Tied
Save Mart Center (4,395)Fresno, CA
Mountain West tournament
March 13, 2024 12:00 p.m., MW Network
(8)
vs. (9) Fresno State First round
L 73–77
15–17
23 – Kot
9 – Walters
6 – Griffin
Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, NV
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in
Mountain Time .
Source[4]
References
^ Thorburn, Ryan (February 8, 2023). "Wyoming Cowboys touted transfer trio no longer part of Jeff Linder's program" . Casper Star Tribune . Retrieved October 8, 2023 .
^ Thorburn, Ryan (May 4, 2023). "Wyoming head coach Jeff Linder wishes former players well, excited about the replacements" . Casper Star Tribune . Retrieved October 8, 2023 .
^ Thorburn, Ryan (March 30, 2023). "Linder shakes up Wyoming Cowboys coaching staff" . Casper Star Tribune . Retrieved October 8, 2023 .
^ "2023–24 Men's Basketball Schedule" . gowyo.com . Retrieved October 21, 2023 .
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons Helms and NCAA national championships in bold