Wyoming Cowboys Open a critical section of travel to San Diego State – Casper Star -Tribun

Aztecs competed in four consecutive NCAA tournaments and look ready to extend the series to five this season. Currently, the team ranks fourth in the Mountain West Conference ranking with 7-3 records (14-5) courtesy of victories over the likes of Boise State, Colorado State and Nevada.

San Diego State has won four of his last five games to rise to No. 42 in the Kenpom ranking (Wyoming is ranked No. 183 with minus-12 net rating) and No. 43 in RPI.

After his first meeting with Aztecs, Pokes will host Utah State (19-2, 9-1 MW) on Tuesday night at Arena-Auditorium with an eye for revenge on 3-point defeat in December. AGGIES is currently sharing the Mountain West lead with New Mexico.

“This is the great thing about having a great league, right? The next section of five games (presents) great opportunities for everyone, “said UW Sundance Wicks chief coach. “I think our boys become a little more motivated when they see it and love to play to their competition level. I like to think that we would do this by getting down here. … We will have to do some things that keep the teams out of balance. “

After the rematch with Aggies, Unlv (11-10, 5-5) came to the city on February 8 with revenge on his mind after the upset victory of the cowboys in the center of Thomas and Mack three weeks ago. After UNLV, Wyoming goes on the road to meet New Mexico (17-4, 9-1) and Colorado (14-7, 8-2), two teams competed well, but losses from. Lobos (No. 34) and AGGIES (No. 21) are ranked in the top-40 of RPI.

“The mountain is the best, as Wix loves to say, it’s ruthless. Go through the Mini Five-Game Glove with a winning record and dawn will be interrupted for UW. Wyoming will be able to see the light again, as the schedule relieves targeting the conference tournament.

This section also presents UW with the unique opportunity to pick up multiple Quad 1 wins and move up in the MW standings. The winning RPI top-50 opponents are vital as the team builds its autobiography for the biggest place in the NCAA tournament.

“There are many options for sending statements or sending messages,” Wix said. “It will be so interesting here to see what is happening to everyone. I want to say that no one is easy, so every night it is better to be ready to dig and roll. “

The Aztecs were led by their protection this season. They rank first in MW, limiting opponents to 36.5% of the terrain and 63 points per game. Their opponent in the goal field is ranked third in the country.

This is a protection that suffocates opponents with its length behind the near 8-foot wings of 7-foot freshman Magun Guet, as well as the wings Miles Bird, Faroa Compton, Miles Hyde and Jared Coleman-Jones, who all stand at least 6-7 S

Wix quickly pointed out the Aztec tendency to accumulate thefts and blocks of the protective end, allowing them to be dangerous in the transition. It also means that the Aztecs can continue to run at any time.

“The steal and blocks go (the Aztecs). They continue crazy tracks every time you watch them, “he said. “(This is their activity and length, their athleticism. Blocked shots are turnover in most cases. When you have a person who can block three shots per game or what does byrd in passing sails and just how, I think they are very deliberate for How they bet (defensive).

Wyoming will hope that his hot firing at victory over Fresno State is traveling to San Diego. Pokes fired 47% beyond the rainbow until they made 17 threes. Obi Agbim (18.1 PPG) and perimeter threat Dontaie Allen (7.1 PPG) will lead Pokes into battle.

Wix knows that the cowboys are an advantage. Currently, UW is ranked third in Mountain West with a 36.0 3-point percentage in conference game.

“Sagittarius cannot be shy with a gun. When they get this great rhythm look, you have to reward it and you have to be able to tear down these bad guys, because these are the things that make us different right now in the mountain West, a 3 -point ball, – Wix said.

Meanwhile, the Aztecs are led by BYRD (14 PPG) and Nick Boyd (11.8 PPG) in a crime that averages 72.1 ppg and shoots 44% of the terrain.

Shoot well and protect the rim will be the turn of the business for the “cowboys” as they look to take their first victory in San Diego State since 2007. Wyoming currently has 10 games to lose Aztecs.

“Protecting the huge paint. This is one of our key (points of) accent. I think you should know that they have always had a physical identity, especially offensive, “Wix added. “If the game plan comes right, if they are going to beat you, they will beat you with threes.”