# 2022–23 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team

The 2022–23 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cowboys were led by third-year head coach Jeff Linder and played their home games for the 41st season at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming. They participated as members of the Mountain West Conference for the 24th season.

## Previous season

The Cowboys finished the 2021–22 season 25–9, 13–5 in Mountain West play to finish in fourth place. In the Mountain West tournament, the Cowboys defeated UNLV in the quarterfinals before losing to Boise State. The Cowboys received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015 as a No. 12 seed. They were defeated by Indiana in the First Four.
The team also spent time ranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 2015. They were ranked #22 for the week of February 14.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Drake Jeffries | 0 | G | 6'5" | 186 | RS Senior | Mattoon, IL | Declared for 2022 NBA draft |
| Deng Dut | 2 | G | 6'4" | 192 | Junior | Melbourne, Australia | Elected to transfer to Southern Utah |
| Eoin Nelson | 11 | F | 6'10" | 229 | Junior | Dublin, Ireland | Elected to transfer to North Alabama |
| Ben Bowen | 40 | G | 6'5" | 170 | Freshman | Highlands Ranch, CO | Elected to transfer to Denver |
| John Grigsby | 55 | F | 6'9" | 211 | Sophomore | Louisville, CO | Elected to transfer to Concordia |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Jake Kyman | 13 | G | 6'7" | 213 | Junior | Aliso Viejo, CA | Transferred from UCLA. Kyman will be eligible to play immediately under the one-time transfer rule. |
| Ethan Anderson | 20 | F | 6'1'' | 208 | Junior | Los Angeles, CA | Transferred from USC. Anderson will be eligible to play immediately under the one-time transfer rule. |
| Max Agbonkpolo | 23 | G/F | 6'9'' | 196 | Junior | Laguna Niguel, CA | Transferred from USC. Agbonkpolo will be eligible to play immediately under the one-time transfer rule. |

### 2022 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Caden Powell C | Waco, TX | Midway HS | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 206 lb (93 kg) | Sep 8, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A 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: "2022 Wyoming Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022. "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022. ||||||

## Statistics

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Max Agbonkpolo | 16 | 6 | 16.0 | .376 | .300 | .688 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 5.4 |
| Ethan Anderson | 21 | 17 | 24.9 | .540 | .313 | .466 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 7.9 |
| Nate Barnhart | 20 | 3 | 11.2 | .568 | .357 | .714 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.6 |
| Xavier DuSell | 31 | 20 | 26.0 | .398 | .422 | .700 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 8.0 |
| Kenny Foster | 17 | 3 | 18.0 | .547 | .300 | .739 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 4.8 |
| Jake Kyman | 18 | 1 | 12.6 | .367 | .268 | 1.000 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 4.5 |
| Hunter Maldonado | 29 | 29 | 34.6 | .481 | .338 | .753 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 15.6 |
| Jeremiah Oden | 30 | 19 | 24.6 | .443 | .344 | .697 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 9.6 |
| Caden Powell | 28 | 0 | 8.5 | .462 | .000 | .586 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.9 |
| Noah Reynolds | 19 | 10 | 24.9 | .481 | .329 | .662 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 14.5 |
| Cort Roberson | 4 | 0 | 1.5 | .000 | .000 | .750 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Hunter Thompson | 26 | 26 | 28.2 | .342 | .303 | .853 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 6.6 |
| Brendan Wenzel | 24 | 21 | 28.8 | .370 | .406 | .884 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 7.9 |

## Preseason
### Greek Tour

The team went on a 10-day foreign tour of Greece from July 24 to August 4. NCAA rules allow programs to take international tours once every 4 years; this was the programs' first since 2016-17.
The Cowboys participated in 3 exhibition games, winning all 3. While in Athens, the team faced Panerythraikos B.C. on July 27 and Panathinaikos Select on July 28. They then traveled to Patras and faced off against Promitheas Patras B.C. on July 30.
In addition, the team participated in a variety of sightseeing and team-building exercises.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| Nov. 7, 2022 7:00 p.m., MW Network | | Colorado Christian | W 102–69 | 1–0 | 17 – Oden | 6 – Tied | 8 – Anderson | Arena-Auditorium (4,464) Laramie, WY |
| Nov. 10, 2022 8:00 p.m., MW Network | | Nicholls | W 79–68 | 2–0 | 20 – Wenzel | 8 – Tied | 6 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (4,498) Laramie, WY |
| Nov. 13, 2022 2:00 p.m., MW Network/ATTSN | | Southeastern Louisiana | L 72–76 | 2–1 | 16 – Wenzel | 11 – Maldonado | 4 – Tied | Arena-Auditorium (4,782) Laramie, WY |
| Nov. 18, 2022 1:15 p.m., ESPN3 | | vs. Howard Paradise Jam Quarterfinals | W 78–71 | 3–1 | 28 – Maldonado | 4 – Tied | 3 – Anderson | Sports and Fitness Center (1,524) Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Nov. 20, 2022 3:45 p.m., ESPN3 | | vs. Drake Paradise Jam Semifinals | L 56–61 | 3–2 | 20 – Maldonado | 6 – Thompson | 3 – Anderson | Sports and Fitness Center Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Nov. 21, 2022 3:45 p.m., ESPN3 | | vs. Boston College Paradise Jam – 3rd-Place | L 48–59 | 3–3 | 11 – Anderson | 5 – Tied | 2 – Tied | Sports and Fitness Center Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Nov. 30, 2022 2:00 p.m., Cowboy Sports Network | | vs. Santa Clara Sport Tours Showdown | L 85–89 $^{OT}$ | 3–4 | 25 – Reynolds | 6 – Agbonkpolo | 7 – Anderson | Bruin Arena Taylorsville, UT |
| Dec. 3, 2022 2:00 p.m., MW Network/ATTSN | | Grand Canyon | L 58–66 | 3–5 | 16 – Kyman | 8 – Thompson | 4 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (4,472) Laramie, WY |
| Dec. 6, 2022 7:00 p.m., MW Network | | Texas A&M-Commerce | W 91–76 | 4–5 | 30 – Reynolds | 12 – Wenzel | 3 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (3,953) Laramie, WY |
| Dec. 10, 2022 7:00 p.m., MW Network | | Louisiana Tech | W 92–65 | 5–5 | 20 – Tied | 5 – Tied | 7 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (4,604) Laramie, WY |
| Dec. 17, 2022 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | | vs. Dayton Legends of Basketball Showcase | L 49–66 | 5–6 | 20 – Reynolds | 5 – Foster | 5 – Maldonado | United Center Chicago, IL |
| Dec. 21, 2022 6:30 p.m., ESPN+ | | vs. Saint Mary's Jerry Colangelo Classic | L 54–66 | 5–7 | 21 – Reynolds | 8 – Anderson | 1 – Tied | Footprint Center Phoenix, AZ |
| Mountain West regular season |||||||||
| Dec. 28, 2022 9:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Fresno State | L 53–58 | 5–8 (0–1) | 16 – Reynolds | 9 – Anderson | 3 – Maldonado | Save Mart Center (4,165) Fresno, CA |
| Dec. 31, 2022 2:00 p.m., FS1 | | No. 22 New Mexico | L 75–76 | 5–9 (0–2) | 17 – Anderson | 10 – Maldonado | 5 – Anderson | Arena-Auditorium (4,823) Laramie, WY |
| Jan. 7, 2023 2:00 p.m., CBS | | San Diego State | L 75–80 | 5–10 (0–3) | 20 – Maldonado | 7 – Oden | 3 – Tied | Arena-Auditorium (4,346) Laramie, WY |
| Jan. 10, 2023 8:30 p.m., FS1 | | at Utah State | L 63–83 | 5–11 (0–4) | 20 – Maldonado | 8 – Oden | 5 – Anderson | Smith Spectrum (7,890) Logan, UT |
| Jan. 14, 2023 9:00 p.m., FS1 | | Boise State | L 68–85 | 5–12 (0–5) | 13 – Reynolds | 6 – Anderson | 4 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (4,178) Laramie, WY |
| Jan. 17, 2023 7:00 p.m., MW Network/Altitude2 | | at Air Force | L 74–82 | 5–13 (0–6) | 26 – Reynolds | 6 – Barnhart | 6 – Reynolds | Clune Arena (1,257) Colorado Springs, CO |
| Jan. 21, 2023 2:00 p.m., FS1 | | Colorado State Border War | W 58–57 | 6–13 (1–6) | 17 – Reynolds | 8 – Thompson | 5 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (6,968) Laramie, WY |
| Jan. 24, 2023 9:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at UNLV | L 72–86 | 6–14 (1–7) | 23 – Reynolds | 8 – Thompson | 4 – Maldonado | Thomas & Mack Center (4,539) Paradise, NV |
| Jan. 31, 2023 8:00 p.m., FS1 | | Fresno State | W 85–62 | 7–14 (2–7) | 18 – Thompson | 10 – Oden | 8 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (3,950) Laramie, WY |
| Feb. 4, 2023 8:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at San José State | L 64–84 | 7–15 (2–8) | 34 – Maldonado | 4 – Tied | 3 – Maldonado | Provident Credit Union Event Center (2,609) San Jose, CA |
| Feb. 8, 2023 8:30 p.m., FS1 | | UNLV | L 59–69 | 7–16 (2–9) | 17 – Maldonado | 9 – Barnhart | 3 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (3,717) Laramie, WY |
| Feb. 11, 2023 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Boise State | L 63–79 | 7–17 (2–10) | 14 – Tied | 5 – Powell | 3 – Maldonado | ExtraMile Arena (11,037) Boise, ID |
| Feb. 14, 2023 8:00 p.m., CBSSN | | New Mexico | W 70–56 | 8–17 (3–10) | 20 – Maldonado | 10 – Maldonado | 10 – Maldonado | The Pit (11,185) Albuquerque, NM |
| Feb. 17, 2023 8:00 p.m., FS1 | | Air Force | L 69–75 | 8–18 (3–11) | 22 – Maldonado | 7 – Thompson | 7 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (4,719) Laramie, WY |
| Feb. 21, 2023 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | | Utah State | L 55–65 | 8–19 (3–12) | 21 – DuSell | 9 – Maldonado | 5 – Maldonado | Arena-Auditorium (3,894) Laramie, WY |
| Feb. 24, 2023 7:00 p.m., FS1 | | at Colorado State Border War | L 71–84 | 8–20 (3–13) | 23 – Maldonado | 6 – Maldonado | 6 – Wenzel | Moby Arena (8,083) Fort Collins, CO |
| Feb. 27, 2023 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | | Nevada | W 80–71 | 9–20 (4–13) | 28 – Oden | 13 – Thompson | Maldonado – 11 | Arena-Auditorium (4,520) Laramie, WY |
| Mar. 4, 2023 8:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at No. 18 San Diego State | L 50–67 | 9–21 (4–14) | 17 – Oden | 5 – Tied | 3 – Foster | Viejas Arena (12,414) San Diego, CA |
| Mountain West tournament |||||||||
| March 8, 2023 4:00 pm, Stadium | (11) | vs. (6) New Mexico First round | L 76–87 | 9–22 | 36 – Maldonado | 9 – Thompson | 3 – Maldonado | Thomas & Mack Center (-) Paradise, NV |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Mountain Time. |||||||||
Source