Home away from home?
If you live in Casper or other parts of the state, then the annual Wyoming Shootout is a good thing.
That’s about it.
The event really doesn’t do the University of Wyoming any favors. It’s not much of a money-maker, especially since it has been just a one-day combination men’s and women’s doubleheader. This will be the 10th year that both the Cowboys and Cowgirls have shared the billing at the Casper Events Center.
Neither team has had much of an opportunity to play top-notch national programs, although the Cowboys was able to lure Bobby Knight’s Texas Tech team a few years ago, as well as a very good Wichita State team two years ago that featured current Cowboy Sean Ogirri.
The Cowgirls have never really been able to face a big-time program, and this year’s team -- North Dakota State -- is good but not there yet.
A yearly quote by the respective Wyoming coaches can be recycled year-in and year-out.
“The reason we do it is to give back to the fans in that part of the state who otherwise wouldn’t be able to come to Laramie to come watch us play," Cowboy coach Heath Schroyer said earlier in the week.
This year’s games don’t really do either program a favor in the scheduling department. Both North Dakota State and Northern Iowa are on a home-and-home schedule, meaning Wyoming goes to their home courts next season.
For the Cowboys and Cowgirls, in this instance, home is the Casper Events Center.
“I’ve always been to that position that if teams come to Wyoming, we would return,” Cowgirl head coach Joe Legerski said. “For us, it happens to be at a neutral site with the Shootout at Casper. We’re going to return to North Dakota State next season.”
Ditto for the Cowboys.
“As a coach, when you play one game on a neutral floor and have to return it to their home floor, it is not the most ideal situation,” Schroyer said.
The floor, the rims, the lighting are basically foreign for the Cowboys and the Cowgirls.
At least the fans will be rooting for the Cowboys and the Cowgirls.
That’s about it.
The event really doesn’t do the University of Wyoming any favors. It’s not much of a money-maker, especially since it has been just a one-day combination men’s and women’s doubleheader. This will be the 10th year that both the Cowboys and Cowgirls have shared the billing at the Casper Events Center.
Neither team has had much of an opportunity to play top-notch national programs, although the Cowboys was able to lure Bobby Knight’s Texas Tech team a few years ago, as well as a very good Wichita State team two years ago that featured current Cowboy Sean Ogirri.
The Cowgirls have never really been able to face a big-time program, and this year’s team -- North Dakota State -- is good but not there yet.
A yearly quote by the respective Wyoming coaches can be recycled year-in and year-out.
“The reason we do it is to give back to the fans in that part of the state who otherwise wouldn’t be able to come to Laramie to come watch us play," Cowboy coach Heath Schroyer said earlier in the week.
This year’s games don’t really do either program a favor in the scheduling department. Both North Dakota State and Northern Iowa are on a home-and-home schedule, meaning Wyoming goes to their home courts next season.
For the Cowboys and Cowgirls, in this instance, home is the Casper Events Center.
“I’ve always been to that position that if teams come to Wyoming, we would return,” Cowgirl head coach Joe Legerski said. “For us, it happens to be at a neutral site with the Shootout at Casper. We’re going to return to North Dakota State next season.”
Ditto for the Cowboys.
“As a coach, when you play one game on a neutral floor and have to return it to their home floor, it is not the most ideal situation,” Schroyer said.
The floor, the rims, the lighting are basically foreign for the Cowboys and the Cowgirls.
At least the fans will be rooting for the Cowboys and the Cowgirls.
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