No more spring break for Cowboys
For the previous five seasons, the Cowboys had been regular students in one sense: They took a week off during spring break, just like everyone else.
Not this year. If Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer has his way, never again.
“I told this team about two weeks ago that I hate spring break and I don’t want to be a spring break program. I want to play in the postseason,” Schroyer said. “I think it is really big for our young guys to understand the expectations.”
The Cowboys, at the very least, will be busy for a few days of spring break as they compete in the College Basketball Invitational, hosting Northeastern University Tuesday night. A win over the Huskies, and their spring break is completely shot: They’ll play again on Monday.
This is Wyoming’s first postseason appearance since 2003 when the Cowboys fell to North Carolina in the first round of the NIT.
Since then, under former head coach Steve McClain and Schroyer last season, the Cowboys were 11-17, 15-13, 14-18, 17-15 and 12-18.
At 19-13, the Cowboys now have a shot to win 20 games for the first time since that 2002-2003 season and for only the 19th time in the school's 104-year history.
To win 20 games a season means you forgo spring break.
"We have a lot to play for. No. 1, 20 wins," Schroyer said. "No. 2, to continue to progress and win a championship. There is so much left to play for. I was talking on the phone with a couple of my buddies today across the country who would kill to play in the postseason."
While there is no doubt this type of tournament benefits the underclassmen the most, as they can take this experience and move on to the next season. Just look at Utah. The Utes were 1-1 in the CBI last year and are now a fifth seed in the NCAA Tournament.
It’s also a chance to let the three Cowboy seniors -- Brandon Ewing, Tyson Johnson and Sean Ogirri -- extend their collegiate career as long as possible. Schroyer said they deserve it.
“I also need to thank the three seniors because they were the ones who took a hold of this program and sometimes dragged the bus and got us there,” Schroyer said. “It’s great for everyone in the program to understand that playing during spring break is the expectation.”
Not this year. If Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer has his way, never again.
“I told this team about two weeks ago that I hate spring break and I don’t want to be a spring break program. I want to play in the postseason,” Schroyer said. “I think it is really big for our young guys to understand the expectations.”
The Cowboys, at the very least, will be busy for a few days of spring break as they compete in the College Basketball Invitational, hosting Northeastern University Tuesday night. A win over the Huskies, and their spring break is completely shot: They’ll play again on Monday.
This is Wyoming’s first postseason appearance since 2003 when the Cowboys fell to North Carolina in the first round of the NIT.
Since then, under former head coach Steve McClain and Schroyer last season, the Cowboys were 11-17, 15-13, 14-18, 17-15 and 12-18.
At 19-13, the Cowboys now have a shot to win 20 games for the first time since that 2002-2003 season and for only the 19th time in the school's 104-year history.
To win 20 games a season means you forgo spring break.
"We have a lot to play for. No. 1, 20 wins," Schroyer said. "No. 2, to continue to progress and win a championship. There is so much left to play for. I was talking on the phone with a couple of my buddies today across the country who would kill to play in the postseason."
While there is no doubt this type of tournament benefits the underclassmen the most, as they can take this experience and move on to the next season. Just look at Utah. The Utes were 1-1 in the CBI last year and are now a fifth seed in the NCAA Tournament.
It’s also a chance to let the three Cowboy seniors -- Brandon Ewing, Tyson Johnson and Sean Ogirri -- extend their collegiate career as long as possible. Schroyer said they deserve it.
“I also need to thank the three seniors because they were the ones who took a hold of this program and sometimes dragged the bus and got us there,” Schroyer said. “It’s great for everyone in the program to understand that playing during spring break is the expectation.”
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