Playing the postseason waiting game
Like many teams, the Wyoming Cowboys are in the waiting and hoping mode on Sunday, as they learn the fate of their season's work.
At 19-13, did the Cowboys do enough to warrant a postseason berth?
Of course, the Cowboys won't be playing in the NCAA Tournament, losing to eventual Mountain West Conference Tournament champion Utah in Friday's semifinals.
Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer is confident that his team will play again, whether it is in the National Invitation Tournament, the College Basketball Invitational or the CollegeInsider.com tourney.
A bid on Sunday would be a huge step for the Wyoming program, Schroyer said Friday night after the loss to the Utes.
" I don't know the exact number, but it's harder to go to a post-season tournament than it is a Bowl game," Schroyer said. "I mean, it's really hard because there's so many teams in men's basketball. So, I think we've done enough. For this program in year two to have an opportunity to play in the postseason would be an absolute huge step. Obviously, we'd welcome it. We'd fight our butt off and play as hard as we can."
All season, Wyoming guard Brandon Ewing and his fellow seniors -- Tyson Johnson and Sean Ogirri -- have talked about going tot he NCAA Tournament in their final year. While that goal will fall short, they'll certainly welcome a chance to play in the postseason, regardless of the tournament.
"I think we capable of playing in the NIT, a tournament like that, because I believe we're a tournament team," Ewing said. "Like I said (Thursday) on one of my interviews, we could have easily been a 24- or 25-win team. We lost a couple ones real close, a lot we should have won, like one tonight or Utah back at our place. We had a lot of games like, that six or seven that we definitely recall. But it just didn't go our way. Hopefully, the Committee comes calling us and we'll take it from there."
The soft-spoken Ogirril agreed with his teammate, albeit in a few less words.
"Yeah, I think we can play in NIT," Ogirri said. "We're a great team. I think we have a lot ahead for us."
My guess is that the Cowboys could get a NIT nod, along with UNLV and maybe one other Mountain West team. Utah and BYU are NCAA locks. New Mexico and San Diego State are on the bubble.
The Lobos won a share of the regular-season title with Utah and BYU, but lost to Wyoming in the MWC quarterfinals. San Diego State was likely on the outside looking in, but played well in the tournament, losing the title by a mere two points. Flip a coin.
If the MWC doesn't get four bids, then I could see Wyoming dropping down to the CBI tournament.
We'll just have to wait and see.
At 19-13, did the Cowboys do enough to warrant a postseason berth?
Of course, the Cowboys won't be playing in the NCAA Tournament, losing to eventual Mountain West Conference Tournament champion Utah in Friday's semifinals.
Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer is confident that his team will play again, whether it is in the National Invitation Tournament, the College Basketball Invitational or the CollegeInsider.com tourney.
A bid on Sunday would be a huge step for the Wyoming program, Schroyer said Friday night after the loss to the Utes.
" I don't know the exact number, but it's harder to go to a post-season tournament than it is a Bowl game," Schroyer said. "I mean, it's really hard because there's so many teams in men's basketball. So, I think we've done enough. For this program in year two to have an opportunity to play in the postseason would be an absolute huge step. Obviously, we'd welcome it. We'd fight our butt off and play as hard as we can."
All season, Wyoming guard Brandon Ewing and his fellow seniors -- Tyson Johnson and Sean Ogirri -- have talked about going tot he NCAA Tournament in their final year. While that goal will fall short, they'll certainly welcome a chance to play in the postseason, regardless of the tournament.
"I think we capable of playing in the NIT, a tournament like that, because I believe we're a tournament team," Ewing said. "Like I said (Thursday) on one of my interviews, we could have easily been a 24- or 25-win team. We lost a couple ones real close, a lot we should have won, like one tonight or Utah back at our place. We had a lot of games like, that six or seven that we definitely recall. But it just didn't go our way. Hopefully, the Committee comes calling us and we'll take it from there."
The soft-spoken Ogirril agreed with his teammate, albeit in a few less words.
"Yeah, I think we can play in NIT," Ogirri said. "We're a great team. I think we have a lot ahead for us."
My guess is that the Cowboys could get a NIT nod, along with UNLV and maybe one other Mountain West team. Utah and BYU are NCAA locks. New Mexico and San Diego State are on the bubble.
The Lobos won a share of the regular-season title with Utah and BYU, but lost to Wyoming in the MWC quarterfinals. San Diego State was likely on the outside looking in, but played well in the tournament, losing the title by a mere two points. Flip a coin.
If the MWC doesn't get four bids, then I could see Wyoming dropping down to the CBI tournament.
We'll just have to wait and see.
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