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Wyoming Basketball: Key matchups from 2022-23 non-conference schedule

By Tristan Freeman

Feb 26, 2022; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; The Wyoming Cowboys bench celebrate after a three point shot against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the second half at Arena-Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2022; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; The Wyoming Cowboys bench celebrate after a three point shot against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the second half at Arena-Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wyoming Basketball has a chance to be special this upcoming season, but they’ll need to get a somewhat tough early part of the schedule.

After winning 25 games last season and making the NCAA Tournament, Wyoming Basketball is set up for an encore campaign this is just as, if not better in 2022-23. The team not only brings back a pair of 18+ ppg scoring starters (Hunter Maldonaldo, Graham), but they also add a trio of Pac-12 impact transfers to boost the rotation.

The Cowboys have lost of preseason hype for good reason and now have expectations of making back-to-back trips to the Big Dance. But just in case they don’t win the Mountain West auto-bid, they’ll need to get an at-large berth. And that means Wyoming has to do well in the non-conference. With the schedule out (an extra game is available just in case), here are some key matchups to watch in the first couple of months.

Paradise Jam (Nov 18-20) – Howard, Drake/Buffalo, Tarleton State/Belmont/Boston College/ George Mason

The Cowboys should be viewed as the favorites to win this non-conference tournament but they should watch out for Howard. The MEAC program has loaded up on talent and could cause a scare and that would be an awful loss for the favorites.

Assuming Wyoming gets past the Bison, they could have a big matchup in the semis against Drake, who returns four starters from a team that made the NCAA Tournament last season. They’re the clear favorites in the Missouri Valley and would be a potential big win for Wyoming. And ideally, they get Boston College or George Mason in the finals of the Paradise Jam.

Grand Canyon Antelopes – Dec 3rd

The WAC contenders are also scary in the non-conference and bring back a star point guard in  Jovan Blacksher Jr., who averaged 15.8 ppg and 4.0 apg last season. They have some new faces and will need to upgrade the frontcourt but the good news is that the game is in Laramie and not in Arizona in their raucous environment.

Dayton Flyers – Dec 17th in Salt Lake City

The Flyers were a team that barely missed out on the Big Dance last season and brought back its entire rotation. Big man DaRon Holmes is a national breakout candidate and the matchup with Ike will be great to watch. Guards Malachi Smith, Kobe Brea, and Koby Elvis will have another year under their belts and they’re a strong defensive unit. There’s a chance that Dayton will be ranked entering this game, making it a pivotal matchup.

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Saint Mary’s Gaels – Dec 21st in Phoenix

One of the best mid-major programs in the sport, Saint Mary’s doesn’t have two of its best players (Tommy Kuhse, Matthias Tass) but does have returning combo guard Logan Johnson and a ton of shooters surrounding him. And the notorious slow-paced offense could be frustrating for Wyoming but they’ll have to find a way to get past that in order to win what will certainly be a Quad 1 matchup.