Monday's 82-78 loss to the University of Wyoming was real tough, but it will be something that the team can grow from. We played hard; it wasn't for a lack of effort. The Cowboys just got the best of us this time.
We won't dwell on it though, because we have to look toward the future. With a game like that, you can easily get down on yourself because you did everything right and you executed well but just fell short. That was a game the team wanted to win, but we'll use it as incentive for the next time we play them on their home court.
This weekend we face another challenge when we travel to Utah to face Brigham Young University on Saturday and the University of Utah on Monday night. These games will be challenging because both of these teams are dangerous.
BYU is a very quick, experienced and talented team, and they also are tough to beat at home. They've blown out the University of Nevada at Las Vegas by 30 points at home, and beat Utah by eight. When you blow out a team like UNLV, you know you're very good. No bother, though. We will be ready because this is a challenge that our team can overcome.
BYU thrives in the transition game and in the halfcourt set. Mekeli Wesley, Trent Whiting and Terrell Lyday should all present problems for us. Those three players are dangerous, but perhaps more importantly, they have a great supporting cast. The Cougars are also a well-coached and very mature team.
I know BYU will be ready for us just like we'll be ready for them, but we'll have an advantage since they played a game Thursday night against a mind-boggling Air Force Academy team. We will have fresh legs going into the game, and it will be our job to take the information that the coaches give us and execute it on the floor. BYU should be fired up because we swept them last year.
We will be rested and ready for this showdown, which if we win, will not only help our standing in the Mountain West but give us momentum going into Monday night's game against Utah..
