Everyone would agree that this has been a challenging season for the Cowboy basketball team thus far.

With 13 regular-season games remaining the Wyoming is in search of its first conference win.  The Pokes will resume that search tomorrow when it hosts a talented UNLV team at 5 p.m. in the Double A.

Through all the trials this season has presented, there has been one consistent, one piece of the puzzle who has been there through all the good and the not-so-good.

Watching Hunter Maldonado give every ounce of himself in a 20-point loss Wednesday night to the highly-ranked Aztecs, spoke once again of how this redshirt sophomore from Colorado Springs goes about his business.

It wasn't necessarily a Rembrandt by Hunter, but it was his usual give-it-everything-I-have-for-the- Cowboys-night.  His points and rebounds led the team as they most often do, and he defended his heart out as he always does.  He never doesn't leave everything on the floor. That's just how he's wired.

He is a team leader by example. I can only imagine how incredibly motivational it is for his teammates to watch him. While he isn't always going to do the right thing out there, all of us, his coaches, teammates and fans, can count on him to bring the supreme effort.

What drives him, what makes him tick?

"I think it's his core," says Head Coach Allen Edwards.  "I give his parents a great deal of credit for instilling in him the right things.  His core values are very special.  His work ethic is rare, and it's not just on the court, it's in the classroom, it's in whatever he does.   It's just who he is as a person.

"He went through a lot last year.  I saw him in so much pain with his back that he would have to crawl.  But he was determined to come back, and he certainly has.  He is so committed and wants it so badly.  He is a special young man."

There's an old axiom that when you are competing you play as hard as you can.  Or at least you're supposed to play hard. We all know that's not always true. In Maldo's case, it's ALWAYS true!

Last season he only played in eight games for the Pokes because of that back injury sustained following a nasty spill on the court. As hard as he works during a game, we watched him work even harder to return to the game he loves.  The way he is playing now would give you no clue that he overcame so much. At times during his rehab, there was talk that he might not be able to come back.  That was never a question in his mind.

Maldonado was mentally, and physically prepared for this season.  No one on the team is any more heartsick than he about how this year has gone.  He blames himself, naturally, because that's what leaders do.  He most certainly believes he should be doing more.

Could he play better?  Of course he could, who couldn't.  But his statistics bare out how much he means to this team.  He has scored in double figures in all 17 games for the Pokes, and in 22 of his last 24 games going back to last season. He scored 25 against Colorado State a week ago.

Through all of this season I haven't once heard him complain, only apologize which he certainly doesn't need to do.  How things have gone pushes him—and his teammates--to worker harder.  He only has one speed, full throttle. I don't believe I've ever seen him take a possession off, no matter how bad things might be, or how difficult the odds are.

"First of all he has a lot of self-confidence," says teammate Hunter Thompson.  "It doesn't matter what the task, even if it's not in his realm, he'll put the time and effort it to do it right, that's school, basketball, life.  He's really helped me, almost like taking me under his wing, and we're the same age!

"He is a leader who knows how to lead by example, but he also knows when to step in and be vocal."

His statistics—he leads the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and minutes played--are just a small sample of his bigger picture, and the leadership role he plays.  Simply put, he's a really good guy who leads by example first. If you need a vocal boost, he'll do that too.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that Hunter is only a redshirt sophomore because he's mature beyond his years. In a season that has had its share of hard knocks, it's sometimes difficult to find the positives. We can always count on Hunter for that.  

We thank Kristina and Ralph for doing quite a job raising their son.  

And, thank you, too, Hunter, it's a joy to watch you play!