LAS VEGAS – The Cowboys were competitive this season.
 
But not as "insanely connected" as Sundance Wicks would like.
 
Wyoming finished 12-20 overall and 5-15 (ninth place) in the Mountain West during Wicks' first season as head coach.
 
The excruciating campaign included 13 single-digit losses culminating with a season-ending 66-61 defeat to San Jose State in the opening round of the MW Tournament on Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
 
The Pokes dug a 22-point hole against the Spartans before clawing back to within three points and then forcing a turnover to set up a potential game-tying 3-pointer by Obi Agbim in the final moments that rimmed out. Jordan Nesbitt sparked the comeback with 14 second-half points.

" I don't think I've been more proud than walking back at halftime -- I get goose bumps talking about this -- and hearing Jordan in the hallway talking about, 'chin up, chin up. Not done. Stay in the fight,'" Wicks said. "And I've searched all year for guys to try to be able to have those moments, and he did it with conviction. That was the difference. It wasn't just flapping his gums. He was convicted in that he was going to have this resilient mindset that he wasn't going to go out like this."
 
UW, which finished 7-9 in games that came down to two possessions or less, will be looking for more consistent execution and leadership next season.
 
"We were close," Wicks said. "One goal that we wanted to have was to be the most competitive team on the schedule. We were extremely competitive in the majority of our games. And the thing that I wish I had more time with was the ability to foster a culture of connectedness for another year with these guys. I only get one. I don't get another year with a lot of these guys. So, for that, I'm grateful, but it's always a hard time.
 
"But you have to be thankful for those that gave everything they could to the Cowboys, regardless of the outcome."
 
Agbim, the MW newcomer of the year, was one of six seniors on the roster Wicks and his assistants quickly cobbled together after taking over the program last May.
 
The staff signed three high school prospects in November. The Pokes had three juniors, two sophomores and a redshirt freshman on the team. The staff will have a two-month head start on retaining/recruiting the rest of the 2025-26 Cowboys compared to the last cycle.
 
"We're so much further ahead of the game right now than we were last year because you have a chance to see what's coming down the pipe," Wicks said. "I don't think you can ever be fully prepared because, as you all well know in this world, you're going to lose guys that you thought were going to stay, guys that you thought were going to go are going to stay, things are going to happen randomly throughout the course of the year."
 
During his postgame press conference in Las Vegas, Wicks addressed the challenge of constructing a team and keeping players for at least two or three years in the era of unlimited transfers and annual name, image and likeness negotiations.
 
"I would love for Wyoming to continue to be a transformational place where guys come in and become men, young men become grown men, and they can go lead lives," Wicks said. "I still believe in that ideology. I won't be the last guy selling CDs up here, but I'm going to tell you there's still belief for me that you can create young men that are awesome humans, and you can have great culture still without it being transactional. I do believe in that."
 
One of the one-and-done UW seniors, forward Cole Henry, plans to get into coaching. The Northern Iowa transfer was asked what he believes the future of Cowboy basketball will look like under Wicks.
 
"Sundance is the best coach I've ever played for," Henry said. "There was a reason why I committed there. I know when I answered the portal, I had some options that were really close to home, and he made me believe in myself, for real, when no one else did.
 
"So, what you can expect from Wyoming basketball is a lot of winning and a winning culture, because he pulled it out of us this year. He had 17 days to get this team together. He's up at 4:30 every day, first one in the gym, last to leave as the head coach, and he instills passion in players when they don't have any, like myself."
 
SJSU head coach Tim Miles, who has known Wicks since he was a standout player at Campbell County High School in Gillette, told his counterpart to "keep doing who you are" after going 3-0 against UW this season.
 
"Sunny is all about the right things. He's super competitive, he's got great energy, and he's been there," said Miles, the former Colorado State coach who is wholly familiar with the Cowboys from past Border War battles. "The way Sunny is now is the way Sunny was when I knew him in, I don't know, 1999, 2000, whatever it was.

"I think that he's a great representative for Wyoming basketball. It matters to him like you wouldn't believe, and he wants to represent Wyoming the right way, and I know he'll work to get it done that way."
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes. 
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.