LAS VEGAS – What is your biggest basketball pet peeve?
 
The question from one of the television producers at Mountain West media day was designed to bring out the personality of the players making the rounds during the event Wednesday at Palms Casino Resort.
 
Khaden Bennett said socks that don't match. He then looked at Uriyah Rojas with a wry smile, noting that his Wyoming teammate was guilty of the fashion faux pas.
 
When it was Rojas' turn to answer the same question, he said: "Players from Texas." Bennett is from the Lone Star State.
 
The two Cowboys representing the program rib each other like brothers, which is a good sign for head coach Sundance Wicks.
 
Bennett and Rojas, two senior guards, decided to finish their collegiate careers in the Brown & Gold. UW also returns sophomore guard Nasir (Naz) Meyer, a preseason all-MW selection, and sophomore forward Gavin Gores, who has the talent to be on the postseason all-conference team.
 
Returning 45% of the scoring and 40% of the rebounding gives the Pokes a significant starting point as the 2026-27 season nears.
 
"This is where we want to be," Wicks said. "We want to be in a position of being able to retain guys on our roster in a day and age where everybody's transient and teams change constantly."
 
Wicks brought Bennett and Rojas to Las Vegas because he wanted to reward their journeys. Leland Walker and Matija Belic attended the event last season.
 
"I think guys who have committed to four or five years of college basketball deserve an experience like this," Wicks said. "I love the amount of media and what they're doing. I mean, we get to talk to everybody, and this is just a shout out to everybody that decided to spend their time with us today and for these guys to be known a little bit for their sacrifice and their commitment."
 
Bennett, who played in 49 games over two seasons at Quinnipiac before transferring to UW, averaged 10.2 points, a team-high 4.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists during his first season with the Pokes. He scored a career-high 27 points against Nevada and was the star of a Border War win with 22 points and 10 rebounds against Colorado State.
 
"Having the connection, enjoying Laramie, the fans, the support that we see," Bennett said of his decision to stay at UW. "Then also just having the great coaching staff around us. Coach Wicks is never going to lie to us, he's always going to be honest with us, and he's going to push you to be the best you can be. We want to be the best basketball players we could possibly be, and we know with him we can get there."
 
Rojas averaged 6.2 points and shot 31.3% from 3-point range while backing up Walker. Now the 6-3 sharpshooter, who was a junior college All-American at Chaffey College before transferring to UW, will have a lead role in the backcourt alongside Bennett.
 
Wicks expects Rojas to have more nights this season like his 23-point performance with six made 3s against Austin Peay.
 
"It's definitely a lot easier playing for (Wicks) a second year just because you know what to expect from him," Rojas said. "You know he's going to get on you and he's going to rip you when you're not playing your best. I think just being able to prepare the other guys is really what's going to be the difference, letting them know not to take things personal and to take the coaching, and then just move on from it."
 
Bennett has been working on defending without fouling. Rojas has a better feel for when to set up teammates for a quality shot and when to let it fly.
 
The duo plans to be a nuisance to opponents and help lead the Cowboys to the top of the MW.
 
"I think everybody's connected," Bennett said. "We always hang out off the court, and being as connected on the court, that just comes with time. I think we've done a good job trying to work on that and trying to get everybody on the same page."
 
The Cowboys play Northern Colorado in an exhibition game at 2 p.m. Sunday in Gillette.
 
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.
 
Don't just watch the game — change it. The most powerful way to support University of Wyoming student-athletes is by joining the Cowboy Joe Club. Your membership fuels scholarships, provides essential resources, and helps Cowboys and Cowgirls succeed both in the classroom and in competition. Your gift is not just support — it's access. As a member, you'll enjoy exclusive benefits that bring you closer to the action than ever before. Be a champion. Join our team. Visit CowboyJoeClub.com or call 307-766-6242.