LARAMIE – Sundance Wicks has been as intense and verbal as ever through seven practices with the 2026-27 Cowboys.
 
The difference between Wicks' third summer workout session as Wyoming's head coach compared to the previous two are the other voices echoing through the Arena-Auditorium.
 
Five familiar faces – sophomores Nasir (Naz) Meyer and Gavin Gores, seniors Khaden Bennett and Uriyah Rojas and redshirt freshman Neil Summers – have returned to anchor a program poised to compete for the Mountain West championship.
 
"The coaches aren't the loudest voice in the gym right now when you walk in. It's guys that know the standard of our culture," Wicks said. "Their voices are louder, they're able to call people up to their higher selves. Coaches will always be great leaders, that's our job, but that pep in the step is just maturity and security. …
 
"When you've got a group of guys that come back, one, they're more mature, and two, they're more secure in what we're doing. So, when you walk in and you see a mature group of guys that's because the people that are living it every single day have been through the fire."
 
Wicks and his coaching staff, which returns intact, have made good on their promise to build a contender with a blueprint to use the momentum and stability from last season to make this a special season at 7,220 feet.
 
UW, which won 14 home games and made its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament in 23 years last season, returns over 45% of the scoring and 40% of the rebounding.
 
The steadfast five has been surrounded by five impact transfers, three skilled freshmen and two impressive new walk-ons.
 
Now it's time for fans to turn the Arena-Auditorium back into the Dome of Doom starting in November to experience the entire march to March.
 
"We have proof of concept right now. We've built something that people want to be a part of," Wicks said. "We have players that are coming back that had opportunities to not come back. Instead of let's just wait and see, no, you show up and support."
 
Season ticket renewals are now available for purchase with price reductions in 15 sections and an increase in price in other sections as UW Athletics continues investing in student-athlete resources, recruiting, retention, and overall fan experience.
 
"The fans are our tone setter," said Alex Jewell, UW's associate athletics director for development and revenue generation. "We talk about it all the time when we talk about our Cowboy Joe supporters that you are not a donor or a fan, you are part of this team. There's a reason why the whole sixth man idea exists because it makes a real difference.
 
"For every person (the players) look up and see that believes in you and took their time and hard earned money and resources to be a part of what you're doing and come support you, that instills a little bit more of a pride in the front of the jersey, which is something I think Sundance's group has done a good job of doing."
 
Ticket Information
Fans may order new season tickets online, via email or by phone at:
      •Go to GoWyo.com/tickets
      •Email tickets@uwyo.edu
      •Call (307) 766-7220
      •Stop by the UW Athletics Ticket Office on the West Side of the Arena-Auditorium on the corner of Willett Drive and 19th Street.
 
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.
 
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