After being named the basketball coach at the University ofWyoming, Larry Shyatt said during his initial news conference thathe wanted to return to the school for two reasons:
to finish a job left undone and for the challenge.
In one quote, Shyatt said, "Americans have always likedunderdogs, and I think the greater the challenge, my interest hasalways been piqued."
The challenges for Shyatt and his staff are these:
- From the tail end of the 2008-09 season, the Cowboys have wonjust 21 of 67 games overall and just six of 34 games in MountainWest Conference play.
- UW is in the midst of a 22-game road losing streak with thelast win on Feb. 28, 2009, 65-62 at Air Force.
It's the worst stretch for the UW basketball program in some 35to 40 years
To wit:
- From the early stages of the 1971-72 season through the 1973-74 season, UW won only 21 of 71 games overall and just six of 42 inthe Western Athletic Conference.
- UW had a 26-game road losing streak, starting with a 70-62 lossat Nebraska on Dec. 1, 1973 and ending with a 90-68 win at NorthernColorado on Jan. 14, 1976.
- Center Stage on ESPN Radio: Shyatt had his first gig on thenational stage Tuesday when he was a guest on The Scott Van PeltShow.
The new Cowboys boss was interviewed by co-host Ryen Russillo andtalked primarily about Monday's NCAA title game between Connecticutand Butler.
He also reiterated why he chose the UW job at this point in hiscareer:
"These people were so good to my family and so kind to me andgave me my first head coaching job 13 years ago; I just felt likethe challenge here and the calling here were things I need to do atthis stage in my career.
"We are always telling our players, 'Do the next right thing.' Inmy heart I ... had a terrific job. This was the next right thing todo for us."
- Bordering on insanity: How insane was UW's search for a men'sbasketball coach?
The speculation and opinions among the media and on Internetmessage boards was non-stop.
And how about the media and Internet geeks going to the lengthsof checking out flight schedules of Wyoming state planes as well ascamping out at Brees Field to greet returning flights to see who gotoff?
Social media have taken control. Everyone involved needs to be"first with the breaking news."
- UW's "Rock Star Joe:" Now that New Mexico's Don Flanagan hasannounced his retirement, UW's Joe Legerski is MWC's longest-tenured women's basketball coach.
Legerski recently completed his eighth straight season in theleague.
Beth Burns has been the coach at San Diego State for 14 years buthas been in the MWC only six straight seasons. She spent eight atSDSU (1989-97) before taking the head job at Ohio State for fiveyears (1997-2002). She returned to the MWC at the start of the 2005-06 season.
Jeff Mittie has been on the job 12 years at TCU but only six inthe MWC after the school left Conference USA. Following next season,TCU will move on to the Big East.
Legerski has had quite a run at UW with six straight 20-pluswinning seasons. Through his first eight years, the Rock Springsnative is 160-90 overall (64 percent) and 75-49 in MWC play (60.5percent).
He is only 16 wins away from becoming the all-time winningestcoach in UW women's basketball. He ranks second to Chad Lavin, whowas 175-62 in 12 seasons.
- The Bottom Line: Has anyone wondered what is going on at thepractice field just south of the Fieldhouse?
The south entrance to the Fieldhouse and War Memorial Stadium hasbeen blocked, and all the grass has been removed from the adjoiningpractice field that also serves as a pre-game hosting area forCowboys football games.
Contractors are grading the field for drainage purposes as partof the preliminary work to paving the dirt parking lot east of WarMemorial Stadium in the near future. Once the grading is completed,the grass will return.
Bob Hammond is the senior columnist/writer for WyoSports.net.Call him at 755-3325 or e-mail him at bhammond@wyosports.net.
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