INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 22-9; 11-3 in MWC (1st) Postseason: Lost to Arizona 68-60 in second round of NCAA West Region. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Bailey 14.6 Rebs: Nsonwu-Amadi 8.2 Assists: Straight 3.3 FG: Nsonwu-Amadi 54.0% 3pt: Straight 29.1% FT: Wyoming | MWC KEY LOSSES Josh Davis | 11.7 ppg Paris Corner | 7.9 ppg Ronell Mingo | 4.2 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | Jason Straight | Soph G | Da. Richardson | Senior F | Marcus Bailey | Senior F | Joe Ries | Junior C | U. N.-Amadi | Senior Player to Watch Uche Nsonwu-Amadi Senior Forward Still learning game, but has NBA body and rest of MWC worried. DATE TO REMEMBER Jan. 15 McClain says he wants a big game immediately before conference play begins. Well, he has one in Lawrence, Kan.

 

WYOMING COWBOYS

The two-time regular-season champions are again loaded with talent and bring a strong sense of confidence to the season after upsetting Gonzaga in an NCAA Tournament game last March. Steve McClain's team is a picture of inside-outside ability, with senior center Uche Nsonwu-Amadi (6-10, 260) controlling the key and sophomore point guard Jason Straight (5-11, 165, league's co-Freshman of the Year last season) the perimeter. Between them stands senior wing and conference preseason Player of the Year Marcus Bailey, who owns one of the nation's top mid-range games; and senior shooting guard Danta Richardson. Chris McMillian, a senior point who missed last season with injury, returns to battle the oh-so-quick Straight. McClain will challenge his team with a non-conference schedule that includes games against South Carolina and Texas Tech and at Kansas. The Cowboys could also potentially meet Oklahoma State in the Great Alaska Shootout. If there is a question mark, it's at power forward, where the reliable Josh Davis has departed.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Bailey is the perfect small forward at 6-5, 190 pounds. He averaged 14.6 points and 4.2 rebounds as a junior and will receive even more opportunity with Davis gone. Bailey is one of the league's toughest players to defend because of his ability to attack and score or pull up for those mid-range shots. He is tremendous in pressure situations and showed as much down the stretch and into the conference tournament last season.

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Davis averaged 12 points and eight rebounds last year and while some questioned his passion for the game, there was no denying his impact when he played hard. Joe Ries likely gets first crack at the power forward spot, the 6-8 junior having paid his dues for two seasons. Mory Correa is a skilled 6-9 junior who may have to sit out some games early due to the NCAA's stance against foreign students having played professionally abroad. Either way, someone needs to fill Davis' shoes up front.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
There is definitely enough here for a third straight regular-season title and a second consecutive NCAA trip. The Cowboys will likely be pushed by Nevada-Las Vegas and a few others, but expect Wyoming to be at or near the top all season. Winning that first-round NCAA game and then giving Arizona all it wanted in the second round shows what the Cowboys are capable of come March.