Wyoming visits Las Vegas to help rebuilding project

Wyoming not only lost its superstar in swingman Larry Nance Jr., it lost five seniors from a team that went to the top of the Mountain West, winning the conference tournament, earning the school’s first NCAA Tounament bid since 2002 and going 25-10. But coach Larry Shyatt is embracing the change. Never mind he’s got one senior — Josh Adams — on his roster. He has taken on a nurturing personna with his roster of freshmen and sophomores, riding the roller coaster with them as they learn about Division I life.

“It’s sort of enjoyable for me, seeing these kids get better every day,” Shyatt said. “We try to be realistic and paint a picture of what college basketball is all about. A lot of these kids weren’t heavily recruited. But they love being here, love playing for each other and love being coached.

“We don”t have the issues a lot of other programs here where guys are coming for five months and decide to leave. We have no surprises and that’s the best part of it. The development is fun and we’re enjoying it.”

Part of the learning curve is dealing with adversity, especially on the road. So when Shyatt put together his 2015-16 schedule, he added a trip to Las Vegas. Wyoming, which is 5-4 and coming off a nice win at New Mexico State on Dec. 13, will play Marshall Monday in the Global Sports Classic in Cox Pavilion and play either Houston or Grand Canyon on Tuesday, the same night UNLV is hosting South Dakota in the Thomas & Mack Center.

“I hope we can find a parking spot for the bus,” Shyatt said kiddingly.

Why come to Las Vegas when his team has to play UNLV in February and return for the conference tournament in March? Why not get a couple of low-RPI cupcakes to serve as cannon fodder at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie?

“With a young team like this, I think it’s important we get to build some chemistry, some camaraderie and trust for one another,” Shyatt said. “We’ve got six games outside the A-A and we did that purposely so we can get on the road and learn to deal with the adversity that comes with playing away from home. In the long run, it will make us a better team.”

Adams, a 6-foot-2-inch guard, has taken on the leadership role Nance left behind when he headed to the NBA as a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s averaging 24.6 points and 4.8 rebounds while playing 36 minutes a night. Adams has also shot the ball efficiently, hitting 48 percent of his field goals, 42 percent of his 3-point shots and shooting 82 percent from the free-throw line.

“We’re trying to keep the pressure off Josh,” Shyatt said. “I told him his legacy is going to be about his maturity, his toughness and his success off the court in the classroom and in the locker room.”

Junior guard Jason McManamen is trying to take some of the scoring burden off Adams as he’s averaging 11.2 points. But Shyatt believes in time, Adams and McManamen will have additional help offensively as the newcomers get comfortable at this level of basketball.

“We’re stressing development, both as a team player and as individuals,” he said. “We’re developing the entire package — schoolwork, community and basketball. I like the progress we’re making.”

Shyatt admitted it was hard to say goodbye to Nance, who was a great ambassador for his program along with being the team’s best player as well as its leader in the locker room and on the floor .

“He was special,” Shyatt said of Nance. “But that entire group of seniors was special. That crew stood for so much about what we want to be about. But they left a strong legacy for this group to follow.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.