Wyoming's hopes of participating in the National Invitation Tournament were dashed Sunday.
Instead, the Cowboys will play in the College Basketball Invitational for the second time four seasons.
The Pokes missed out on the 32-team NIT, but were rewarded for their 20-victory season with a spot in the postseason and will host North Dakota State in the first round at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night.
"We're thrilled to continue to play," UW athletics director Tom Burman said. "These kids have played their tail off all year. It's great for building a program. I know [head coach Larry Shyatt] is really excited about the opportunity to continue to practice and continue to play."
The Cowboys, after posting back-to-back 10-win seasons, went 20-11 in their first year under Shyatt.
"I've been proud of this team's hunger and edge since day one, so we look forward to adding another game in the Double-A to this season," Shyatt said in a school-issued release. "This is a great opportunity for our Wyoming fans to support the program's first 20-win team in nine years and a well-earned reward for our six seniors this season."
The Cowboys nonconference schedule was rated one of the lowest in the nation, but a stingy slate during the Mountain West season helped the Pokes finish No. 84 in the Ratings Percentage Index according to the NCAA.
Still, that was not enough as the MW -- which boasted four teams in the NCAA tournament field -- did not get a single team in the NIT.
"Wyo really gets no love like that?? Wow!" a message posted on UW junior guard Luke Martinez's Twitter account said.
"Everything is all good, got nothing but love for this family!! ...this school and state in which we represent," another statement on Martinez's account said later.
The Cowboys made an appearance in the second-annual CBI in 2009, but appeared disinterested and were bounced out in a first-round loss to Northeastern.
UW paid $60,000 to host that game, one that was not well-attended and resulted in a bit of disappointment both on and off the court. UW athletics director Tom Burman admitted the financial loss at the time, but said he hoped it would pay dividends moving forward.
Burman said Sunday night that a first-round CBI game this year will cost the home team $35,000, with the price tag escalating to $50,000 for the second round and $75,000 for the semifinals.
"Hopefully our fans will come out and support this team because they've done everything you can ask of them," Burman said.
This will be the third meeting between Wyoming and North Dakota State, but the first since Dec. 20, 1965. The Pokes won both meetings with the Bison, the other coming in 1962.
The winner of Wednesday night's game will play the winner of a matchup between Washington State and San Francisco during a second-round game on Mar 19.
The CBI features 16 teams in a single-elimination bracket all the way up to the finals, where the finalists meet in a best-of-three series during the final week of March.
================
SUNDAY: Wyoming missed out on a bid into the National Invitation Tournament but will take part in the College Basketball Invitational, hosing North Dakota State in the first round.
TOURNEY DETAILS: The CBI, which began in 2009, features 16 teams in a single-elimination tournament up until the finals, where the two teams play a best-of-three series.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP: The Cowboys take on the Bison for the third time in school history, but the first since the 1960s.
HE SAID IT: "This is a great opportunity for our Wyoming fans to support the program's first 20-win team in nine years and a well-earned reward for our six seniors this season." -- UW athletics director Tom Burman.
Instead, the Cowboys will play in the College Basketball Invitational for the second time four seasons.
The Pokes missed out on the 32-team NIT, but were rewarded for their 20-victory season with a spot in the postseason and will host North Dakota State in the first round at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night.
"We're thrilled to continue to play," UW athletics director Tom Burman said. "These kids have played their tail off all year. It's great for building a program. I know [head coach Larry Shyatt] is really excited about the opportunity to continue to practice and continue to play."
The Cowboys, after posting back-to-back 10-win seasons, went 20-11 in their first year under Shyatt.
"I've been proud of this team's hunger and edge since day one, so we look forward to adding another game in the Double-A to this season," Shyatt said in a school-issued release. "This is a great opportunity for our Wyoming fans to support the program's first 20-win team in nine years and a well-earned reward for our six seniors this season."
The Cowboys nonconference schedule was rated one of the lowest in the nation, but a stingy slate during the Mountain West season helped the Pokes finish No. 84 in the Ratings Percentage Index according to the NCAA.
Still, that was not enough as the MW -- which boasted four teams in the NCAA tournament field -- did not get a single team in the NIT.
"Wyo really gets no love like that?? Wow!" a message posted on UW junior guard Luke Martinez's Twitter account said.
"Everything is all good, got nothing but love for this family!! ...this school and state in which we represent," another statement on Martinez's account said later.
The Cowboys made an appearance in the second-annual CBI in 2009, but appeared disinterested and were bounced out in a first-round loss to Northeastern.
UW paid $60,000 to host that game, one that was not well-attended and resulted in a bit of disappointment both on and off the court. UW athletics director Tom Burman admitted the financial loss at the time, but said he hoped it would pay dividends moving forward.
Burman said Sunday night that a first-round CBI game this year will cost the home team $35,000, with the price tag escalating to $50,000 for the second round and $75,000 for the semifinals.
"Hopefully our fans will come out and support this team because they've done everything you can ask of them," Burman said.
This will be the third meeting between Wyoming and North Dakota State, but the first since Dec. 20, 1965. The Pokes won both meetings with the Bison, the other coming in 1962.
The winner of Wednesday night's game will play the winner of a matchup between Washington State and San Francisco during a second-round game on Mar 19.
The CBI features 16 teams in a single-elimination bracket all the way up to the finals, where the finalists meet in a best-of-three series during the final week of March.
================
SUNDAY: Wyoming missed out on a bid into the National Invitation Tournament but will take part in the College Basketball Invitational, hosing North Dakota State in the first round.
TOURNEY DETAILS: The CBI, which began in 2009, features 16 teams in a single-elimination tournament up until the finals, where the two teams play a best-of-three series.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP: The Cowboys take on the Bison for the third time in school history, but the first since the 1960s.
HE SAID IT: "This is a great opportunity for our Wyoming fans to support the program's first 20-win team in nine years and a well-earned reward for our six seniors this season." -- UW athletics director Tom Burman.
