‘Nobody Embodies Being a Cowboy More Than Cort Roberson’

LARAMIE -- Sundance Wicks wasn't only tasked with rebuilding a roster when he arrived back on campus in late May, the native son took it upon himself to revamp the culture inside the Wyoming basketball program.

That all started with an aptitude test in fall camp.

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It's no surprise who aced the quiz, either.

"He scored the highest of everybody on our team," Wicks said back in October. "I mean, it's just people who live our culture daily the best. It's Cort."

That's Cort Roberson.

Longevity certainly plays a role in garnering this title. The Washington product arrived on campus in 2021. He's the elder statesman in this program, watching teammates come and go over a tumultuous time in Cowboy history all while he himself has appeared in a grand total of 13 games.

Roberson, as a member of the fan-favorite "Blue-Collar Boys," willed his team to an unexpected NCAA Tournament run during his rookie season. He also had a front-row seat for the leanest of times, looking on as Wyoming limped to a nine-win campaign the following winter.

Through it all, No. 31 has shown up. He's an "every day guy," according to his head coach.

That's why a life-long dream came true Thursday night.

"Nobody embodies being a Cowboy more than Cort Roberson," Wicks said on a university released video, his team huddled around. "Guys, they don't make them like him anymore. I get goosebumps talking about this. Four years as a walk-on is a grind.

"I'm so incredibly frickin grateful that I've been with this guy, and I'm also more grateful to be able to award him a scholarship for his final semester."

The on-court celebration that ensued told a tale. Roberson was hoisted on his teammates' collective shoulders as the tears streamed from his eyes. The hugs, the smiles, the affirmations -- he's typically the one supplying that.

Not on this night.

"They don't make them like him," Wicks reiterated.

Roberson was asked back in camp a simple yet blunt question: Why?

Why does he stick around? Why did he decide to stay as others have bolted for supposed greener pastures, including his first head coach, Jeff Linder, who was actually a college teammate of his own father? Why hang around here when he could actually play at another school?

His answer, as straightforward as the query itself: Loyalty.

"I wanted to pay (the coaches) back and stay committed to the college I chose, which I think is lost in our generation," Roberson said during the preseason. "... The biggest thing is, I just love Laramie, and I love the people here, and they have welcomed me and loved me and the rest of our players with open arms. They've embraced us and come to our games, so I just didn't want to hang them out to dry.

"I wanted to be one of the guys that could say, 'You know what, I'll stay for you guys."'

It doesn't go unnoticed.

"Cort Roberson is everything it means to be a Cowboy," senior forward Cole Henry said on the school's video. "I'm honored to be his teammate."

"He's a straight shooter," fellow guard Kobe Newton added. "He's a great guy and one of the hardest workers I've ever met ... He's helped set the foundation of what 'Cowboy Tough' is."

"He is exactly what you would want as not only a teammate, but just a person that you would want to be around every day," said Tim O'Flannigan, Director of Operations.

Wicks said one day Roberson will be wearing a suit and tie, carrying a clipboard, roaming a college sideline. But first, he added, the senior's story as a player has yet to be written.

When that day comes, though, you can bet culture will be at the forefront of his own operation.

"Why does Cort live culture daily the best? Because he's been in this sport for four years," Wicks said in October, adding Roberson was 'born to be a coach.' "He understands what culture is, what it sounds like, looks like, acts like, feels like. He's just a special human being.

"That's a dude -- he's in my foxhole."