Wyoming’s Injury List Continues to Grow Ahead of Utah State Tilt

LARAMIE -- The 'Dirty Dozen' could be down to the 'Elite 8' Saturday when front-running Utah State pays a visit to the high plains.

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Sundance Wicks said Thursday he could be limited to just eight scholarship players, along with two walk-ons, against the Aggies after forward Gavin Gores sustained a hand injury in Tuesday night's nine-point setback at San Diego State.

The freshman from Wisconsin joins a growing list of ailing players, including fellow big Abou Magassa (Achilles), Jared Harris (toe) and Matija Belic (ankle). The latter could miss the rest of his senior season after undergoing surgery. Harris is still listed as "out," while Magassa and Gores are day to day.

"The Pokes are feeling it a little bit right now, you know? ... We're gonna be a completely different team Saturday, too," the second-year head coach said. "So, when it comes to the past five games, the next five games, I don't have enough bandwidth to focus on that. I can only focus on the next one that's in front of us, because we got to solve those problems and create new opportunities for guys."

Naz Meyer, since returning from concussion protocol in late January, has dropped 17 pounds from his already slender frame in only a two-week span, Wicks added. That was a result of a combination of the flu and strep throat.

"The guy spent an entire summer building his body up to play at this level," Wicks continued. "You can tell when a guy loses 17 pounds, like from a sickness, that's gonna hurt you. I don't care who you are."

Meyer, the freshman phenom from Los Angeles, is averaging 12.5 points per game after struggling in back-to-back contests where he made just 2-of-8 shots, both coming against rival Colorado State. Tuesday night inside Viejas Arena, the 6-foot-7 guard was held off the scoresheet, missing all four of his attempts.

While the head injury and illnesses have played a role, the bench boss said Meyer isn't unlike most rookies he's coached in his career.

"Freshmen hit certain walls," he said, adding the scouting report is out on Meyer. "... His rim finishes aren't quite there. At the rim, they're a little bit away. And that's tougher, too, when you're playing against bigger, longer, stronger, faster dudes. You got to have everything about you, right? So, he's still getting back to that, which I have a little bit of grace there, man, for freshmen that are going through it. That's just part of the process. But, you know, you'd never wish any of that stuff upon anybody.

"It's not an excuse. It's just the facts."

Tipoff between the Cowboys (13-10, 4-8) and Aggies (19-3, 10-2) is slated for 6 p.m. inside the Arena-Auditorium. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.