The Marcus Dawson Story

[coachdubs]

January 29, 2023
PokePride.com
Cowboys Dominate Boise State in Convincing 81-66 Victory

Laramie, Wyoming-- In an impressive total team victory, the Wyoming Cowboys delivered a convincing 81-66 triumph over the Boise State Broncos at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie! Led by Clifton Tahid's solid performance and contributions from a balanced scoring effort, the Cowboys proved they are one of the top teams in the Mountain West Conference this season under Rookie Head Coach Marcus Dawson.
Tahid finished as the game's leading scorer, spearheading a quartet of Cowboys who reached double-figures with 18 points. Sean Esherick contributed 17, while Branden Moody added 11, and Marius Baxter chipped in 10. Paul Rivers cleaned the glass all night with 11 total rebounds to go with 6 points.
The Cowboys' success was about teamwork and defense on this night in Laradice. Despite no single player having more than four assists the Cowboys finished with 18 assists on their 28 made field goals. Their accuracy from the charity stripe was exemplary hitting on 87% (14-16) of their attempts and their three-point shooting was equally impressive hitting nearly 50% of their attempts (11-23).
Defensively, the Cowboys stifled Boise State's typically potent perimeter attack, limiting their three-point shooting to a mere 25% (6-24) for the game. Notably, they successfully neutralized Jamar Anderson, one of the conference's top three-point snipers, holding him to 0-8 from outside.
Coach Dawson commended his team's defensive effort, highlighting their ability to force turnovers and capitalize on them, converting 15 turnovers into 17 points. He also emphasized the resurgence of the Arena-Auditorium as the intimidating "Dome of Doom," with phenomenal fan support, where opposing teams face an uphill battle due to the Pokes' impressive home-court advantage. The Cowboys are now 10-0 at home this season and an impressive 18-3 on the season and 7-2 in conference play 1/2 game behind Utah State in the standings.

[coachdubs]

At the Cowboy Cafe In Laramie

Dave and Kevin, two long-time Wyoming Cowboy fans, sat at a table with their breakfast.

Kevin: (stirring his coffee) You know, Dave, this Dawson fella, he's starting to grow on me.

Dave: (raising an eyebrow) I thought you weren't too sold on him when he was hired.

Kevin: (nodding) Yeah, I had my doubts. Just like you, I've been a Poke fan for over 50 years, seen my fair share of coaches come and go, you know? Besides, what does a high school coach know about Division I college basketball?

Dave: (smirking) I do. But you're warming up to Dawson now?

Kevin: (sipping his coffee) Gotta admit, the way he's got these boys playing--it's like a revival. Reminds of the Jim Brandenburg Era, those were the days! I still remember that 1987 team that made the run to the Sweet 16, the upset of Virginia then UCLA and Reggie Miller. Fennis Dembo was the man!

Dave: (nodding approvingly) Yeah, that was something, I was a Leckner guy, but Dembo sure could play. Dawson isn't Brandenburg, yet, but he's got the Pokes playing well. Tahid's got some moves, and Moody coming back strong after that injury, that's something else.

Kevin: (leaning back) Absolutely. Baxter's been getting it done all season. It's just a different game these days.

Dave: (smiling) And the Dome of Doom's making a comeback with teams scared to come to Laramie.

Kevin: (chuckling) Guess it took me a while, but Dawson might just be onto something special here.

Dave: (patting Kevin's shoulder) That's the spirit, Kevin. Coach Dawson's earning his stripes, one game at a time.

Kevin: (grinning) You're right. Here's to Dawson and the Cowboys--may they keep on surprising us.

Dave: (raising his coffee cup) Cheers to that, my friend. Go Pokes!

[coachdubs]

View From the Outside:
With a month left in the regular season, the Cowboys appear poised to gain an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament. This would be a massive accomplishment for a team that only won a total of 15 games in the last three seasons combined.
Coach Marcus Dawson has done a tremendous job of rebuilding this team in only a matter of months. It will be interesting to see where this team can go once Coach Dawson gets his players to Laramie.
Wyoming is 18-3 (7-2 MWC) and has pulled several upsets this winter, perhaps the biggest on the road at the then #12 ranked San Diego State in just the last week or so. Coach Dawson has this group of young men playing at a high level and as a team. They have four players averaging 10+ points per outing and two more averaging 8+ points per game. Each night it is a different player's turn to shine and help the team win. Four players are averaging 2+ assists per game, and five players averaging at least four rebounds per game. Wyoming is 27th nationally in field goal percentage at 48% and 38th in three-point field goal percentage at 38%.
Sarah, Lily, and Jake enjoy making it to the Cowboy home games, sitting behind the Wyoming bench and cheering on Marcus and his team. Jake always gets to invite one of his friends to each game, so there is always some sort of competition between his friends to see which one gets to go to each game. Lily is enamored with watching every game and understanding the strategies behind the offense and defense. She has the same mind as her father and the two of them can be found watching game film and scouting opponents together in Marcus' office nearly every day.

[coachdubs]

February 2, 2023
2:00 AM flight home Reno, Nevada to San Jose, California

Being a reflective practitioner was something Marcus had learned to do as a teacher and it had served him well during his coaching career. As the echoes of the game against a good Nevada team resonated in Marcus' mind, he found himself dissecting the events that transpired on the court in his Cowboys' loss, 89-82.
Looking at the game report from his head statistician, Courtney Flowers--she was a whiz with all the numbers and had given him a lot of great insights into how different combinations of players performed together, helping to put the most productive team on the floor. Who knew analytics would become such a huge part of the game, something Dad never worried about? Clifton scored 24 on 8-15 shooting and hit 8-9 free throws. Sean scored 15 points on 5-8 three-point shooting. Paul snagged 11 rebounds and Branden had nine assists. Robinson had a nice game off the bench again with eight points and rebounds. It was a great collective effort that pointed to a Cowboys' win. Yet, they came up just short in the second half.
"We were tied at 49, a real barn-burner," he mused. The first half was a whirlwind of baskets, both teams trading blows in a high-scoring affair that resembled a track meet more than a basketball game. The score at the half was 49-49. As the game wore on, Nevada seemed to find that extra edge. They executed, making crucial plays down the stretch that tilted the balance their way. It could be the home-court advantage--we have that in Laramie at the Dome of Doom (Marcus chuckled at that in his head).
"Steve Alford had them well-prepared," he acknowledged. Which made sense, Steve had been around the block a few times--played at Indiana under the legendary Bob Knight, coached at Iowa, New Mexico, UCLA, and now Nevada--he knew his stuff. It was evident in the balanced attack Nevada brought to the floor spreading the scoring across their lineup. They managed to convert opportunities, including five players in double figures, a testament to their preparedness and execution.
Yes, it was a loss, but in reflection, there wasn't much else they could do, sometimes the other team just plays better and beats you. Turn the page and get ready for the next one.

[coachdubs]

February 6, 2023
Laramie Boomerang
Cowboys Rebound from Nevada Loss, Get Defensive in Win at San Jose State

San Jose, California--The Wyoming Cowboys got defensive in San Jose holding the Spartans to 30% shooting from the field and 14% from deep as the Cowboys only allowed 48 points in victory. Elton Kickert was the only Spartan to get into double figures with 14 points and none of his other teammates scored more than seven points. Sheridan Respert was held in check with only four points seven below his season average and was 0 for 6 from behind the arc.
"After giving up 89 in a loss to Nevada we got back to basics in practice," commented Coach Dawson. "I am proud of our response, especially on their perimeter shooters, we also did a nice job preventing them from getting many second-chance opportunities giving up only eight offensive rebounds and giving up four points."
On the offensive side of the ball, the Cowboys had three players in double-figures led by Sean Esherick with 18, Marius Baxter added 16 points hitting 4 of 9 three-point shots. Paul Rivers chipped in 11 with five rebounds. Branden Moody dished out six assists in the winning effort.
The Cowboys will host Fresno State on Wednesday February 8 in the Arena-Auditorium at 7:05 pm.

[coachdubs]

PokePide.com
Dome of Doom Helps Pokes Earn Win Over Fresno State, 80-66.

Laramie, Wyoming--Inside of a packed and raucous Dome of Doom, the Cowboys secured a commanding wire-to-wire victory over Fresno State. The Cowboys started with an explosive 31-6 run, setting the tone for the game's tempo. By halftime, the scoreboard read 47-30 in favor of Wyoming.
"I thought the first 12 minutes of the game was maybe the best we've played all year," commented Coach Dawson after the game. "Our shots were falling, our defense was dynamic, and during the run, we held the dangerous Malone in check."
Despite a formidable effort by Gamal Malone, who notched a career-high 41 points for the Bulldogs. Malone finished 14-24 shooting and 7-12 from beyond the arc and hit all six of his free throws. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, that was the lion's share of the offense as the rest of the team only was able to muster 15 combined points. The game concluded with Wyoming triumphing 80-66 for their 20th win of the season, their first 20-win season since the 2019-20 season under Ben Davis.
Coach Dawson's strategy shone through with an impressive performance from six players hitting double figures. Sean Esherick led the scoring for the Pokes, followed by Marius Baxter and Robinson McFall, each contributing 12. Paul Roberts and Clifton Tahid registered ten points apiece, while Tom Billet added eight to solidify Wyoming's offensive strength.
In a well-rounded effort, Baxter recorded a double-double, pulling down 10 rebounds, while McFall and Rivers each added 8 boards. Moody's 6 assists and Esherick's 5 ensured an effective distribution of playmaking.
"Our guys showed incredible teamwork and execution tonight. We stayed focused and worked as a unit, which was key against a tough opponent like Fresno State.

[coachdubs]

Monday, February 13, 2023
PokesPride.com
Pokes Crack Top-25 For First Time Since 2014-15 Season

Laramie, Wyoming--Wyoming has cracked the Top 25 for the first time since Larry Shyatt was in the 2014-15 season. The Cowboys make their initial appearance at #24, but Coach Marcus Dawson is downplaying the ranking. "It's only a number before our name. It doesn't mean anything. It won't change how we play the game, each night we're looking to go 1-0 and we've accomplished that 20 times this season. If anything it will put a target on our back because every team wants to beat a ranked opponent, so we're going to take their best shot."
The Cowboys will put their ranking to the test tonight as they will play host to Air Force. On Wednesday they will have the second installment of the Border War with a road trip to Fort Collins to play Colorado State.

[coachdubs]

February 14, 2023
PokesPride.com
Cowboy Pull of Comeback Victory Against Air Force

Colorado Springs, Colorado-- The Falcons took an early lead, dominating the first half with an early 33-15 advantage over Wyoming. However, with just seven minutes remaining in the first half, the Cowboys mounted a comeback using a 23-14 lead to cut the deficit in half by the intermission.
"I told the guys at the under 8-minute media timeout that we needed to cut the 18-point lead to single digits to have a chance to win the game. The men responded and did exactly what I asked them to do."
The second half witnessed the hot shooting of Sean Esherick who hit a remarkable 6 of 7 threes including four straight. This propelled Wyoming to outscore the Falcons 43-27 in the second half to secure the comeback victory 81-74. Esherick finished with a game-high 21 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field.
"I couldn't have done it without my teammates. They trusted me with the shots, and I was able to find my rhythm and knock them down," said Esherick of his performance.
While Esherick was undoubtedly the star of the game, his teammates also played a significant role in the comeback. Robinson McFall, coming off the bench, contributed 10 points and grabbed a team-high 5 rebounds. Branden Moody showcased his playmaking ability dishing out six assists and adding seven points to their point total.
On the other side, Air Forces' Bobby Dawson stood out with a team-high 20 points, leading three Falcons' players in double-figures. Despite Dawson's efforts, the Falcons' upset bid could not withstand Wyoming's relentless comeback.
"Tonight's game was a true test of the team's resilience and character. We found ourselves in a deep hole early on, but I'm incredibly proud of how the guys never gave up and fought their way back into the game. It speaks to their growth throughout the season and their mental toughness and determination," remarked head coach Marcus Dawson.

[coachdubs]

February 15, 2023
X (Formerly Twitter) was on fire during the Wyoming/CSU game.

@CowboyCountry--#24 Wyoming and CSU about to tip from Moby Arena. #GoPoke #BeatTheSheep

@PokePride--14:45 left in first half-Pokes up 15-14, Baxter with a quick 5 points to start. #GoPokes

@PokePride--half way thru the first half and @CSURams lead Wyoming 21-19 #WyomingBasketball.

@CowboyCountry--at the break and @CSURams lead Wyoming 41-37. Esherick held to only 5 points in the first half. Baxter leads #WyomingBasketball w/ 9 points.

@PokesPride--Colorado State up 41-37 against #24 Wyoming. It's a close one! Can the Cowboys rally in the second half? Let's go Pokes! #WyomingBasketball #ToughBattle

@CowboyCountry--The second half is underway! Wyoming needs to step up their game and make a comeback. Let's turn the tide, Cowboys! #RiseAndFight #GoPokes

@PokePride--Esherick is heating up back 2 back threes and the Pokes have their first lead since midway thru the first half. Pokes up 50-49. #FinishOffTheRams.

@Laradice--Rams need a TO BABY!!! Pokes up 63-54 with 7:10 left in the game! #GoPokes #BeatTheSheep

@PokesPride--Rams cut the Pokes led to 67-64 with a huge 13-1 run. Timeout Cowboys 3:15 left in the game. #FinishItPokes

@CowboyCountry--4 big free throws by Tom Billet and Clifton Tahid have the Cowboys up 75-71 with :14.8 seconds left in regulation. Rams timeout. #SweepTheSheep #GoPokes

@Laradice--that's a wrap from Moby Pokes win 75-71. Outscore CSU 38-30 in the second half. Way to finish strong! #WyomingStrong #ComebackCowboys

@TheRealWyoming--Five Wyoming players in double-figures! Sean Esherick leading the charge with 16. What a team effort! Let's keep this momentum going! #TeamWork #WyomingBasketball

#PokePride--Clutch performance all around! Clifton Tahid with 13, Marius Baxter with 12, Tom Billet with 11, and Robinson McFall with 10 points and 9 boards. #WyomingPride #GoPokes

[coachdubs]

February 20, 2023
ESPN Radio Ad

Monday Night, brace yourselves for a Top-25 matchup in the Mountain West, as the #22 Wyoming Cowboys host #19 Utah State Aggies in the Arena Auditorium! You won't want to miss it.