LARAMIE — Sundance Wicks has assembled a new staff and inked seven new faces in just two short months on the job.

Wyoming’s new men’s basketball coach has been a busy man.

Now the focus can shift to scheduling, an art that can seem downright impossible around these parts. Just ask former bench boss Jeff Linder, who often expressed his frustration about compiling the annual non-conference slate, especially securing games inside Laramie’s Arena-Auditorium.

That won’t be as big of a challenge this year thanks to the balanced schedule rolled out by the Mountain West Conference. Now all 12 member institutions will faceoff at home and away, adding an additional marquee game in Laramie.

What else do we know?

Wyoming, as of now, has six non-league home tilts already under contract, per a public records request obtained by 7220sports.com. That is highlighted by a visit from longtime rival BYU. The Cougars will pay a visit to the high plains Dec. 7, making the return trip to Laramie as part of a home-and-home series. The Cowboys lost to BYU 94-68 last December in Provo.

These two will meet again in 2025, this time in the Marriott Center.

Wicks and Co. will also take part in the Cancun Challenge, a three-game series that will begin on Maury Brown Court and culminate with two meetings inside the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya Convention Center. The Cowboys will host Southeastern Louisiana on Friday, Nov. 22. The pair of contests in Mexico will take place Nov. 26 and 27. Those opponents are to be determined.

Wyoming is also supposed to play a road game at Texas Tech this season as part of Linder’s buyout after he accepted a job as a top assistant in Lubbock. Final details have yet to be ironed out, per a source familiar with the situation.

Here’s the rest:

Saturday, Nov. 10 — Tennessee State — 1 p.m. — Laramie (UW football bye week)

Saturday, Nov. 16 — Utah Tech — TBD — Laramie (UW football plays at CSU Friday)

Friday, Nov. 22 — Southeastern Louisiana — TBD — Laramie (UW football hosts Boise State Saturday)

Tuesday, Nov. 26 — Cancun Challenge — TBD — Cancun, Mexico

Wednesday, Nov. 27 — Cancun Challenge — TBD — Cancun, Mexico

Tuesday, Dec. 3 — Portland — TBD — Laramie

Saturday, Dec. 7 — BYU — TBD — Laramie (MW football title game Friday)

Thursday, Dec. 19 — Bellarmine — TBD — Laramie

– University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

JACKSON, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Transportation reopened Wyoming Highway 22 Friday afternoon after the Big Hill landslide destroyed the road near mile marker 15.

WYDOT commended Evans Construction, Avail Valley Construction, the Idaho Department of Transportation and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest for their help constructing a temporary detour.

“While temporary, this detour safely reconnects communities and gives commuting families their valuable personal time back,” said WYDOT Director Darin Westby. “This process underscores the vital importance of infrastructure like mountain passes that connect people to work, family, medical care, affordable housing and other necessities.”

The WYDOT also thanked Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and congressional delegates for obtaining federal funding for the project.

“Together with our stakeholders, partners, contractors and community advocates, we were able to accomplish this major feat in a matter of weeks – despite expectations that it would take months, or even years – all while keeping safety paramount,” said John Eddins, WYDOT District 3 Engineer. “Of course, we have so many to thank for this achievement.”

WYDOT will continue to monitor the slide area as workers plan to complete the highway’s full reconstruction. WYDOT plans to open Teton Pass completely by winter.

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