Great game this Wednesday!

University of Denver (2-1) vs. University of Wyoming (2-1)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 • 7 p.m. MT

Magness Arena, University of Denver, Denver, Colo.

TV: FSN Rocky Mountain • Radio: AM 950 • Web: www.DenverPioneers.com

About Denver: The Pioneers enter Wednesday’s game on a two-game winning streak, including a 56-49 victory over Montana on Nov. 19. Denver returns nine players, including all five starters, and 98 percent of their scoring and rebounding from last season. DU was picked second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division in the annual coaches’ preseason poll, and senior captain and guard Nate Rohnert was named to the Preseason All-SBC First Team. Junior forward Rob Lewis, last year’s team leader in rebounding, is week-to-week with a stress reaction in his right leg. Lewis suited up but did not play against Montana on Nov. 19 and is questionable against Wyoming on Wednesday. 

About Wyoming: The Cowboys opened the season 2-1 with convincing wins over Peru State and Boise State, following a 16-point season opening loss to South Dakota State. Wyoming was picked sixth in the Mountain West Conference in the preseason poll. Reigning MWC Freshman of the Year Afam Muoeke leads the Pokes with 21.0 points per game, while Djibril Thiam has averaged 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Cowboys return two starters and five letterwinners to return from a squad that went 19-14 overall and played in the College Basketball Invitational last season.

The Match-up: The Cowboys hold a 98-43 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1920. Wyoming is 39-30 against the Pioneers in Denver. However, the home team has won each of the past seven meetings with DU taking three and the Pokes winning four.

Magness Magic: After falling to Northern Iowa in the opener, the Pioneers have won two-straight at home. Since Joe Scott took over as head coach prior to the 2007-08 season, the Pioneers are 23-7 (.767) at Magness Arena.

Assistance Please: Senior captain Nate Rohnert had six assists against Montana on Nov. 19 to move into eighth place on DU’s all-time assists list with 254. The 6-foot-5 Rohnert has 20 assists this season with only one turnover in each of DU’s three games for a 6.67 assists-to-turnover ratio, tied for sixth highest in the nation. Rohnert leads the Pioneers with 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game this season. The Parker, Colo., native recorded his second career double-double against Northern Iowa on Nov. 13 with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Rohnert earned Preseason All- Sun Belt Conference First Team honors after earning All-SBC First Team and All-District 24 Second Team last season. The senior captain finished 2008-09 ranked among the SBC’s top 10 in scoring (eighth, 15.3 ppg), field goal percentage (10th, .493), assists (third , 4.71 apg), steals (sixth, 1.29 spg) and minutes played (first, 37.00 mpg).

Cut to the Chase: Freshman guard Chase Hallam made 10 of his first 15 collegiate shots, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. Hallam has averaged 8.7 points through his first three games with the Pioneers, and he is second on the team with 3.3 rebounds per game.

Shooting Stars: Denver is tied for seventh in the nation in three-point shooting at 49.1 percent, led by sophomore guard Brian Stafford, who is tied for the NCAA lead at 71.4 percent. The Pioneers also are 29th in the nation by hitting 51.2 percent from the field. Denver ranked 18th in the NCAA in field goal percentage last season (47.9 percent), 33rd in free throw percentage (73.8 percent) and 39th in three-point field goal percentage (37.7 percent). Junior forward Andrew Hooper led the Sun Belt with a 46.6 three-point field goal percentage, which would have ranked third in the nation, had Hooper reached the NCAA minimum of 2.5 three-pointers made per game.

TV Stars: Wednesday’s game against Wyoming will be broadcast live on FSN Rocky Mountain with Tom Helmer (play-by-play) and Greg Lackey (color) calling the action, while Alanna Rizzo reports from the sidelines. The Pioneers are 9-2 in games on FSN Rocky Mountain under Joe Scott.

Fresh Faces: Freshmen Blake Foeman, Chase Hallam and Kyle Chynoweth join the Pioneers this season. Foeman is a 6-foot-7 forward from Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Fla. Hallam is a 6-foot-5 guard from Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas, and the brother of current DU sophomore Travis Hallam. Chynoweth, a 6-foot-7 forward from Parkland, Fla., walked on the team. Also joining the roster this season is sophomore Alex Pickert, who served as a team manager last season.