Wyoming Head Coach: ‘Don’t Let Simm Get Hot’

LARAMIE -- Believe it or not, there was a point last January that Sundance Wicks said he was begging his team to shoot the ball.

That has never been an issue for Simm-Marten Saadi.

The numbers bear that out.

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Despite averaging just around eight minutes an outing, the rookie from Estonia has attempted 60 shots from distance. Before going 3-of-7 in that category in Saturday night's 70-65 upset at Grand Canyon, one in which the 6-foot-9 forward netted a career-high 13 points, he connected on just 16 of those all season.

Wicks has been warning the masses: "Don't let Simm get hot."

The Lopes ignored that message.

After missing his first three shots from beyond the arc, the game plan never wavered.

"My teammates and my coach just told me to keep shooting," Saadi said postgame. "That's what I do, and my teammates trusted me."

Saadi responded to an abysmal start by draining 4-of-5 attempts in the second half, including a trio of triples. One of those came at the 4:11 mark, just 10 seconds after Nana Owusu-Anane gave GCU a brief 55-53 lead at the free-throw line.

The Cowboys never trailed again.

"I just have to be able to make those," he said. "I'm happy that in the second half I actually did."

Wicks said after Saadi chucked up an air ball in the first half, he told the freshman that despite being 45 years old, he could "at least hit the rim."

"He give me the look like I'm crazy," he added.

That's a small glimpse into huddle on the visiting sideline in Phoenix. Yes, there was a hint of sarcasm, but it was also a tactic to keep Saadi loose. Wicks, admittedly, is tough on his guys, but the results are beginning to show.

"I'm so proud of Simm, man," he said. "He's been battling, but he never stops coming in. He never stops being an unbelievable human being. We've got great guys in that locker room. It's fun to watch those guys."

That hasn't always been the case.

For Saadi, it's been an up-and-down experience through his first season in Laramie after signing with the Cowboys out of Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kan. The pressure mounts on the offensive end of the floor, sometimes hampering him on the other end, Wicks said.

Until that offensive outburst in the desert, Saadi had yet to score more than five points in a conference game. That was the outlier, too. He averaged just 1.6 an outing. He was held scoreless in seven of 14, and played just two minutes in the first meeting with GCU.

Injuries to Matija Belic, Abou Magassa and Gavin Gores has fast-tracked his progression. Call it a trial by fire.

"He's a typical freshman that's still trying to find his way," Wicks said. "The hardest thing is to be able to break through and find that little rotation piece where you're like, 'Man, all right, I kind of feel good about it right now.'

"But it's the defense and rebounding that really keeps you on the floor, right?

Saadi was a plus-1 inside Global Credit Union Arena and matched a season high with four rebounds. He also picked up a helper with 14:27 remaining, dishing his lone assist to Uriyah Rojas, who splashed a three to extend the Cowboys lead to four.

The intricacies of the game are starting to stick.

For instance, one of Wyoming's top pick-and-pop threats glued himself to defenders just a tad longer in Arizona. Why is that important? For one, the driving guard draws a crowd. Secondly, Saadi's feet are set well before the ball gets delivered.

"You feel like you got such a good trigger that you're really itchy," Wicks said.

That same scenario led to the open look for Rojas.

Another aspect of Saadi's game is developing, too -- toughness.

He said this young roster wasn't ready for the physicality of the Mountain West after plowing through one of the least-difficult non-conference slates in the nation. GCU proved that in the league opener, jumping out to a 24-7 lead in the first 10 minutes.

Lopsided losses to New Mexico, Boise State and Utah State followed.

The Lopes are bigger, across the board. Playing without 6-foot-10 Gores made this even more of a mismatch, on paper.

It didn't matter.

"The first time, they out-toughed us," Saadi said. "They were the tougher team. I think we weren't ready for it, but we've gotten used to it. We had a pretty decent game against San Diego State at their place, Utah State, at home, was was a close one, and this one, we actually were able to win. So, I think that's the most important one for us. It's just the belief that we can win those games."

GCU features one of the best home atmospheres on the college basketball landscape. Saturday night, more than 7,300 were in attendance, mostly dressed in black from head to toe.

It was fitting for a funeral.

"It was an amazing atmosphere," Saadi said with a smile. "You know, students having fun, literally partying. But it feels better when you see that the party's over."