LAS VEGAS — The University of Wyoming men’s basketball team will have only seven scholarship players available for Wednesday’s first-round game at the Mountain West Tournament.

But coach Larry Shyatt said Monday that shouldn’t be a lot of changes when the eighth-seeded Cowboys (14-17) play ninth seed Utah State (15-14) at noon at the Thomas & Mack Center.

UW announced Friday five players, including two key reserve players in true freshman wing Justin James and sophomore forward Hayden Dalton, were suspended for the rest of the season due to “failing to meet expectations off the court,” according to a news release from UW.

James and Dalton combined to play about 30 minutes per game. James averaged 5.2 points. Dalton averaged 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds.

“There’s always a Plan B and Plan C but I don’t see major changes,” Shyatt said. “It probably gives us a chance to play a little bigger at times.”

Shyatt said he could play 6-foot-5 junior guard Jason McManamen at the small forward position and 6-9 junior post Alan Herndon at the small forward, along with one of two young big men at center — sophomore Jonathan Barnes and true freshmen Jordan Naughton.

Shyatt didn’t rule out playing Herndon, Barnes and Naughton at the same time Wednesday.

Shyatt also said true freshman walk-on guard Sam Averbuck, who is redshirting this season, has offered to burn his redshirt year if he is needed during the tournament.

The timing of the suspensions isn’t good as UW will try to defend its MW Tournament title.

Shyatt said the focus has been on UW and Utah State. The players have echoed that sentiment.

“It’s heart-breaking to see guys you’ve grown with and battled with have to sit and watch from the sidelines,” senior guard Josh Adams said.

“It’s had an effect on us, but at the same most of these guys have been here for at least one or two years. They know we have business to handle and know how to buckle down and focus.”

Added McManamen: “It’s tough. We just have to go with the guys we got, play a little smarter and stay out of foul trouble. I have confidence in this group and this team we can get it done.”

Player of the Year

Adams was named the MW Player of the Year Sunday by the media who covers the league.

“It’s an honor being up there with guys like (Boise State’s) James Webb III, (Fresno State’s) Marvelle Harris and (New Mexico’s) Elijah Brown,” Adams said. “They’re all great basketball players, and will play at the next level one way or the other. I’ve enjoyed playing against them.”

Adams enters the week third in the nation in scoring (24.9 points per game). He also leads UW in rebounds (5.6 per game), assists (4.2 per game, steals (1.5 per game) and minutes (36.8 per game).

Resting up

UW finished the regular season last Wednesday against San Jose State.

Shyatt gave the team Thursday and Saturday off. UW practiced Monday in Laramie before it was scheduled to leave for Las Vegas.

“We won’t do anything in Vegas other than shoot and game plan,” Shyatt said.

Still stinging

Utah State lost at home to Fresno State 86-85 last Saturday to end the regular season. The Aggies led by as many as 18 points.

“That was most disappointing regular-season loss I can remember in 10 or 11 years around here speaking for myself personally,” coach Tim Duryea said.

“We did a lot of good things, and I convinced myself we were going to win that game because of everything we had riding on it. It’s a hard loss for me to get over, and Im not over it yet.”

Quotable

“They have a guy that’s really kind of un-guardable a lot of nights in Adams. I think McManamen has had a tremendous year, and is almost as hard to guard as Adams in a different kind of way. I think he has the quickest release from 3 in the league. He will space the floor and gives Adams more room to operate.” — Duryea.