By Robert Gagliardi
WyoSports 

Jonathan Barnes' importance to Cowboys goes beyond stats

 

February 23, 2016



LARAMIE — He’s started 20 games this season, and only the team’s three leading scorers have started more.

Yet, University of Wyoming sophomore post Jonathan Barnes doesn’t have statistics one would expect from a regular starter. He averages 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 10.8 minutes per game.

However, Barnes’ role and importance to UW (13-15 overall, 6-9 Mountain West) aren’t measured in stats.


“He’s a special young man. He means as much to our program as anybody we’ve ever brought in because of his outlook,” sixth-year UW coach Larry Shyatt said Monday.

“His outlook on life. His outlook on school. His outlook on wanting to be the best he can be in basketball. The effect he’s on our staff and team with his positive input every single day has been significant.”

The 6-foot-10, 245-pound Barnes wasn’t expected to be a focal point for UW this season. As a true freshman last season he averaged 1.4 points, 1.1 rebounds and 4.5 minutes in 14 games. However, he and sophomore forward Alan Herndon were the only post players who returned for the Cowboys from last season that saw any playing time.

Barnes has only played organized basketball for five years, and he continues to be a work-in-progress for the Cowboys. Shyatt said earlier this season Barnes’ feel for the game — more than anything — is what needs development.


The biggest factor in Barnes’ increased minutes this season compared to last season, Shyatt said, is due to his physical conditioning that he’s worked on since last spring.

Barnes started and played 13 minutes in UW’s 84-66 win at Colorado State last Saturday — the most minutes he’s logged in a MW game this season. He finished with four points and four rebounds.


“It shows the coaching staff has some trust in me and is tipping their hat to some hard work I’ve been able to put in,” Barnes said. “Whether I’m starting or not, my role has been the same. Be the best I can be. Finish around rim. Be a positive person and just try to give positive energy to my teammates.”

Barnes said he’s always been a positive person, but he often refers to something his mom told him about that.

“She told me you get what you give out,” he said. “If you spread positive energy around, that’s gong to manifest itself and people are going to give positive energy back. I feed off that positive energy.”


Barnes and 6-10 true freshman post Jordan Naughton could be pressed into more minutes when UW hosts MW-leading San Diego State (20-7, 13-1) at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Naughton had four points and one rebound against Colorado State in 17 minutes before he fouled out late in the second half.

The Aztecs are one of the biggest and more athletic teams in the league, and any size UW can match that with could be crucial.

“I think the Colorado State was a great boost for both me and Jordan,” Barnes said. “We were effective, and hopefully that will carry over to San Diego State.”


A first for Adams

For the first time this season and in his career, UW senior guard Josh Adams was named MW Player of the Week Monday.

Adams said he found out through Twitter.

“Me and coach Shyatt aren’t worried about individual accolades I receive,” Adams said. “I’m playing for these guys on the team, the name ‘Wyoming’ on the jersey and for the state. Awards are nice, but it’s all about what I can do to help Wyoming.”

Adams averaged 26.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 4.0 steals per game against Fresno State and Colorado State. Adams shot 51 percent (19 of 37) from the field, 46 percent (11 of 24) from 3-point range and 80 percent (4 of 5) from the charity stripe.

Scoring record in reach

Adams enters this week fourth in the country in scoring at 24.5 points per game.

Adams has scored 636 points this season, and UW’s single-season scoring record is 701 points by Flynn Robinson during the 1964-65 season. To tie that mark, Adams must average 16.3 points per game over the final four regular-season games.

Looking ahead

With two weeks left in the regular season, UW is in eighth place in the 11-team MW.

Despite a regular-season sweep of Colorado State, the Cowboys enter this week half a game behind the Rams for seventh place and one game from sixth-place UNLV.

The Cowboys are 2 1/2 games behind the two teams tied for fourth place — Nevada and Boise State — and they were swept by both during the regular season. The top five seeds in the MW Tournament receive first-round byes. The sixth through 11 seeds play first-round games, and would need to win four games in four days to win the tournament.

 
 

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