Wyoming Cowboys basketball — program history
Wyoming's basketball program dates to 1905, and the Laramie school competes in the Mountain West Conference. The Cowboys won the NCAA Championship in 1943 and have had competitive stretches throughout their history.
The name
The Cowboys name reflects Wyoming's deep ranching and rodeo culture — the cowboy is the state's most iconic figure, appearing on the Wyoming license plate and state symbols.
Signature moment
Winning the 1943 NCAA Championship under coach Ev Shelton, defeating Georgetown in the final — the program's only national title.
Wyoming's Arena-Auditorium sits at 7,220 feet elevation in Laramie, making it one of the highest-altitude home courts in Division I basketball — visiting teams often struggle with the thin air.
The Wyoming Cowboys compete in the MWC and hold an all-time record of 1640–1304 (.557 winning percentage) across 121 recorded seasons dating back to 1904-05. The program has won 1 NCAA national championship (1943) and reached 1 Final Four.
National championships
1943
Season-by-season results
More MWC programs
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