by Staff , Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

For the Wyoming Tribune Eagle

LARAMIE - It's been a long haul for the University of Wyoming's Boubacar Sylla, a 7-foot-2, 285-pound center, and JayDee Luster, a 5-9, 165-pound point guard.

Sylla, who made his way to Wyoming from Auburn, and Luster, who came from New Mexico State, are sophomores who spent 2008-09 as redshirts with the Cowboys in order to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.

Sylla and Luster will be on the floor tonight when the Cowboys open the 2009-10 season with an exhibition game against Regis University of Denver. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium.

For Sylla, a native African who grew up in Paris, France, it has been 724 days since he last played in a competitive game. That came on Nov. 13, 2007, during his freshman year at Auburn in the Tigers' game against Kennesaw State.

In that contest, Sylla suffered a stress fracture in his foot. He underwent surgery, but never played again for the Tigers.

He later transferred to Wyoming.

See Basketball, page B2

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"I can't wait for Saturday; it's been almost two years. That's too long," Sylla said.

Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer will be counting on Sylla to give the Cowboys an intimidating presence down low with his primary role being as a defender and rebounder.

"I'm going to try and dominate the paint and help my teammates be better on the court," Sylla said. "Defense is one of my biggest strengths."

Meanwhile, it has been 604 days Since Luster has been in a competitive game. The San Diego native's last outing was on March, 13, 2008, against Idaho in the Western Athletic Conference postseason tournament.

Luster played in 27 games that year, mostly as a backup.

He decided to leave New Mexico State after Aggie coach Reggie Theus, who had recruited Luster, left the Aggies to take a job in

the NBA with the Sacramento Kings. Luster transferred to Wyoming, where he had a year to practice and watch former Cowboy guards Brandon Ewing and Sean Ogirr

"I'm really excited; it's been almost two years since I've actually been on the court and playing in a competitive game," Luster said.

"It was tough sitting out but at the same time if you go into it with the right perspective, it's not so difficult," he said.

Schroyer is counting on Luster to provide leadership to a young Cowboy team that includes 11 freshmen and sophomores on the 14-man roster.

Ropin' the Rangers

Regis opened its 2009-10 season this week with an exhibition game in Fort Collins, Colo., where the Rangers lost 74-65 to Colorado State.

The last time Regis met UW was in an exhibition game in the 2007 season. The Cowboys won that game, 88-62. Wyoming leads the overall series with Regis, 7-2.

"We haven't scouted Regis because right now we are more concerned about us," Schroyer said. "They will come in and be a good opponent for us. They played CSU tough ... We're just going to go out and try and play our principles and try to do what we do."

Free throws

Schroyer starts his third season at Wyoming. He has an overall record of 31-32 and a MWC mark of 12-20 . Wyoming is starting its 105th season of college basketball . It has an overall record of 1,380-1,039 (.570) . The Cowboys are starting their 29th season in the Arena-Auditorium, where they have compiled an overall record of 294-97 (.752) . Seven of the Cowboys' first eight games this season will be played in the Arena-Auditorium. The lone exception is the game with Denver University on Nov. 25.

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