Lieberman hopes experience overseas leads to big things at UW this season

LARAMIE – Jeremy Lieberman hopes his experience this summer leads to bigger and better things this season for the University of Wyoming men's basketball team.

The 6-foot-1 sophomore guard spent a few weeks playing for the United States men's basketball team at the 2015 European Maccabi Games in Berlin, Germany. He helped the U.S. win the silver medal, as it went 4-1.

"It was more than what I thought it would be," Lieberman said. "It was great, a lifetime opportunity. My teammates and coaching staff were great."

Maccabi USA, through sports, tries to perpetuate and preserve the American Jewish community by encouraging Jewish pride, strengthening Jewish bonds and creating a heightened awareness of Israel and Jewish identity.

UW men's basketball coach Larry Shyatt was involved with this program while he was the coach at Clemson from 1998-2003. Shyatt recommended Lieberman for the team.

Lieberman started in all five games, and averaged close to 20 points and six assists per game.

Last season, as a true freshman for UW, Lieberman played sparingly in 25 games. He averaged 1.4 points and nine minutes per contest.

"Confidence," Lieberman said of the biggest thing he gained from his time overseas. "I played on a great team last year (at UW) but didn't play all that much. It was great getting out there this summer, running and doing my thing.

"I'm pretty confident, and I'm showing the coaching staff that."

UW lost six seniors from last season's squad that won the Mountain West Tournament and played in its first NCAA Tournament since 2002. Senior Josh Adams is the team's most experienced guard that returns, and Lieberman is one of a handful of players who will compete for playing time this season at the point and two-guard spots.

"Last year was great for me and a good learning year," Lieberman said. "I wouldn't be a competitor if I said (not playing that much) didn't fuel me. I was in the gym two to three times a day in the offseason. It definitely fueled me."

Lieberman missed the tail end of UW's summer workouts, but Shyatt said the experience he got playing abroad did him a lot of good.

"He's ahead of schedule," Shyatt said. "He wanted to play more (last year), but handled it well. He's in superb condition. The time he missed with us this summer would not have echoed in a thimble compared to the five-on-five live games against international competition. He's going to play some quality minutes for us this year."

Practice update

UW is less than a full week into preseason practice, and Shyatt likes what he's seen so far.

"We seem to have an edge about us trying to learn," Shyatt said. "We definitely look like we're in shape from top to bottom, and we're generally healthy."

One player who isn't healthy is junior guard Morris Marshall. The junior-college transfer suffered a concussion a couple of weeks ago.

Defense and fundamentals have been heavily emphasized, but Shyatt said UW is working on some things to teach the guys to play both fast and slow.

Shyatt said UW's seven players who have been in the program at least a year have done a good job of knowing what the coaches want and don't want to see on the floor. Shyatt also said two of the eight newcomers – true freshman forward Justin James and sophomore forward Hayden Dalton – "have stepped up in these first practices."

Shyatt said UW's two freshman walk-on guards – Cody Kelley of Gillette and Sam Averbuck – have impressed him based on the level of competiveness they've brought to practice.

UW practices once a day through Thursday. The team has an off-day Friday and will practice twice a day Saturday and Sunday. The Cowboys' first and only exhibition game is Saturday, Nov. 7, against Fort Lewis.

Their regular-season opener is Friday, Nov. 13, at home against Bristol University.