LARAMIE -- The Wyoming men's basketball team had plenty of new faces to get to know.

But even on a team loaded with newcomers and transfers, perhaps the most unfamiliar looking of them all was the towering figure wearing Adam Waddell's jersey.

The former Cody star hardly needs an introduction, but the version that showed up to Cowboys Media Day on Wednesday just barely resembles that guy.

"Yeah, I feel different," Waddell said. "I feel bigger, I feel taller, I feel stronger. It’s different.

"But it’s a good change I think."

It’s hard to argue with the results so far.

The redshirt freshman packed on about 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason.

He's shortened the trademark shaggy haircut.

Waddell’s even grown an inch to 6-foot-10.

If it hadn't been for the uniform, he could have been hard to identify.

And even better for UW coach Heath Schroyer, Waddell can get used to wearing it again after spending nearly all of last season in a dress shirt after breaking his left foot early in the season and applying for a medical hardship.

"The fans of Wyoming will fall in love with this kid, just like I have," Schroyer said. "He plays with great heart, he plays with great tenacity and he’s a good player. So that means a lot.

"He’s a guy that without question is going to win a lot of basketball games in his next four years, and he’s going to be an integral part of this program from Day One when he steps on the floor this year until his last game."

The hard part could be keeping him on the floor, though Waddell would seem to be better suited for the physical toll at the Division I level than he was as a true freshman.

Certainly the extra muscle will help and the foot was healthy by January, but both of those things could contribute to some occasional back problems Schroyer and the training staff will continue to keep an eye on.

"He's a guy that we have to continue to monitor because he only knows one speed, and that’s what makes him great," Schroyer said. "But he’s a guy that has had foot problems in the past and he's had back spasms at times. But you know what, he's a player that's diligent about getting treatment and taking care of his body.

"I don’t foresee any issues or any problems."

Neither does Waddell, which could create some trouble for other teams.

Along with sophomore Mikhail Linskens, the Cowboys should be much more formidable in the post -- and they’re apparently still getting bigger.

"It's easier to bang with big, 260-pound Mikhail compared to the guys that I played in high school and stuff like that," Waddell said. "I felt like last year after I hurt my foot I kind of had something to prove, that I’m not faking it and it was serious and stuff like that. I came back with a different attitude.

"I had some trouble gaining weight over the summer, but the weight started coming on and I feel better. I think it'll translate on the court, it's just a matter of getting your attitude along with your body to do what you want to do. I'm not too concerned right now, I feel good."

And, obviously, a little different.

WAITING GAME: Aubrey Vandiver was all set to finally take a spot in the starting lineup.

An already lengthy wait might be getting longer for the Cowgirls guard.

The only non-starter on the all-conference list last season has been held out of practice for about a month with mononucleosis, and there's no definite timetable for the junior's return.

"I guess I'm going to have to wait a little longer," Vandiver said. "It’s kind of difficult just having to rest and not do anything, but I’m looking forward to hopefully being able to get back on the court after a couple games and contributing any way I can.

"Right now, the diagnosis, we don’t really know how long it’s going to take. As of now, we're just playing it by ear."

The Cowgirls obviously don't want to wait to hear some good news, though it's difficult to project exactly how long it'll take for Vandiver to get back to full strength.

UW coach Joe Legerski might have her practice for a day or two and see how she responds, but even that could come with a risk.

"It may knock her out for another week or two, so it’s very much seeing how it goes when she shows up," Legerski said. "There’s no way to know. If she’s able to bounce back right away, I’m excited about that.

"That’s a very big question mark right now because Aubrey adds such toughness and leadership to the program. We need her on the floor.”

And in the starting lineup, at last.

Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or austin.ward@trib.com.

Hoops Tracker

WEDNESDAY: The Wyoming basketball teams met the media and posed for pictures during Media Day at the Arena-Auditorium.

WHO IS HE?: Of all the unfamiliar faces for the Cowboys, perhaps the toughest to identify was a homegrown product.

Cody native Adam Waddell has added about 15 pounds of muscle, cut his hair and even grew an inch in the offseason.

WHERE IS SHE?: Aubrey Vandiver showed up to talk with the media, but she hasn’t been practicing with the Cowgirls and could miss some games as she recovers from mononucleosis.

The all-conference junior was expected to get her first career start after a long wait when the season opened, but there’s no timetable for her return at the moment.