Jason Haskins's Blog, page 11

Boise State Broncos surging at conference halfway point

 

First place Boise State Broncos has a nice ring to it.

Okay, technicalities show it's a tie with the Utah State Aggies. And sure, the Aggies hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Broncos. But for fans of Boise State, top of the Mountain West Conference is where many hoped the team would be halfway through conference play.

And Boise State (16-6, 7-2) is coming off one of their best games of the season, providing even more hope in obtaining a conference title and marching towards a third-straight trip to the NCAA tournament.

Boise State tipped off the right way last week, defeating the ranked New Mexico Lobos 86-78 to pick up a huge win at The Pit.

Thanks, in large part to the resurgence of Max Rice.

Rice had struggled in recent weeks and, true to form, he shrugged off the cold-snap and criticism to deliver a career-high 35 points. He did so by knocking down seven three-pointers, quieting a crowd who let Rice have it after an early air ball. A productive game from Omar Stanley (12 points, 14 rebounds) also did wonders, along with coaching adjustments, both in-game and prior.

Head coach Leon Rice and staff placed faith in Tyson Degenhart to bring the ball up the court, taking away some of that pressure delivered by New Mexico guards. Though Roddie Anderson III and Jace Whiting are improving, handling pressure is something both have struggled with at times this season.

A 1-3-1 defense in the last few minutes of the game was a nice touch, forcing errant shots and turnovers by the Lobos. So, too, was an emphasis on pump fakes on offense, something that I noticed carried over to the Air Force game on Saturday.

Coming home on short rest, with Air Force always dangerous no matter their record, gave some concern. A back-and-forth game early also didn't help matters but Boise State never looked back after a 16-0 run to close the first half.

All five starters scored in double digits in the 94-56 victory. Tyson Degenhart had 29 points on 11-12 shooting and the Broncos shot 60 percent from the field (15-27 from deep).

Overall, the week was nearly perfect. Boise State shot the ball better, from the field and free throw line (32-39). The bench saw extended minutes in both games and will be even deeper if Kobe Young can contribute, even if it's 3-4 minutes to give others a blow. All will be needed to help alleviate a starting lineup racking up minutes by the handful.

Boise State: Stat leaders

Defense has often carried the Broncos much of the season, holding teams to only 30 percent from three-point range (and 43.1 percent from the field). On offense, however, the Broncos have had their highlights, and this week hopefully unlocked their true potential. It's not like they've been bad, averaging 75.5 points per game and shooting 45.6 percent. It's simply more flow is needed at times.

Degenhart remains the leading scorer at 15.7 points per game. The junior has five conference games with 20+ points but also has two recent games where he was held under 10 points. In those games, Degenhart was held to 3-16 shooting. 

A lot is asked of Degenhart, who also averages 5.4 rebounds and is shooting 50.5 percent from the field. He's a leader and does a lot of little things that often don't pop up in the box score.

Receiving help is a must, and so far it has arrived in three other starters averaging over 10 points. The most consistent is Chibuzo Agbo (14.8 ppg), who has scored in double figures in every conference game this season. Agbo is connecting on 42.2 percent of his three-point attempts and it was nice to see him break from a cold snap of his own against Air Force.

Agbo went 4-6 from beyond the arc against the Falcons, whereas in his previous six games Agbo had been only 12-40.

Stanley's work should also not go without mention. This is a player who seems to improve every game and can take over the action without notice. He is averaging 13.1 and 6.6 rebounds per game and is shooting 37.9 percent from three-point range. Stanley's last five games have seen him go 7-10 from deep and, during this same stretch, is averaging 15.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, plus 7 blocked shots.

Rice, averaging 12.5 points, brought his three-point percentage up to 35.5 (from 32.5) after going 11-21 this week. Thanks in part to a 35-point effort, Rice is averaging 19.3 points in the last four games.

Contributions have been coming from many over recent weeks. Anderson has 51 assists this season. In addition to hard-nosed defense, Anderson has seen an uptick in his offense, averaging 8.6 points in Boise State's last five games.

Plus, the bench has earned more minutes. Whiting is relieving Anderson for long spells, and doing well. And Cam Martin (56 assists, 4.8 rebounds) does a little bit of everything, evident against Air Force where he had four points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

Adding Young into the mix, along with Andrew Meadow, gives Boise State the needed depth so desperately missed in recent seasons. Whiting and Martin have been playing roughly 15-20 minutes per game as of late. Tossing in Meadow and Young for 5-10 minutes per game will go a long way in Boise State's pursuit of a Mountain West title.

Mountain West Conference

Boise State is back in a tie for first place thanks to the San Diego Aztecs defeating the Aggies by 14 points on Saturday.

The Broncos and Aggies are both 7-2, with the Lobos and Aztecs sitting at 6-3.

I still think the Aggies are due for a slump, though they are proving more and more each game they are for real. San Diego State is getting things back to good, it appears. 

The Mountain West could very well still be a five-bid conference come NCAA tournament time. Along with the top four, Colorado State rounds things out. The trick is, however, with this conference, is that only 2.5 games separate the top eight teams. Things can turn on a dime in this league, though I think some separation is possible in the next week.

Boise State can take care of a little separation themselves with a big week on the road. Two tough tests await to start the second half of conference play. The first is on Tuesday (2/7) against Colorado State at 7 p.m.

The Rams picked up two wins last week, defeating the Aztecs by eight and winning by 12 over Fresno State. It's been a middling conference season of 5-4 for the Rams and they hope to avenge a 65-58 victory by Boise State in early January.

It will be the Broncos on the road to redemption when they face Utah State on 2/10. Utah State is 3-2 in their last five games but one of those victories was a 90-84 overtime win in Boise.

Utah State hosts Nevada before welcoming the Broncos to town.

The Mountain West remains one of the stronger conferences in the nation. For Boise State, there is work to be done to close conference play. But, with more efforts like the one displayed this last week, the Broncos will be regular season conference champions once again. 

Boise State Broncos women's basketball: Halfway report

 

Halfway through conference play, the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team is still in search of a little more consistency, a little more control.

Signs of a team hoping to make a special run are present, with true potential bubbling just under the surface. Boise State (14-8, 5-4) has seen both the good and the bad in conference play. Two early losses. A four-game winning streak that put the Broncos on the brink of first place. A forgettable week. And finally, a victory to put the team back on track.

When the dust settled, thanks to a victory over Fresno State the last day of January, Boise State heads to the back half of Mountain West Conference play sitting in fourth place. 

After a tough week with losses to UNLV and San Diego State, by a combined 46 points, the win over the Bulldogs was much needed in righting the course. Turnovers, a season-long theme, have reappeared in scary fashion the last two games. Cold shooting spells have harmed the Broncos once again but were overcome in the victory over Fresno State.

Boise State had only eight turnovers against the Lady Rebels. In the loss, however, a 1-13 start and 6-28 first half from the field ultimately doomed the Broncos. They did hit a hot stretch, finishing at 38.3 percent but was too much to overcome in a game where UNLV seemed content in allowing Boise State to shoot elbow jumpers, which the Broncos couldn't hit.

Against San Diego State and Fresno State, the turnovers were simply too much, with Boise State combining for 46. Shooting was better, 42.6 and 42 percent respectively, but too often passes are mishandled in the post or struggles to finish around the rim occur.

One saving grace in the victory was sophomore Tatum Thompson, who scored a career-high 21 points, with seven rebounds and two steals.

Boise State's defense keeps them in most games and often carries the Broncos through long stretches. If more of those mid-range jumpers and easy looks with five feet start to fall, Boise State can make a lot of noise these last nine games and into the conference tournament.

Boise State Broncos leaders

Boise State's defense is holding opponents to 57.9 points per game and 36.7 percent shooting from the field (and 28.8 percent from three-point range). Toss in a plus six rebound margin and 6.4 blocked shots per game and the Broncos are in good shape on defense.

Offense, with some the added joy of decent three-point shooting, averages 63.2 points per game. Shooting is a little low at 40 percent but shot attempts from deep are falling at a 36.2 percent clip.

It's those pesky turnovers, 15.9 per contest, that keep getting in the way.

Sophomore Natalie Pasco leads the team in scoring with 14 per game. Pasco has reached double digits in seven of nine conference games, averaging 17 over the last three games. In this span, Pasco is 12-21 from three-point range.

Overall, she has knocked down 60 this season from deep, shooting 45.8 percent.

Pasco has handled the bulk of the scoring and only Bronco averaging double figures. Six others, however, average 4.7 or more per game.

Sophomore Mya Hansen is up next with 8.4. Hansen has been bitten by the turnover bug the last two games, with 11, and has 69 this season. She is shooting 37.9 percent from beyond the arc, a number that's dipped as of late thanks to a 4-15 stretch over the last six games.

Scoring for senior Abby Muse is also down the last few games and is averaging 8.0 this season. But it's Muse's rebounding and defense doing the dirty work for Boise State. Muse has 74 blocked shots this season, leading the nation, and has had only one game this season without recording a blocked shot.

Muse's frontcourt running mate, Elodie Lalotte, averages 7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Both have had some excellent chances at the offensive end in recent games and, though finishing has been a problem, something that is bound to turnaround based off the talent of these two players.

Senior Mary Kay Naro scores 4.7 per game but shines in the passing department. In 20 games, Naro has doled out 90 assists with only 40 turnovers. Naro has also found open looks as of late, and it's simply a matter of some of those shots falling.

Thompson and Dani Bayes round out the top scorers. Thompson was due for a breakout game after some shooting struggles in recent games. Thompson averages 5.0 points per game and Bayes averages 7.5.

Bayes, with 34 three-pointers this season, has found a focus in conference play. After going 0-8 in Boise State's first two Mountain West games, Bayes is 16-35 in the last seven.

Depth is a valuable asset with this Boise State squad. I like to consider this team an "old young" one with so many juniors and sophomores contributing. All have been building minutes since they were freshman, even the three seniors, and hopefully the experience will serve the Broncos well to close out the regular season.

Mountain West Conference

Fourth place is a decent spot for the Broncos, though there is a jumble in the four through seven spots. San Diego State and Nevada are also 5-4, with Colorado State sitting at 4-5. The Broncos only face the Rams once, in the final game of the regular season.

UNLV is 8-1 to lead the way, followed by New Mexico and Wyoming, both of who are 7-2. UNLV will get a shot to avenge their only conference loss when they face New Mexico this upcoming weekend.

The Broncos get a chance to recoup, with their next game not until 2/7. Boise State hosts San Jose State, who they defeated by four. Then, it's a home meeting with Wyoming on 2/10. The Broncos lost to the Cowgirls by 14 at the start of conference play, a game missed by Naro.

San Jose State hosts Air Force before traveling to Boise, while Wyoming hosts Nevada and Utah State.

A regular season title might be a little bit of a stretch for Boise State this season but not out of the question. Steadying the offense, with less turnovers and better shooting, will keep the Broncos in the hunt. More so, success will keep the Broncos in the top-five in the league. And this means a first-round in the conference tournament, where we all know in March, anything can happen.

photo credit: Jason Haskins

Boise State Broncos: Fundamentals needed in closing conference 1st-half

 

Heated rivalries, which the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team does have with the Utah State Aggies, can come with heartbreak on both sides.

Last Saturday, it was Boise State on the wrong end, falling to the (now) 17th-ranked Aggies in overtime. Missed free throws, turnovers in the closing minutes, and a long stretch of bad shooting doomed the Broncos. Problems that have given Boise State fits all season.

And all are fixable but need to be done in fast order.

Boise State (14-6, 5-2) has seen struggles at the charity stripe all season, shooting 71.8 percent. So, 74.2 against the Aggies isn't the worst thing. Definitely can be better but it's more about when they are missed down the stretch to close out games. Or, who is missing them: a once reliable Max Rice hitting only 3-5 against Utah State.

Rice is only 7-11 from the line in his last three games but at 80 percent on the season. However, the sixth-year guard is having a tough go of things in conference play in shooting. Ill-advised three-point attempts and shots that fell last season are not going in at the same rate. Even those floaters in the key that went down last season aren't falling, leading me to believe it's a cold spell that will soon right itself. 

He and Chibuzo Agbo shot a combined 8-29 (5-16 on three-point attempts) in the loss to Utah State. Rice is shooting only 34.1 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from deep, both nearly 10 points lower than a season ago.

While others overall are doing much better, the entire team is prone to long stretches of not scoring from the field. It happened against Utah State and nearly cost the Broncos in a close victory against Fresno State, a game Boise State should have won going away.

Buckling down at the end of that game, Boise State proved they can handle adversity (even of the self-inflicted variety). This is an experienced club with the bench seeing more minutes. Both will serve the team going forward, starting this week when they finish up the first half of conference play.

Showdown in Albuquerque

The Boise State Broncos enter this week tied for third place in the Mountain West with the San Diego State Aztecs. One-half game ahead of the two teams is this week's first opponent for Boise State, the New Mexico Lobos.

New Mexico (18-3, 6-2) jumped up in the AP poll this week, now ranked 19th. The Lobos have won five straight and are playing some of their best basketball of the season. 

Losses to Saint Mary's, Colorado State, and UNLV are the only blemishes on New Mexico's record this season. The loss to the Rebels kicked the Lobos into their current winning streak, where they have been dominant.

During this win streak, New Mexico is averaging 91.2 points per game, winning by an average of 20.8 points.

Entering the season, fans and opponents alike were aware New Mexico had a stacked backcourt. That has proven to be true, especially in recent weeks but it's formidable support players, bench, and new stars giving the Lobos strength.

Six players average nine or more points per game. Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr both average 15.6 points. House is a stalwart on defense, picking the pocket of opponents almost three times per game.

Mashburn battled some early season injuries and has struggled from the field at times but shot 13-20 in the last two games.

Donovan Dent dishes out 6.1 assists per game, scoring 14.8 points while shooting 51.1 percent from the field.

It is a couple of interior players, however, who have really pushed the Lobos to greatness, led by the excellent play of JT Toppin.

Toppin, Mountain West Freshman of the Week seven times so far this season, is averaging 13 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Toppin is shooting 66.3 percent from the field and, along with Nelly Junior Joseph (9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds), will give the Broncos plenty to handle on the interior.

The two have combined to block 69 shots this season.

Last season, Boise State and New Mexico split their two games. The Broncos lost by two in overtime on the road and picked up a five-point win in Boise. 

Boise State at New Mexico is 1/31 at 8:30 p.m. (MT) on FS1.

Boise State vs Air Force

To finish up the first half of Mountain West Conference play, Boise State hosts Air Force (8-11, 1-6) on Saturday (2/3) at 2 p.m. (MT).

The two teams met only met once last season, a seven-point win for the Broncos.

Air Force, prior to a 1/30 meeting with Wyoming, has lost nine of their last ten games. The lone conference win was a huge 90-58 victory over UNLV.

Three players average double digits in scoring for the Falcons. Sophomore Rytis Petraitis has played in only 12 games but has scored more than 10 in all of them. Petraitis averages 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game and had a triple-double (18/13/11) against the Rebels. 

Guard Ethan Taylor drops 16.4 points per contest, with Beau Becker chipping in 15.8.

Saturday's matchup should not be overlooked, win or lose on Wednesday against New Mexico. A couple of victories this week would be nice, especially a road win over a ranked opponent. Improving on the fundamentals is needed either way. So, too, will be the continued improvement of the bench. A deep rotation was hyped in the offseason. And now it's time to put those players to the test. 

More on Boise State Broncos men's basketball:

Aiming high in 2023-24 Victory over San Diego State

Boston Celtics breezing towards February

 

Victories can often be a hard-fought affair, coming down to a possession or two in the final seconds of games. On Thursday night, in a record-setting victory over the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics made things look as effortless as possible.

The 143-110 win in South Beach saw seven players score in double figures for Boston and was elevated by the team shooting 22-40 from deep. The Celtics bench contributed 48 points and Boston held a 13-point lead after the first quarter, never looking back.

In the last seven days, the Celtics went 3-1. It was a stretch that started off at the opposite end of the victory meter, falling to the Denver Nuggets 102-100. This game had victory written all over it at various points but the resulting loss was a true "live by the three, die by the three" example. Boston was 14-44 from deep, and too often seemed to rely on the three-pointer when a simple drive would have done. This season's Celtics, however, have overcome bad shooting performances more often than not.

Boston, with the successful week, improved to a league-best 35-10 and is breezing towards February with a seven-game homestand on the horizon. The Celtics look to grow their lead in the best record department, which currently stands at three over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Things are staying stellar in the Eastern Conference, too, where the Celtics own a 3.5 game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks, who made a surprise coaching change. And Boston remains five games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers, where Joel Embiid delivered the best single game performance of the 2023-24 season earlier this week.

Boston Celtics: Next 7 days

The first four games of the homestand take place in the next seven days, with the Celtics facing four teams currently .500 or better. First on the agenda is on 1/27, where Boston welcomes to town the Los Angeles Clippers.

The teams met once this season, two days before Christmas in a 145-108 victory by Boston. Six scored in double figures for the Celtics, with the team shooting 47.2 percent on three-point attempts. Jayson Tatum scored 30, Jaylen Brown 24, and Neemias Queta had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Next up, the New Orleans Pelicans visit the TD Garden on 1/29 in what will be the first meeting between the teams in '23-24.

An important Eastern Conference game takes places on 1/30 with the Indiana Pacers in town. Each team has two wins in the series this season, alternating with the most recent a 133-131 Indiana victory. Tatum, who was the leading scorer in three games against the Pacers this season, missed the fourth game. Brown put up 40 in that close loss.

Closing out the next seven days will be a game on 2/1 with the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston defeated Los Angeles on Christmas Day, winning by 11. Kristaps Porziņģis had 28 points and 11 rebounds and Tatum had a near triple-double with 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. The two of them helped offset a monster game from Anthony Davis, who scored 40 and pulled down 13 rebounds.

Porziņģis and Tatum were also among the standouts in Boston's most recent stretch of games.

Star power for C's

Porziņģis was in the mood for love in the first quarter against the Nuggets last week, scoring 15 of Boston's first 20 points. Sadly, he cooled off, finishing with 21 and the Celtics lost their first home game this season. 

In a victory over the Houston Rockets, Porziņģis was back at it, finishing off a well-rounded game with 32 points (making six 3-pointers) and five blocked shots. 

Brown, too, showed up against the Rockets in a wide variety of ways. Though only 6-14 from the field, Brown recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. This game proved yet again Brown continues to improve in all aspects.

It was the dynamic duo show in the victory over Dallas. Brown had 34 points while Tatum, recently named as an , finished with a doozy of a line. Tatum had 39 points and 11 rebounds, contributing five assists. He also was outstanding on defense with three steals and two blocked shots.

Derrick White continued to make a case for an All-Star selection, starting the week off with 24 points and five assists against the Nuggets. And versus the Rockets, White had 21 points and 11 rebounds. 

Despite a struggle against Dallas (2-12, six points), White has had a steady last five games, averaging 17.6 points. He also has six blocked shots and four steals.

This is just a taste of those contributing to the Celtics success. Jrue Holiday is certainly a main factor, and the bench has performed well, especially those who are rotated into the starting lineup. Boston was seconds away from completing the last seven days with a 4-0 mark. With any luck, they have taken the loss to Denver to heart, and will only use that to fuel them towards a successful future.

photo credit: Flickr

More on Celtics in 2023-24:

Fresh faces to reinforce old guard A first half to remember

Brink of first place: Boise State Broncos women's basketball on a roll

 

A primetime opportunity awaits on Wednesday night for the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team. On one hand, the Broncos look to build upon their four-game winning streak. And on the other, a huge chance to tighten the screws in the race for top dog in the Mountain West Conference.

Boise State (13-6, 4-2) welcomes the UNLV Lady Rebels to town. The belle of the conference the last couple of seasons, UNLV had a 29-game conference win streak snapped last Saturday, falling at home to New Mexico 69-66.

A loss last week by previously undefeated Wyoming, also to New Mexico, meant the gap between Boise State and the top teams shrunk to one. The Broncos helped their own cause by taking care of business, picking up a road win at San Jose State and a home victory against the Utah State Aggies. Two games they were expected to win but both very much trap opportunities.

Against the Spartans, Boise State received all they could handle, holding on for a 68-64 win. The Broncos started fast, racing to a 22-6 lead and had to hold on for that victory. Turnovers (20) nearly did Boise State in and were paced by Natalie Pasco (18 points), Elodie Lalotte (17), and Mya Hansen (12).

It was a much easier affair last Saturday, despite a harrowing first five minutes. The Aggies held an early lead, but Boise State righted the ship, putting the game away with a 26-0 run in the second quarter. In the 76-41 victory, 11 different Boise State players scored. Dani Bayes had 16 points off the bench, with Abby Muse scoring 15 and Tatum Thompson 12.

Close to perfection, and taking care of the ball, will be needed against UNLV. A victory will cement the Broncos as serious contenders to the throne as they aim to say in the mix for a conference title. Despite the impressive win streak, the Broncos, I believe, still haven't put together a stellar game from start to finish. Something they have two more chances to do this week.

Boise State vs UNLV

Boasting one of the top players in the Mountain West Conference, the UNLV Lady Rebels (15-2, 5-1) offense will give Boise State's interior defense all they can handle on Wednesday night. Though the likes of Muse, Lalotte, and company can dig in, I wonder if the Broncos will focus on playing more zone defense, at least in the early going.

Desi-Rae Young is averaging 19.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Young is shooting 56.4 percent from the field and can also stretch the floor. More impressive is that Young has recorded a double-double in three straight games and is averaging 23 points and 10.3 rebounds in conference play.

Guard Kiara Jackson drops 12.2 points per contest while dishing out 5.1 assists. Jackson has deadly range, shooting 48.8 percent from beyond the arc, which may prevent Boise State from playing too much zone.

UNLV has both big wins (39 over Utah State, 36 over San Jose State) and close wins (5 against Colorado State, 7 versus San Diego State) among their conference victories. The Lady Rebels average 80.9 points, scoring 70+ in four of their conference games while turning the ball over roughly 11 times per contest.

This is a big game for both teams, as currently only two games separate the top six teams in this conference. A win would be huge for Boise State, who has dropped five straight to UNLV. Tip-off is slated for 6:30 p.m. (MT) on 1/24.

Broncos at Aztecs

In the first meeting this season between the teams, Boise State scorched the San Diego State Aztecs (12-8, 3-4) in the first half in building a 40-19 lead. The Broncos cooled down in the third and fourth quarters, settling for a 68-59 win.

Pasco led the Broncos with 15 points and Lalotte added 12. Bayes scored 10 while Muse pulled down 16 rebounds, helping pace the Broncos to a 13-rebound advantage.

Kim Villalobos notched a double-double that game with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Sarah Barcello added 11. The Aztecs only committed eight turnovers that game but shot 35.2 percent from the field and were 6-30 from deep.

The Aztecs had lost four of five before picking up a 63-51 victory last Saturday against San Jose State. Four players have a scoring average in double figures for San Diego State and three of them pull down at least six rebounds per game.

Adryana Quezada leads in both, with 14.7 points and 6.6 rebounds. Quezada was held to only six and six, respectively, in the first meeting.

Abby Prohaska, who missed the last game against the Broncos, scores 11.2 and pulls down 6.2 boards. Villalobos averages 10.6 points and 6.2 rebounds, with Jada Levi rounding out the group with 100.3 points.

Levi shot 4-12 from the field (1-7 from deep) in scoring nine points in the first meeting.

The two teams are pretty similar and, in the first meeting, the Broncos played their best half of basketball this season in building the large lead. More of that would be nice but I expect a defensive battle between the two teams on Saturday (1/27) at 2 p.m. (MT).

More on Boise State women's basketball '23-24:

Gearing up for conference play Back in the win column

photo credit: Jason Haskins

Wild (Mountain) West: Boise State Broncos take down San Diego State

 

Homecourt wins in a row for the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team: One

And boy, was it a huge victory. Only days after seeing a 22-game homecourt winning streak come to end in a narrow loss to the UNLV Rebels, Boise State (13-5, 4-1) needed this win Saturday. The Broncos used another strong defensive effort combined with solid three-point shooting to take down the San Diego Aztecs, 67-66.

Games between these programs, especially in recent seasons, seem to always come down to the wire. In the brutal and wild Mountain West Conference, every game seems like a do-or-die affair. This one was no different, with each program battling to remain tied atop the standings.

Boise State bounced back nicely after the disappointing loss to the Rebels, who fell to Colorado State on Friday night. The Broncos did so in part by limiting Aztec star Jaedon LeDee to 13 points and eight rebounds while forcing him into four turnovers.

It was a group effort against LeDee, with Tyson Degenhart, Cam Martin, and O'Mar Stanley handling the bulk of the work.

Stanley found his touch on the offensive end as well, scoring a game-high 17 points. Stanley, who forced a few bad-looking three-point attempts against UNLV, had some redemption on Saturday, connecting on 3-3 from deep. And though he had some bad turnovers (again), Stanley tied Max Rice with a team-high seven rebounds, continuing to be an integral part to this team.

Stanley was one of four Broncos to score in double figures. Roddie Anderson III, improving every game, scored a season-high 14 points, with Chibuzo Agbo and Degenhart adding 11 apiece.

There were some harrowing moments, especially as an eight-point lead with 41 seconds left dwindled, but the Broncos did just enough. Especially pleasing considering the Broncos led most of the game while improving to 11-0 this season when leading at halftime.

First half

The back-and-forth between these two teams started early, with two ties and two lead changes. Agbo, Rice, and Anderson all hit early three-pointers, with Anderson's bucket giving the Broncos a 13-10 lead.

It was a lead Boise State didn't relinquish the rest of the half. Degenhart and Stanley went to work, and freshman Andrew Meadow hit a huge corner three, off a nice pass from Jace Whiting, to give the Broncos their largest lead at 26-16.

San Diego State clawed back, using an 11-3 run to close within two points at 29-27. Both teams solidified their defense the final 3:39 of the half, with Boise State heading to the locker room with a 34-31 lead.

Stanley and Anderson combined for 19 first-half points and Boise State was 6-14 from deep while holding San Diego State (15-4, 4-2) to 1-8 from three-point range.

Boise State had nice bench contributions in this half from the usual suspects in their rotation. Meadow hit the three, while Martin and Whiting each dished out two assists while playing valuable minutes.

Second half

Both teams had trouble scoring to open the second frame. No points were scored the first 3:08 of the half, with Degenhart finally snapping the drought. 

San Diego State didn't hit their first field goal of the half until the 15:18 mark but it sparked the Aztecs. While Boise State struggled to a 2-14 effort to open the frame, San Diego State chipped away and tied the game at 42 with 10:55 remaining.

Then, a flurry of offense occurred, with seven lead changes over the next three minutes of play. The Aztecs held their last lead of the game at 50-49.

Boise State rattled off a 10-2 run, capped by a Stanley three ball. Despite some struggles (a season long theme) of handling backcourt pressure, the Broncos held on for the victory.

Free throws helped, too, though Boise State could have been a little better. The Broncos finished 14-20 from the line, with Agbo, Anderson, and Rice each missing one down the stretch.

Rice had a cold game, shooting 1-8 but he had much better shot selection this game and had a few rim out. Rice also finds other ways to contribute, giving some of his best efforts on defense and dishing out three assists.

Bench play for the Broncos also held steady in the second half. Whiting and Martin both knocked down three-pointers, with the two playing 16 and 14 minutes, respectively.

For San Diego State, Reese Waters added 10 points. He and LeDee were the only Aztecs in double figures, but San Diego State's bench combined for 24.

Boise State will be back in action Tuesday night (1/23) in Fresno State ahead of a huge home game next Saturday (1/27). The Broncos host the Utah State Aggies, who are currently ranked 16th in the nation, in what could be a battle for sole possession of first place in the Mountain West.

More on Broncos from '23-24:

Boise State defense doing dirty work MWC gauntlet ahead

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Boston Celtics: First half to remember

 

Shaking things up in the offseason, big goals were expected for the Boston Celtics in 2023-24.

Star players were shipped out and new ones brought in. Role players were let go, some talented ones retained, and a team rounded into shape. All with the goal of locking down banner 18 for the franchise.

Forty-one games are in the books and life is rosy for the Boston Celtics. 

Boston, after a 117-98 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, improved to a league-best 32-9. That's 2.5 games better than the Minnesota Timberwolves for tops in the NBA. And four ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference and five in front of the Philadelphia 76ers in the Atlantic Division.

A perfect blend of All-Stars, talented veterans, and bench players have combined to form the best team in the NBA so far this season.

Boston Celtics: Talented group

A well-rounded game and Jayson Tatum have gone hand-in-hand in the '23-24 season. It's this balance, and importance to the Celtics, that makes Tatum a bona fide MVP candidate. 

Nothing new but simply Tatum taking his game to another level.

Scoring is down for the seventh-year player out of Duke. This is not a concern because of the players around Tatum and he is also averaging less minutes per game than a season ago. 

Tatum has played in 38 games this season, leading the team in scoring with 27.1 points per game. Toss in 8.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists, and it's easily seen why Tatum is an MVP candidate. This isn't touching upon Tatum's importance on defense, and the simple fact teams place a heavy focus in game-planning for him.

Even if down slightly in some categories, most stats are similar to last season's numbers. One that is not, however, is field goal percentage, where Tatum is currently shooting a career-best 47.5 percent. He also has 14 games with a double-double this season, one of which was with points and assists.

The other half of the dynamic duo, Jaylen Brown, is also enjoying a stellar season. Brown, too, has played in 38 games, averaging 23.3 per contest. That output jumped to 24.6 in January, when Brown had 40 points in a loss to the Indiana Pacers. This was part of a three-game stretch where Brown averaged 35.3 points.

Three others, usually spotted in the starting lineup, are all averaging double digits in points. Topping the list is newcomer Kristaps Porzingis with 19.1. Porzingis has stayed mostly healthy, playing 30 games and getting rest as needed. He averages nearly two blocked shots per game, giving Boston interior presence, and is pulling down 6.8 rebounds.

Derrick White (15.9 points, 4.9 assists) has been a revelation, not that his play should be surprising. Taking over as starting point guard, White is expanding on what was already seen from him the last couple of seasons. His defense is on par with the best in the league while averaging 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. And White is a perfect complement to new arrival Jrue Holiday (13.3 ppg), whose defense has helped the Celtics tremendously.

There has been great balance among these five, especially when one has an off night or is given a game to rest. The deep bench has helped in this regard, too. Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard are both playing well. Pritchard is averaging eight points per game and is the only Celtic to play in every game this season (only seven less than he played all last season).

With Al Horford his usual solid self, and role players like Luke Kornet stepping up when needed, this isn't a lot of concern for making a big trade. Barring an injury in the coming weeks, the Celtics don't need to make a big splash. The team is gelling and know their roles, so why mess with that?

Upcoming schedule for Celtics

The coming week does present a challenge for Boston, starting with a Friday night (1/19) home game with the Denver Nuggets (28-14). The defending champs are hanging out near the top of the Western Conference and this will be the first meeting in '23-24 between the teams.

Boston hits the road for the three following games. First is on 1/21 against the Houston Rockets. Boston defeated Houston 145-113 just a week ago with six players scoring in double figures. Brown had 32, Tatum had 27 points (with 8 rebounds and 5 assists), and Pritchard scored 19 off the bench.

A night later (1/22), the Celtics face the Dallas Mavericks for the first time this season. And Boston closes out the road trip in Miami against the Heat. The teams met back in October, where the Celtics picked up an eight-point win.

It's a tough stretch and one, in previous seasons, where they'd be some worry about the Celtics faring better than 2-2. This team is built differently and has more focus, especially in closing out games. Through 41 games, they've proven to be a team worthy of title hopes. Now, it's time to take the first steps in a second half journey towards greatness.

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Boise State Broncos women's basketball gathering momentum

 

Two victories in a row have the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team on an upward trajectory. A good thing, considering the current logjam in the middle of the Mountain West Conference.

The 25th-ranked UNLV Lady Rebels (14-1, 4-0) and Wyoming Cowgirls (9-6, 4-0) are setting the pace in the first two weeks of conference play. Boise State is one of five teams with two losses, with a great opportunity to push their win streak to four this week.

Wins over the New Mexico Lobos (11-6, 2-2) and San Diego State Aztecs (11-7, 2-3) were partially due to the resurgence of a three-point shot. The Boise State Broncos knocked down 11 against New Mexico in a 64-56 road victory. And followed that up with nine against the Aztecs. Boise State raced out to a 40-19 halftime lead in that game, though cooled off and held on for a 68-59 home win.

Better shooting has complimented a strong inside game and tenacious defense, which included a zone that gave San Diego State trouble. A deep bench, too, has allowed head coach Gordy Presnell to maximize the team's abilities.

Boise State Broncos: Individual leaders

Leading scorer Natalie Pasco (13.5 ppg) bounced back nicely from a 1-11 performance against New Mexico. Pasco scored 15 in the Aztecs game and is shooting 43.4 percent from three-point range this season. 

Pasco is the only Bronco averaging double digits in scoring but getting plenty of help. Fellow sophomore Mya Hansen continues to shoot well from deep (40.4 percent) and is averaging 8.4 points per game. Hansen has been outstanding in the two victories, scoring 22 points and dishing out 13 assists.

On the inside, seniors Abby Muse and Elodie Lalotte are leading the way. Muse had 16 rebounds against San Diego State, bringing her season average to ten. She also has 60 blocked shots and scores 7.8 per game.

Lalotte had 12 points and 7 rebounds against the Lobos and has been a focal point of the offense in the two wins.

Senior point guard Mary Kay Naro returned to the lineup after missing two games, dishing out five assists and passing the 400-career assists mark. She has 70 assists on the season and a healthy Naro brings intensity to both sides of the court.

And let's not forget about Dani Bayes, who scored 21 against New Mexico. Bayes added 10 against San Diego State and was 7-17 from three-point range the last two games.

The bench has scored 34 points the last two games.

Though upcoming opponents occupy the bottom of the conference, no walk in the park for Boise State is guaranteed.

On the road against San Jose State

Things between the two schools have been a little back-and-forth the last three seasons. Boise State swept the San Jose State Spartans (6-10, 1-3) last season and in '20-21. In between, the Spartans swept the Broncos, winning by two games by a combined seven points.

The Spartans enter this meeting having lost six of their last eight games. Their lone Mountain West victory thus far was a 15-point win against Utah State. In their most recent outing, the Spartans fell to the Nevada Wolf Pack by seven, a team Boise State lost to by one.

San Jose State averages 62.6 points per game but commits 19.9 turnovers. They are paced by freshman guard Jyah Lovett, who is averaging 22 points per game in conference play. Lovett is prone to turnovers (4.7/gm) but is the high-octane focus of the offense.

Lovett averages 15.3 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.6 steals for the season.

Junior forward Amhyia Moreland contributes 12 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while sophomore Sabrina Ma has made 33 three-pointers. Ma shoots 32 percent from deep and averages 9.8 per game.

Wednesday's game (1/17) starts at 8 p.m. (MT) and can be seen on the Mountain West Network.

Extra Mile Arena action vs Utah State

By time Saturday rolls around, the Utah State Aggies (3-13, 0-5) will hope to have put a 10-game losing streak to rest. Prior to facing Boise State, the Aggies take on Nevada on 1/17.

Utah State has some close losses to good teams to their credit. They lost by only four in New Mexico and by only six points to Wyoming. The Aggies also lost by six to BYU, a team Boise State lost to by 15.

Struggles on offense hamper Utah State, averaging only 57 points while committing 19.3 turnovers per game. The Aggies shoot 38.5 percent from the field and only 26.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Two players are the tops in most categories for Utah State. Junior guard Cheyenne Stubbs is tops in points (15.9), rebounds (4.1), assists (2.4), and steals (1.8). Stubbs had 30 points in a loss against UNLV and is scoring nearly 19 per game in conference play. Skye Miller averages 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest.

Boise State was 3-0 against the Aggies last season, with a close game in the Mountain West tourney. The two teams split games in '21-22 and Boise State was 2-0 against Utah State in '20-21. Saturday's game (1/20) starts at 3 p.m.

More on Boise State Broncos women's basketball:

Season preview '23-24 Boise State Broncos women ready for conference play

Clamped down! Boise State defense doing dirty work

 

The rugged terrain of the men's Mountain West Conference basketball landscape is full of pitfalls, sharp objects, and bloodshed. And this trek only took its first steps in January.

One team unscathed through the first two weeks is the Boise State Broncos (12-4, 3-0). Winning thanks to timely outbursts on offense and, above all else, a physical, gritty defense keeping opponents in check.

This was evident in the past week with two victories, both huge wins in their own regard. The first was a home victory over the Colorado State Rams (13-3, 1-2), who were ranked 17th at the time. Boise State delivered a 65-58 victory, holding Colorado State to 25 points under their season average. The Broncos forced 16 turnovers and held the Rams to a frigid 25 percent from three-point range.

A repeat performance happened Friday night in Reno, with Boise State picking up a 64-56 victory. The Broncos clamped down, holding the Nevada Wolf Pack (15-2, 2-1) to 36 percent on field goal attempts and 25 percent on threes. Rebounding was a huge asset, where Boise State was plus 19 in that department.

Much of the success, though a team effort, can be pointed to Roddie Anderson III. Anderson held two of the conference's top point guards in check. Colorado State's Isaiah Stevens came on late but finished with 15 points, 3 assists, and six turnovers. And with Nevada, Jarod Lucas was held to 5-14 from the field and 14 points.

In two games, Anderson also had five steals.

Anderson, after a 0-point, 8-assist effort against the Rams, found his scoring touch against the Wolf Pack, finishing with 12 points (plus four assists). It was Tyson Degenhart who picked up the slack against Nevada, finishing with 20 points and 9 rebounds.

Chibuzo Agbo had a steady week with 25 points and 12 rebounds, picking up some slack for Max Rice, who struggled. Rice did an excellent job on defense and collected eight rebounds against Nevada but was 5-20 from the field during the week. O'Mar Stanley struggled against Nevada (1-8) from the field. Stanley, though, was 6-6 from the free throw line and pulled down nine rebounds.

The offense is doing just enough but as we've seen, defense is king in this conference. A little bit more offense efficiency will be needed to back up these outstanding defensive efforts with two more huge games on the horizon. Both games will be at Extra Mile Arena, where the Broncos put their 22-game homecourt winning streak on the line.

Boise State vs UNLV

The UNLV Rebels (8-7, 1-2) nearly had an upset over a ranked team in their pockets heading into Tuesday's meeting with Boise State. UNLV led the entire game until Utah State converted a rare five-point play with 8.4 seconds left, giving the Aggies (16-1, 4-0) a 87-86 victory.

UNLV has been competitive early in conference play, defeating New Mexico by 10 and losing to San Diego State by 11. The Rebels have five players who average in double figures, with seven players averaging at least seven points per game. UNLV, in averaging 77.3 points, takes care of the ball, committing only 10.7 turnovers.

Guard play highlights the Rebel action but it is forward Kalib Boone leading the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game. Boone scored 29 in the victory over New Mexico and 18 against Utah State. He is shooting 64.1 percent from the field and collecting 5.1 rebounds per game.

Guard Luis Rodriguez is nipping on Boone's heels with 13.3 points per game. Rodriguez leads the Rebels in rebounding (6.7), one of three averaging at least six per game, and nearly had a double-double against the Aggies with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Dedan Thomas Jr. leads the team with 6.6 assists while also scoring 12.3 points.

Boise State is on a roll in meetings with UNLV, winning eight straight games against the Rebels (dating back to the conference tourney in 2020). Tuesday's game (1/16) is at 8 p.m. (MT) and can be watched on CBSSN.

Broncos host Aztecs

Two of the top conference teams in recent seasons, where meetings have been close, and championships decided. The schools split their two meetings in 2022-23, a season after the Broncos went 3-0 against the Aztecs. This capped a Broncos championship, where Boise State won the three games by a combined seven points.

In the two seasons prior to '21-22, San Diego State (14-3, 3-1) went 5-0 against the Broncos. 

The Aztecs most recent game was an 18-point loss to the New Mexico Lobos (14-3, 2-2) in the Pit. San Diego State seemed in control most of the first half before New Mexico rattled off a 17-2 run. From there, the Lobos never looked back. 

San Diego State started conference play with 27-point win over Fresno State and defeated UNLV by 11. The Aztecs, much like Boise State, escaped a meeting with San Jose State, winning by three. (The Spartans, on a side note, finally won a game after losing three conference games by a combined 14 points. They defeated Air Force on a last second three-pointer.)

Depth is a huge positive for a team averaging 76.9 points per game, only scoring under 70 three times this season. The Aztecs pull down 38 rebounds and commit 11.2 turnovers per game. San Diego State does struggle with the three-pointer, shooting only 32.5 percent.

The main focus for Boise State will be the force that is All-American candidate Jaedon LeDee. LeDee does everything at another level, averaging nearly a double-double with 21.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. He is shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.

LeDee has not been held to single digits in points all season and has ten games where he scored at least 20.

Reese Waters is currently San Diego State's best three-point shooter at 41.9 percent. Waters averages 11.9 points, with Micah Parrish not far behind with 10.4. 

Parrish also pulls down 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Lamont Butler is handing out 3.4 assists and scoring 6.4 points but is shooting only 29.8 percent from deep.

Prior to facing the Broncos, San Diego State hosts Nevada on 1/17. The Saturday (1/20) morning meeting between the Broncos and Aztecs will be a nationally televised affair on CBS, starting at 11 a.m. (MT).

Putting a bow on season six for 5 first-round QBs from 2018 draft

 

The continuing series following the careers of the five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft wraps season six with eyes on the Super Bowl.

Entering the sixth season of their NFL careers, three quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft had Super Bowl aspirations. A fourth in Sam Darnold had the same dreams, albeit in a backup role in San Francisco.

Fast forward to January 2024, and all four quarterbacks are postseason bound, with Super Bowl dreams intact.

Each took a different route in securing playoff bids in 2023-24. Darnold held down the backup spot. Two, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield, took until week 18 to cement their fates. And Lamar Jackson locked things up early, brilliant in his sixth season and leading the Baltimore Ravens into the familiar position of Super Bowl favorites.

Lamar Jackson

Jackson, if anything, should have the title of "2-time NFL MVP" next to his name later this year.

Along the way, coming off the most consistent regular season of his career, Jackson aims to add Super Bowl title to his resume.

Jackson is a much better player now and some of the final numbers for Jackson this regular season were better than in his . Playing in 16 games, missing only the finale due to rest, Jackson heads into the postseason riding high. Fears of rest in the final week, plus a bye for the Baltimore Ravens (13-4) as the AFC's top seed, should be put aside. Jackson has a stable of healthy receivers led by rookie Zay Flowers and two solid running backs who contributed all season.

Career bests were accomplished by Jackson this season in completion percentage (67.2) and passing yards (3678). Jackson finished with 24 touchdown passes against only seven interceptions. He led the team in rushing with 821 yards, scoring only five touchdowns on the ground with Gus Edwards leading the way with 13.

Jackson's 5.5 yards per carry was the lowest average of his carry.

Prior to sitting out Baltimore's week 18 loss to Pittsburgh, Jackson led the Ravens on a six-game winning streak. He played some of his best football in this span, throwing 14 touchdowns and only two picks. Jackson capped it off with a brilliant performance in a dismantling of the Miami Dolphins, completing 18-21 for 321 yards and five touchdowns.

Jackson and the Ravens have another week of preparation ahead of them before AFC Divisional Round action. Then, they take the first steps of heading towards a possible AFC Championship meeting with the next quarterback on the list.

Josh Allen

Allen's wild ways are responsible for success, and the cause of many worries, for the Buffalo Bills (11-6). There was enough good to outweigh the bad, and the Bills enter the playoffs as AFC East champs and the conference's no. 2 seed.

Heading into a week 13 bye, the Bills were 6-6 and losers of three of four. How did they respond down the stretch? Simply by winning five straight and closing out the regular season with a 21-14 victory over the Dolphins.

Allen's loose cannon of an arm has placed him among the league leaders in interceptions throughout his career. This was no different in '23-24, where Allen threw a career-high 18 picks, throwing at least one in 14 of 17 games. 

Buffalo's six losses were by a combined 26 points. And even during the win streak, the average margin was just under six points per game. We saw Allen complete only seven passes in 15 attempts in a victory over Dallas. But also saw a vintage, gritty Allen in the clincher, throwing for 359 yards on 30-38 passing, with two touchdowns and two interceptions (while also leading the team with 67 rushing yards).

Allen's season stats in season six were on par with the previous five. A completion percentage of 66.5 was second best of his career, and he threw for 4306 yards. His 29 touchdown passes were the first time throwing for less than since his second season, when he threw 20.

Allen also rushed for 524 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The Bills began their quest for the Super Bowl by hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on 1/14 at 1 p.m. (ET).

Baker Mayfield

A third chance as a starting quarterback, playing for his fourth team in six years, Mayfield faced adversity early in his tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8). A four-game losing streak following a 3-1 start had many fans calling for a quarterback change. The Bucs stuck with Mayfield, however, and the former top-pick finished with some of the best stats of his career.

Mayfield had career highs in completion percentage (64.3), yards (4044), and touchdown passes (28). He threw 10 interceptions and held up despite being sacked 40 times.

Lack of a solid ground game, shaky pass protection, and Mayfield's usual hiccups ultimately didn't prevent Tampa Bay from winning a weak NFC South. And the quarterback certainly wasn't pretty in Tampa Bay's clinching game, a 9-0 stinker over Carolina. Still, Tampa Bay finished by winning four of their last five games and has a respectable defense to help keep things interesting.

Mayfield, in those last five games, also had a three-game stretch where he threw for 973 yards, 8 touchdowns, and only two interceptions.

By virtue of winning the division, Tampa Bay holds the no. 4 seed and hosts the Philadelphia Eagles on 1/15 at 8:15 p.m. (ET) to kick off their Super Bowl quest.

Sam Darnold

Darnold's season was little more than mop-up duty, aside from a series here and there, until a week 18 start against the Los Angeles Rams. He started off strong but waned as the game progressed. And it was a late-game fumble by Darnold that prevented a comeback, with San Francisco losing 21-20 (after leading most of the game).

If Darnold was thrust into a normal situation, with all the Niners stars at his disposal, I have a feeling he'll be more than all right (though likely not ideal because that would mean an injury to starting quarterback Brock Purdy). 

On the season, Darnold was 28-46 for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He also had 15 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground.

The 12-5 San Francisco 49ers have a first-round bye before opening their Super Bowl quest the weekend of 1/20.

Josh Rosen

Josh Rosen is the fifth of these five quarterbacks and it's been a little over a year since he last was on a NFL squad. Perhaps opportunities may pop up for Rosen, if he desires, in the NFL or other pro football leagues. But if not, the promise of 2018 washed out far too quickly, and Rosen has taken his last snap as a football player.

One of the first four on this list will likely walk away as a Super Bowl winner this February. The same bet might be Darnold and the 49ers. Jackson and Allen face a stiff test in the AFC, though their teams are the clearcut favorites to emerge and square off in the AFC Championship. The NFL is full of surprises, especially with the parity this season, so it will be interesting to revisit this in late summer 2024 to see if one of them secures the brass ring.

photo credit: Flickr

More on the sixth season:

Season six preview Season six: Thru week 4 Season six: Thru week 9 Season six: Thru week 13