Jason Haskins's Blog, page 12

Boise State Broncos: Rocking ExtraMile Arena

 

Home is where the heart is. It's good to be home. Home is not a place, it's a feeling.

No matter how you slice it, the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team in ExtraMile Arena defiantly states, "not in our house!"

A stifling defensive effort and buoyed by an energized atmosphere, the Broncos picked up their 22nd-straight home win on Tuesday night. This time, it was the 17th-ranked Colorado State Rams falling to Boise State, 65-58.

Boise State (11-4, 2-0) harassed the Rams all game, holding Colorado State to 25 points under their season average. The Broncos forced 16 turnovers and twice held the Rams without a field goal for long stretches. 

The offense did just enough despite lapses of their own, finding key buckets and going on extended runs to keep Colorado State at bay. And while only five players found the scoring column, all five were in double digits.

At the top of the list was once again O'Mar Stanley, who posted yet another double-double. Stanley finished with a game-high of 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Tyson Degenhart and Chibuzo Agbo added 13 while Max Rice, despite an off night from the field (2-12), finished with 11. 

Boise State got some much-needed scoring from what was again a short bench. Freshman Andrew Meadow scored 11, with only Jace Whiting and Kobe Young the only others to see minutes off the bench, both mostly in the first half. 

The Broncos were shorthanded in the interior, with Cam Martin not suited up for the game.

Still, Boise State made do, and continued to protect their home court while picking up a valuable conference win in the process.

First half cold front

Both teams started out jittery on offense, with the game's first points not being scored until over two minutes elapsed. Boise State was only 1-8 to start and the game was only tied at four with 4:16 elapsed.

Struggles continued for both sides the first ten minutes, with Boise State shooting only 4-16 and Colorado State committing five turnovers. The Rams (13-3, 1-2) put together a 9-2 to go up 15-11 with 7:29 left in the half.

Rice was energized on the defensive end, coming up with hard-nosed efforts. A Stanley to Agbo connection gave the Broncos a lead, 18-17. It was one they'd never relinquish, going up by as many as eight behind an Agbo three-pointer with 1:18 left in the half.

Boise State held a 28-21 halftime lead thanks in part to holding the Rams without a field goal for the last 4:30 of the half. And the Broncos kept Colorado State star Isaiah Stevens in check, holding the MWC preseason MVP to only three points on 1-3 shooting, with zero assists.

Raising the second-half energy

The early going of the second half was on track to be a repeat of the first. Each team was missing shots, with the bonus of Boise State committing three turnovers in the first four minutes (after only committing four turnovers total in the first half).

Boise State didn't score their first points until the 16:45 mark and, two minutes later, the Rams were able to cut the deficit to one.

Then Meadow showed up, summoning the Boise State crowd by connecting on two 3-pointers. This spurred the Broncos on, and the lead swelled to 13, with inspired play from Degenhart (an old-fashioned three-point play) and Stanley (a steal and bucket).

The Broncos held Colorado State without a field goal for six minutes but after going up 11 with 5:56 left, took a step back. Their offense was already lackluster once in the half, with low energy and movement. At this point, it was simply some ugly and out of rhythm shots that allowed Colorado State to chip away at the lead.

Colorado State was able to get within four with 1:33 left but the Broncos were able to seal the victory at the charity stripe (hitting 15-20 in the second half).

Point guard Roddie Anderson III drew the assignment of guarding Stevens most of the game, doing a solid job. While Anderson didn't score, and he had some truly errant passes again in the second half, Anderson had a strong game in finishing with eight assists, three steals, and three rebounds.

Stevens finished with 15 points to lead the Rams, committing six turnovers and dishing out three assists.

Nique Clifford added 12 points and collected eight rebounds before fouling out.

Boise State will next put their home winning streak to the test on 1/16 against UNLV. But first, a road meeting with Nevada on Friday (1/12) as the Mountain West Conference gauntlet continues. The Wolf Pack opened conference play with a 15-point win in Fresno and a 13-point win at home over Air Force.

photo credit: rawpixel

Boise State Broncos: Rocking Extra Mile Arena

 

Home is where the heart is. It's good to be home. Home is not a place, it's a feeling.

No matter how you slice it, the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team in Extra Mile Arena defiantly states, "not in our house!"

A stifling defensive effort and buoyed by an energized atmosphere, the Broncos picked up their 22nd-straight home win on Tuesday night. This time, it was the 17th-ranked Colorado State Rams falling to Boise State, 65-58.

Boise State (11-4, 2-0) harassed the Rams all game, holding Colorado State to 25 points under their season average. The Broncos forced 16 turnovers and twice held the Rams without a field goal for long stretches. 

The offense did just enough despite lapses of their own, finding key buckets and going on extended runs to keep Colorado State at bay. And while only five players found the scoring column, all five were in double digits.

At the top of the list was once again O'Mar Stanley, who posted yet another double-double. Stanley finished with a game-high of 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Tyson Degenhart and Chibuzo Agbo added 13 while Max Rice, despite an off night from the field (2-12), finished with 11. 

Boise State got some much-needed scoring from what was again a short bench. Freshman Andrew Meadow scored 11, with only Jace Whiting and Kobe Young seeing minutes, both mostly in the first half. 

The Broncos were shorthanded in the interior, with Cam Martin not suited up for the game.

Still, Boise State made due, and continued to protect their home court while picking up a valuable conference win in the process.

First half cold front

Both teams started out jittery on offense, with the game's first points not being scored until over two minutes elapsed. Boise State was only 1-8 to start and the game was only tied at four with 4:16 elapsed.

Struggles continued for both sides the first ten minutes, with Boise State shooting only 4-16 and Colorado State committing five turnovers. The Rams (13-3, 1-2) put together a 9-2 to go up 15-11 with 7:29 left in the half.

Rice was energized on the defensive end, coming up with hard-nosed efforts. A Stanley to Agbo connection gave the Broncos a lead, 18-17. It was one they'd never relinquish, going up by as many as eight behind an Agbo three-pointer with 1:18 left in the half.

Boise State held a 28-21 halftime lead thanks in part to holding the Rams without a field goal for the last 4:30 of the half. And the Broncos kept Colorado State star Isaiah Stevens in check, holding MWC preseason MVP to only three points on 1-3 shooting, with zero assists.

Raising the second-half energy

The early going of the second half was on track to be a repeat of the first. Each team was missing shots, with the bonus of Boise State committing three turnovers in the first four minutes (after only committing four turnovers total in the first half).

Boise State didn't score their first points until the 16:45 mark and, two minutes later, the Rams were able to cut the deficit to one.

Then Meadow showed up, summoning the Boise State crowd by connecting on two 3-pointers. This spurred the Broncos on, and the lead swelled to 13, with inspired play from Degenhart (an old-fashioned three-point play) and Stanley (a steal and bucket).

The Broncos held Colorado State without a field goal for six minutes but after going up 11 with 5:56 left, took a step back. Their offense was already lackluster once in the half, with low energy and movement. At this point, it was simply some ugly and out of rhythm shots that allowed Colorado State to chip away at the lead.

Colorado State was able to get within four with 1:33 left but the Broncos were able to seal the victory at the charity stripe (hitting 15-20 in the second half).

Point guard Roddie Anderson III drew the assignment of guarding Stevens most of the game, doing a solid job. While Anderson didn't score, and he had some truly errant passes again in the second half, Anderson had a strong game in finishing with eight assists, three steals, and three rebounds.

Stevens finished with 15 points to lead the Rams, committing six turnovers and dishing out three assists.

Nique Clifford added 12 points and collected eight rebounds before fouling out.

Boise State will next put their home winning streak to the test on 1/16 against UNLV. But first, a road meeting with Nevada on Friday (1/12) as the Mountain West Conference gauntlet continues. The Wolf Pack opened conference play with a 15-point win in Fresno and a 13-point win at home over Air Force.

photo credit: rawpixel

Boise State Broncos find their way out of San Jose

 

For 35 minutes of game action on Friday night, it looked as if the Boise State Broncos were going to be sent packing back to Boise with conference loss on their resume.

Then, a defensive lockdown took place, the Broncos hit their free throws, and Boise State (10-4, 1-0) survived a scare from the San Jose State Spartans, winning 78-69.

The Spartans (7-8, 0-2) led most of the game behind the inspired play of Myron Amey Jr., who dropped 25 points in the first half on 9-11 shooting (5-7 on threes). This hot start propelled San Jose State to a 40-33 halftime lead.

Amey cooled down however and San Jose State, for a second game in a row, watched a second-half lead disappear. The Spartans did not make a field goal in the last 5:16 of the game, scoring only four points in this stretch. And Boise State continued to hang around and chip away, finally retaking the lead with two free throws from O'Mar Stanley.

A lot of the comeback can be pointed to the Boise State defense ratcheting up the pressure and focus in the second half. Boise State held the Spartans to a shade over 30 percent (9-29) from the field in the second half, including a stifling 1-13 from three-point range.

Amey finished with 30 points, six rebounds, and four assists. 

Boise State was powered by their core four players, led by a career game for the transfer from St. John's.

Stars align but help needed

To say Boise State found a gem in Stanley might be an understatement. Especially with the way he's been playing the last three games.

Stanley was in control all game, finishing with 30 points (on 11-17 shooting) and 11 rebounds. He was the third player in the Leon Rice era to put up at least a 30/10 game, joining Chandler Hutchison and Abu Kigab.

Stanley kept the Broncos in the game in the first half. Playing with a mismatch inside most of the night, Stanley had a stretch for Boise State where he scored 13 straight points. Late in the second half, propelling Boise State to the lead, Stanley connected on five of six free throw attempts, finishing 8-10 from the line.

The last three games have seen Stanley fill up the box score in every way. He's averaging 24.3 points per game, shooting 64.3 percent from the field. Stanley is also 18-20 from the free throw line and averaging eight rebounds per game.

Help in the second half arrived in the form of Tyson Degenhart. The junior scored 17 of his 21 points after the break, including two huge three-pointers.

Chibuzo Agbo and Max Rice added 15 and 12 points, respectively, with each collecting seven rebounds as Boise State outrebounded the Spartans by 20.

Rice added four assists.

The stars were spectacular for Boise State but help will be needed as Mountain West play continues. No other player scored and the Broncos only used seven players in the second half.

This is not to say the other players who played did not contribute. Freshman Andrew Meadow contributed heavy minutes down the stretch with Agbo in foul trouble. And while point guards Roddie Anderson III and Jace Whiting combined for six turnovers, both were better in the second half. 

Turnovers were a main issue in Boise State's first half deficit and were only slightly better in the second, finishing with a total of 15.

The main concern is finding someone in the bench rotation who can add some scoring. Cam Martin had an off game and didn't play in the second half but is a player who can normally provide six to ten points off the bench. Meadow and Anderson, who starts, seemed reluctant to shoot at times. The two only attempted five field goals between them.

Four players handling all the scoring isn't unheard of. But if one or two of them stumble in a each, the Broncos are going to be hard pressed to finish near the top of the conference if others don't step up. This is something that will be tested this next week with two big games for the Broncos.

Boise State Broncos: Upcoming games

Winning was an agreeable way to get started for the Broncos because their next two games won't be easy. Not that anything will be in a conference where every team entered conference play above .500.

First up is a home game with the Colorado State Rams, currently ranked 13th in the nation. The Rams won their conference opener, defeating New Mexico 76-68. 

Prior to the Boise State game on 1/9, the Rams hit the road for a Saturday night meeting with Utah State, who opened conference play with a 28-point thrashing of Air Force.

A trip to Reno to face the Nevada Wolf Pack will close out next week for the Broncos. Nevada finally opens conference play with a Saturday meeting with Fresno State, who dropped their opener to San Diego State by 27. Nevada will also face Air Force before the 1/12 game with Boise State.

The Broncos carry a 21-game home winning streak into Tuesday's meeting with the Rams, a team Boise State defeated twice in 2022-23, winning by 21 at home. Last season, the Broncos split their meetings with Nevada, losing by two in Reno and winning by 15 in Boise.

Tuesday's game will be available on KTVB and the Mountain West Network, with Friday night's affair televised on FS1.

More on Boise State men's basketball:

MWC a gauntlet in 2023-24 Boise State Broncos men's basketball aiming high

MWC gauntlet ahead for Boise State Broncos men's basketball

 

On the old Gladiators television show, the Gauntlet was an event in which competitors were required to advance through five zones. Each zone had a different task and a different Gladiator to contend with.

Such will be a similar life for the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team as they ready themselves to open Mountain West play.

The Boise State men faced their own obstacles and challenges in non-conference play. It was a daunting task and one not as successful in terms of wins as planned. But, with any hope, the difficulties belied upon the Broncos will only make them better come conference play.

In 2024, Boise State (9-4) will need all the grit, determination, and execution to navigate the gauntlet of the Mountain West and return to the NCAA tourney.

The non-conference slate provided some nice wins over teams who currently own winning records. A win over the San Francisco Dons (11-4), who defeated Fresno State and lost to Utah State by 1, started things off nicely. Along the way, the Broncos also defeated VCU (8-5), Saint Mary's (9-6), and North Texas (7-5), among others.

But it was four losses that may come back to haunt the Broncos.

If good losses were truly a measuring stick, then Boise State has them. Depending on where these opponents end the season, a good loss in computer ranking might provide some aid. To rely on that, though, is tough to swallow, knowing opportunities were there for the Broncos to improve their standing. 

In a tough ACC, Clemson (11-1) and Virginia Tech (9-4) might make some noise, while Butler (10-3) should be headed to a 20-win season. It wasn't a bad loss but falling to Washington State (9-4) might ultimately be damaging, as the Cougars have lost their first two games to open PAC-12 play.

Still, the lessons and downfalls learned in these games should serve the Broncos well as they open conference play.

Mountain West: Power conference?

A glance at the records of the 11 Mountain West Conference teams indicates quite the successful non-conference schedule. Enough so that there's talk of the Mountain West steamrolling towards a four-or-five bid conference in this year's NCAA tournament.

Sometimes the records and numbers can be misleading, leading to a false sense of hope. That shouldn't be the case this season.

All 11 teams enter conference play with a winning record, including four teams with only one loss and one team with two.

The Nevada Wolf Pack (13-1) might be the most surprising. Despite returning two of the top backcourt players in the conference, I hadn't put a lot of stock into their start. That is, until the Wolf Pack defeated TCU and Georgia Tech on route to winning the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.

Nevada's only loss was a 19-point drubbing by Drake. Jarod Lucas leads Nevada in scoring at 17.9 points per game, followed by his running mate Kenan Blackshear. Blackshear (16.1 ppg) also leads the team in assists (4.9) and is shooting 53.8 percent from the field.

Three other teams hold a 12-1 record entering conference play. Both Colorado State and New Mexico lost to Saint Mary's. The Rams are ranked 13th in the latest AP poll and are led by guard Isaiah Stevens (17.3 points, 7.3 assists), pacing Colorado State to over 84 points per game.

New Mexico, with a fantastic backcourt as well, has won 11 straight.

Utah State has won 11 straight, too, with their only loss to Bradley. The Aggies might have had the easiest non-conference slate of the bunch and may dip a little. But it's also not smart to discount this team making a run.

San Diego State, national runner-up from a season ago, carries a record of 11-2 and is fresh off a road win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs.  Forward Jaedon LeDee is putting up All-American numbers for the Aztecs, averaging 21.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Six teams tip-off conference play on Tuesday (1/2), with Colorado State hosting New Mexico as the highlight game. Included in these games is Boise State's opponent on Friday, the San Jose State Spartans (7-6).

The Spartans, who have dropped four of their last six, travel to Laramie to take on Wyoming. 

Boise State has their work cut out for them in conference this season, but they have the talent to snag a conference title or, at the very least, secure a top-four finish.

Boise State Broncos: Individual leaders

A rotation for head coach Leon Rice is rounding into shape for Boise State, though it's not quite as deep (as of late) that I expected it to be.

Eight players see the court with consistent minutes. And the three returning starters are again pacing the team.

The leading scorer through 13 games is Chibuzo Agbo, who has found his shooting stroke (and a knack for the four-point play). Agbo averages 15.3 points per game, shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 45.9 from deep. He had a three-game stretch earlier this season where he connected on 17-29 from three-point range.

Agbo has reached double digits in the scoring column in all but two games this season, and averages 5.1 rebounds per game.

Tyson Degenhart and Max Rice have both struggled at times but are lending their all on both sides of the court. Degenhart is filling the box score in multiple ways, averaging 14.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Struggling from deep (28.6 percent), Degenhart is shooting 48 percent from the field. The junior also has 16 steals to his credit, leading the team.

Rice took some time to get going this season, struggling to find his shot and rhythm in playing with new point guards. The last five games have been much better for the super senior. On the season, Rice averages 11.7 points per game and is shooting 35.1 percent on three-point attempts. However, in the last five, Rice is 19-38 from beyond the arc and is averaging 18.4 points per game.

Both Rice and Degenhart joined the 1000-point club in last week's victory over Utah Valley.

Playing well all season, transfer O'Mar Stanley has been quite the revelation in Boise State's last three games. Stanley's presence in the key has buoyed the Broncos in this stretch, averaging 19 points and nearly nine rebounds per game. His finest was a 23-point, 6-rebound game against the Cougars, where he also blocked three shots.

Stanley and Cam Martin are sharing the minutes at center. Martin leads the team in assists, with 36 rebounds, and rebounds (5.5 per game). He's also contributing 7.2 points per game.

Roddie Anderson III, Jace Whiting, and Andrew Meadow have all had their moments and round out the rotation. Heading into the season, I thought RJ Keene and Kobe Young might have bigger roles. Keene started off strong but has played only 24 minutes total in the last four games. And Young is averaging only 3.7 minutes per game.

As in recent seasons, the journey to the Mountain West title won't be an easy one. And there will be bumps to contend with and massive gladiators to take down. In addition to normal keys of stellar star play, three-point shooting, and defense, Boise State will need to rely on their other weapons to reach their goals. With a little more precision, better bench support, and late-game execution, the Broncos can run the gauntlet and avoid the dreaded bubble come March.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Ice cold: Boise State Broncos women drop conference opener

 

An emphasis on limiting turnovers was a key for the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team heading into conference play. And they responded with care, committing only 10 in Laramie against the Wyoming Cowgirls.

Unfortunately, the Broncos (9-5, 0-1) had one of their worst shooting games of the season, falling to the Cowgirls 61-47 on Saturday.

The second half proved to be the true undoing from the field for Boise State. The Broncos started 1-7 to open the third quarter, finishing the frame 6-23. A fourth quarter warming spell never happened, and Boise State finished the second half shooting only 25 percent (10-40) from the field, including a frigid 0-12 from three-point range.

Close range was a problem, with some easy looks not falling. Wyoming did execute a stifling defense but no one on Boise State was able to get going. Starting guards Mary Kay Naro and Mya Hansen were a combined 3-17 and Dani Bayes off the bench was 3-9.

Natalie Pasco had a team-high 13 points but no one else on the Broncos managed to reach double figures.

Entering the game, Wyoming (6-6, 1-0) was shooting only 27 percent from three-point range on the season. The Cowgirls managed to shoot a respectable 37.5 percent (6-16) from deep against Boise State. 

McKinley Dickerson had a game-high 16 points for the Cowgirls, with Tess Barnes adding 13, and Malene Pedersen 11. The three combined to hit five of Wyoming's six 3-pointers.

First half back-and-forth

The early going had all the makings of a back-and-forth game. There were three lead changes and four ties, with Wyoming using an 11-0 run to build an eight point lead. It was a lead they would never relinquish.

Abby Muse scored the first four points for the Broncos, helping lay the foundation for an early 11-8 lead. A game plan seemed to point to Boise State getting Muse going. And while there were great looks early, Muse finished with only six points on 3-9 shooting.

Pasco scored five straight points to end the quarter, bringing the Broncos to within three at 19-16.

The teams traded baskets and missed shots through much of the first portion of the second quarter.

A jumper by Linsey Lovrovich brought Boise State to within one at 25-24. The Cowgirls, however, responded with a 7-2 run to close the half and the one-point Bronco deficit was the closest Boise State would get the rest of the game.

Cold front moves in for second half

Considering the Broncos had only two turnovers in the second half, one would have hoped Boise State could have climbed back in the game.

Ball movement was good on offense and the Broncos did good looks. They even had plenty of opportunities with 14 offensive rebounds. It was one of those games where shots weren't falling and, when a second half run looked inevitable, Wyoming responded with back-to-back successful possessions.

Free throws played a big part, with Boise State only getting to the line four times (converting twice) while Wyoming was 9-16.

Boise State's defense did hold Wyoming to under 40 percent from the field in the second half and forced 14 turnovers overall. And they did a good job, alongside some foul trouble, in holding Wyoming leading scorer Allyson Fertig to seven points.

Muse, Bayes, and Elodie Lalotte all had six points for the Broncos. Lalotte led Boise State with eight rebounds and Muse collected six.

The cold front, especially from deep (1-17 overall) was a little surprising, considering the good shooters this team has. Converting more inside will help loosen things up from the outside and hopefully it's a problem solved before the Broncos get too deep, and too far behind, in conference play.

Boise State will look to bounce back on Wednesday (1/3/24) when they host the Nevada Wolf Pack, who lost to New Mexico by 10 in their conference-opener on Saturday.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boise State Broncos women's basketball gearing up for conference play

 

A 4-0 start for the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team set the tone for the 2023-24 season. Results have been a shade over .500 basketball since, but the Broncos (9-4) do carry a winning record and momentum into Mountain West Conference play.

If only they could find some consistency in their level of play.

A fast start had its issues, mainly in taking care of the ball. Turnovers are an issue the Broncos can overcome if three-pointers are falling and defense is stalwart. At 16.1 per game, the number of turnovers has fallen in recent weeks. Boise has averaged 14 in their last four games, including only 11 in their victory over the University of San Diego.

Part of the issue is players settling in and making lazy passes, going through the motions on offense instead of playing with a crispness. Some of these mistakes are as simple as a player passing to where a teammate is designed to be, with the opponents expecting this and overplaying, leading to a steal.

This can be partially attributed to finding some more patience and, too, the level of opponents Boise State is playing. Three of those losses are to teams a combined 21-9, including an 11-3 Santa Clara team, an Eastern Washington team with eight wins (and who lost to Gonzaga by only 2), and a 10-win BYU team. 

Head coach Gordy Presnell has toyed with different lineups and rotations throughout non-conference, which can lead to continuity issues. But, the depth on this Boise State team is outstanding, and things will improve with a more solidified rotation, I believe. Conference play is the true measuring stick and the Broncos get a good one to start on the road Saturday (12/30) against the Wyoming Cowgirls.

Season stats, leaders

One of the more perplexing losses for the Broncos was a 62-56 defeat to the UC San Diego Tritons (4-7). Boise State bounced back nicely against San Diego the following night, a game where a couple of Broncos had their best outing of the season.

Senior Abby Muse has been a force on defense, and is starting to piece things together on offense. Against the Toreros, Muse delivered a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. She also had two steals, four assists, and six blocked shots. This gives Muse 51 blocks on the season and could very well challenge the single-season record of 93, a mark she set last season.

Muse has three games of collecting 15 rebounds or more this season. She is averaging 10.2, along with 8.1 points per game. 

This is good for third on the team, behind Mya Hansen (9 ppg) and leader Natalie Pasco (13.6 ppg). Pasco delivered a season-high 27 points, knocking down six three-pointers, in Boise State's last victory. Boise State has relied on Pasco, who leads the team with 34 threes (46.6 percent) and the sophomore has responded by scoring in double figures in all but two games.

Hansen has also been a threat from deep, knocking down 18 three pointers on 46.2 percent shooting. Hansen is also averaging nearly three assists per game.

That category lead belongs to senior Mary Kay Naro, who has dished out 60 this season. Some more scoring (5.2 ppg) might be nice from Naro but she contributes in so many ways (4.1 rebounds) and plays solid defense (13 steals, 10 blocked shots) that lack of scoring can be overlooked.

The fifth spot in the starting lineup has been a mix of Elodie Lalotte (six starts), Trista Hull (4 starts), and Alyssa Christensen (3 starts). Lalotte (7 ppg), I imagine, will continue to see the bulk of the minutes, if foul trouble is avoided. But Hull and Christensen are more than fully capable of stepping in, with Hull pulling down 5.3 rebounds per game.

Boise State's strength lies in rebounding, plus seven this season, and stingy defense, especially on the perimeter. Opponents are only shooting 28.9 percent from deep against the Broncos and length on the floor is important for Boise State, especially has conference play begins.

Mountain West Conference

Boise State's first opponent will be Wyoming (5-6), who struggled to close out their non-conference play by losing four of their last five games. The Cowgirls average 64.5 points per game but only reached that mark once during the recent stretch and lost 62-43 to Eastern Washington (who beat the Broncos 64-43).

Wyoming averages 13.9 turnovers per game and only shoots 27 percent from deep. Rebounding should also favor the Broncos, though Wyoming has a star in the frontcourt to contend with.

Center Allyson Fertig averages 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, shooting 57.8 percent. Fertig can also wreak havoc on defense, swatting 1.7 shots.

Though the Cowgirls struggle from deep, they have no fear in attempting three-pointers. Malene Pedersen is second on the team in scoring at 10.7 and is 12-40 from three-point range. Tess Barnes leads the team with 17 makes (on 54 attempts).

Wyoming is only a handful of Mountain West teams with a losing record entering conference play. Defending champion UNLV is 10-1, with their only loss by 30 points to Seton Hall. Desi-Ray Young and the Lady Rebels open Mountain West play Saturday at home against Utah State.

The Colorado State Rams are off to a 9-2 start, though they have lost two of their last three games. McKenna Hofschild (22.1 points, 8.5 assists) continues to shine for the Rams, who open on the road against San Diego State.

The Aztecs are 9-4, along with the New Mexico Lobos. New Mexico takes to the road to open conference play against the Nevada Wolf Pack. 

Air Force and Fresno State, both 7-6, enter conference play struggling. Air Force has lost five of seven while the Bulldogs have dropped three of four. One team will get the ship righted, as the two face each other in Fresno on Saturday.

The bye this weekend belongs to San Jose State, who is 5-6.

Boise State appears on track for a top-four finish in the league. A regular season conference championship isn't out of the question. They have the talent and depth to get back to the top but, as with any team on the hunt for a title, improvements will be needed. Taking care of the ball is at the top of the list, and a victory on Saturday will kick things off the right way.

photo credit: Jason Haskins

Boston College Eagles bowl mania '23: Fenway Park affair

 

College football bowl season is often full of strange results and surprise endings. Key players have entered the transfer portal or sit out games for a myriad of reasons. Efforts can sometimes be uninspired. Heavy favorites fall, underdogs rise, shootouts take place, and brawls have known to erupt.

Where will the Boston College Eagles land for their result in bowl mania 2023?

Will the season be put to a merciful end against the 24th-ranked SMU Mustangs (11-2) at the Wasabi Fenway Bowl? Or can the Eagles find magic once more in what was a regular season roller coaster ride? 

Game day is fast approaching (December 28) with the Eagles looking to snap a three-game losing streak and get their seventh win of the season. Boston College (6-6) is also looking for their first bowl win since a Quick Lane Bowl victory over Maryland in 2016, their only victory in 10 bowl selections since 2007.

Boston College Eagles: Aiming high

Transfers and NFL declaration (defensive back Elijah Jones) have left the Eagles thin at a few positions. While many of these players saw the field throughout the season, they were either injured or serving as backups when the regular season ended.

Boston College on offense should be fine for the Fenway Bowl matchup with SMU. Running back will be the biggest question mark, in terms of depth. Top runner Kye Robichaux and versatile backup Alex Broome will be there to carry the load. And they both should be leaned on a lot, if the Eagles are to have any hopes of winning this bowl game.

These two will have plenty of opportunities, as well quarterback Thomas Castellanos. Castellanos was one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this season in terms of rushing, leading Boston College with 957 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

If the offense can find a rhythm on the ground, mixed in with a short, precise passing game, the Eagles can do their best to control the outcome. Finding a few opportunities for deep strike plays (and not pressing the issue) will also be needed. Balance on offense has been the key in Boston College's six victories this season and will be again on Thursday. 

A bevy of receivers, led by Lewis Bond, will help. As will an offensive line that has been a cohesive, stellar unit in 2023, allowing only 16 sacks and paving the way for over 194 yards per game on the ground.

Defense is where the main worry is for this bowl game. On paper, the depth chart (at least the two-deep portion) shows off a lot of experience and talent. For the Eagles, it's been about putting that talent all together for one exemplary game to close the season.

Opponents totaled 117 points against Boston College in the season's final three games. This was a far cry from the five-game winning streak, where opponents averaged 19 points per game.

The possibility of Boston College defense clamping down is there, especially with nearly a month to prepare for the Mustangs. Which will be no easy task, considering SMU boasts one of the top teams on both sides of the ball.

Daunting task for Boston College

The SMU Mustangs enter the bowl game riding the highs of a nine-game winning streak. And there has been nothing fluky about the streak. SMU's defense has been stout and the offense fluid, with the Mustangs failing to score over 30 points just once in that span. And that was their most recent game, a 26-14 victory over Tulane in the AAC title game.

SMU suffered only two losses this season, to the Oklahoma Sooners and TCU Horned Frogs. In their 11 victories, the team scored 30+ points in 10 while opponents scored 20+ three times in those games.

All told, the Mustangs average 40.2 points per game while allowing only 17.4, including two shutouts.

Offense excelled in both the passing (285.1 yards) and rushing (181.1). The air attack may not be as good, with starter Preston Stone (3197 yards, 28 touchdowns) going down with a broken leg in the regular season finale. But Kevin Jennings filled in nicely during the conference title game and, with plenty of time to practice as the starter, will be fully prepared for Boston College.

The top three running backs for SMU all average above five yards per carry, a frightening stat considering what the Eagles defense allowed down the stretch. Plus, the passing game spreads the ball around, with seven players having 20 catches or more for the Mustangs.

Topping the list is tight end RJ Maryland, who has 34 catches for 518 yards and seven touchdowns.

SMU's defense finished second in the nation with sacks (47) and had 11 interceptions. Key leaders in both categories will be at the bowl game. This includes defensive end Elijah Roberts, who had 9.5 sacks, and Isaiah Nwokobia, who has four interceptions.

Chances of a positive result look slim for the Boston College Eagles. SMU, in their last season before joining the ACC, is rightfully miffed at not being selected for a bigger bowl game. That can leave a team either disinterested or fueled with more fire to leave a mark. I think it says a lot that SMU's bigger stars are back to finish this season. And even a perfect game from Boston College might not be enough. 

Prove me wrong but looking at a 34-20 victory for SMU.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boise State Broncos football: Bidding adieu to '23 season

 

A perfect attribute of hindsight in the pocket, it's safe to say the expectations for the Boise State Broncos football team in 2023 were hoisted too high.

The football Gods sent forth a notable non-conference schedule for the Broncos to tackle. One that if Boise State handled with care, a NY6 game would be inevitable. With the arrival of offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan, plenty of returning starters on offense, a solid crew to work with on defense, and good will from the close of the 2022 season, the pillars were in place.

Instead, the house of cards wobbled throughout the season and the Broncos landed on an 8-6 season to finish up 2023.

Season in the books

Eight wins, in many instances, is a successful season. Certain standards are set in place with the Boise State program and, balanced with six losses, can be a hard pill to swallow. And while disappointment in the season is understandable, there are certain successes the Boise State Broncos managed.

A four-game winning streak, amid a coaching change, prior to the bowl game brought hope and energy around this team. This includes a Mountain West Conference championship, providing a wonderful topper to what was a times at bleak season.

Four of those losses were by a combined 13 points, with the other two against PAC-12 teams that bookended the season. (And the first loss was to the Washington Huskies, a team preparing for the College Football Playoffs.)

I've touched upon the four close losses in previous posts, so won't rehash here. Sports has that undeniable way of one play, one drive, or one bad decision flipping a result from good to bad. Boise State has been on both sides over the years, and experienced the downside more often than before in this season. Nothing to get down on, especially after so many instances in the past 25 years of Boise State receiving the generous side of the stick.

The good vibes over the last month of the season should not be soured because the tough LA Bowl loss to the UCLA Bruins (8-5). The Broncos had their chances to run away with this game in the first half when settling for field goals instead of touchdowns. Plus, the entire effort was going to be a tall task with freshman CJ Tiller taking his first meaningful snaps of a college football game.

Final thoughts: Offense

Tiller factored into the equation for the bowl game because quarterback Taylen Green, Offensive MVP of the MW title game, launched himself into the portal, landing with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

One of the higher expectations entering this season was Green making a bigger jump in the passing game. I still believe Hamdan was forced to adjust early this season and throw Green to the fire a little more than desired. There was also the eventual two-quarterback system to consider, which could not have been easy for Green or Maddux Madsen. Especially when it seemed Avalos (and maybe Hamdan) preferred Madsen as the season wore on. Which, at the time, Madsen was having more success.

When Madsen went down, Green was once again the starter to close the season. At that point, the move to Spencer Danielson as head coach (interim at the time) and Green ran wild yet again.

The adjustment to include more passing happened right off the bat. A plan of a three-headed monster in the rushing game was grounded in the opening week due to the injury of running back George Holani. I do think this forced Boise State to pass more than desired, even with the star-making season of Ashton Jeanty. Missed time between Holani and Jeanty meant the ground game never really got to see Green-Holani-Jeanty in full effect until the final weeks.

Holani capped a fantastic career with a 17-carry, 138-yard performance in the LA Bowl, scoring two touchdowns. His final carry was a 66-yard touchdown run.

The offense had inopportune turnovers, dropped passes at key moments, and other inconsistencies but they weren't truly the problem. Boise State averaged 32.1 points per game and totaled over 3000 yards on the ground, buoyed by Jeanty. The sophomore finished 1347 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, adding 43 receptions for 569 yards and five touchdowns through the air. And he's sticking around Boise, having him poised for a *Heisman campaign in 2024.

A dominant offensive line paved the way and was fantastic in pass protection, even as a wide receiving corps was thin by season's end. Ultimately, a downfall in many losses was a struggling defense.

Final thoughts: Defense/Special teams

The offense did their best to make up for the defense and special teams, which failed to make many game-changing plays.

Mainly, it's looking at a secondary that never recovered from Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr. and his performance for Washington in game one. Entering the season, this unit had a lot of talent and experience to replace. But, there were a number of players returning who had plenty of game action in recent years, so I thought the drop-off would be from a ledge, not a cliff.

Whether it's the scheme or working together as an entire defense, this area will definitely need improvement in '24. Despite the difficulties in this area, there were certainly a few bright spots, including Seyi Oladipo (74 tackles, second on the team) and A'marion Mccoy, who had three interceptions.

There were games in which the defense seemed to be on the verge of figuring everything out. But those were always fleeting moments, especially when facing standout quarterbacks. 

Making the game-changing play, or lack thereof, also hampered the special teams in terms of the return and kickoff aspects. And it's not fair to blame everyone because the Broncos had two of the best specialists in the nation with kicker Jonah Dalmas and punter James Ferguson Reynolds, who constantly flipped the field all season long.

In the end, despite certain disappointments, the 2023 season saw the Broncos win a Mountain West title, always a goal. And a losing season was avoided, something fans and the program haven't had to experience since 1997. Most importantly, it will be the lessons learned on and off the field for these coaches and players, hopefully leading to a bright and sunny 2024.

photo: Jason Haskins

*While I am all for a "Heisman for Jeanty in '24", perhaps pump the breaks a little on the hype. I get that with a Group of Five player, it takes more effort to get in the national spotlight, but let's allow Jeanty to enjoy his '23 campaign, for a few days at least.

Fresh feeling to Boston Celtics early season success

 

A familiar position has been taken by the Boston Celtics in the first months of the 2023-24 season.

It's one they've held or circled around in recent years, sitting atop the Eastern Conference. At 17-5, the Celtics are also tied with a surprise entrant in Minnesota Timberwolves) for the best record in the NBA.

Roughly ten days out from Christmas and with the calendar year coming to a close, Boston can use a dose of sustainability, drops of health, and a shot of depth to keep them going until January.

The Celtics have done about everything asked of them in the season's first quarter, except for winning the NBA's first in-season tournament. Personally, I had little invested in this tournament, other than the Celtics winning more games than losing. And I certainly didn't care enough where I think the winning team should be hanging in banners in their arena celebrating the fact. But to each their own in enjoying success where they can.

Fresh faces have gelled well with the old guard of the Celtics. Boston and head coach Joe Mazzulla have found ways to keep the stars happy and minutes/games regulated. Though an early injury to Kristaps Porzingis, who has missed five games, provided some concern, the big man has bounced back nicely.

Porzingis is averaging 19.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, along with 1.6 blocks. His presence has taken Boston's interior up a notch.

Four of Boston's five losses have come against teams a combined 34 games over .500. The outlier is a perplexing three-point loss to Charlotte. But, in recent years, there'd be more than a handful of these types of losses and so far, the Celtics have limited it to one.

Already this season the Celtics are 3-0 against the Knicks, 2-0 against Brooklyn, 2-1 versus the Philadelphia 76ers, and defeated the Bucks in the teams' only meeting so far. And while they have been buoyed by six starters, essentially, two have stood out.

Jayson Tatum and Derrick White: Team MVPs

Two players going above and beyond have elevated the Boston Celtics so far in '23-24. Both could easily be considered team MVPs, with one on track to be in the running for one come season's end.

Jayson Tatum has been on a steady course in becoming one of the best players in the league. The talk around him has always been there but through 22 games this season, the seventh-year pro is on another level.

Points have gone from last season, from 30 to 27.4, and three-point percentage (34.9) is currently the lowest of his career. But his field goal percent (49.1) ranks as his best, and Tatum is finding more consistently across the board.

Tatum has 8.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, along with one steal on average. He has posted nine double-doubles, roughly one every two games or so, and only twice this season has failed to reach the 20-point mark.

Playing in 22 games this season, Tatum had his best outing in the loss to Charlotte, posting 45 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists.

White, too, has been filling up the box score in taking the reins of floor general. Also in his seventh season, White has been putting up career-best numbers. He's averaging 15.5 points and 5.1 assists and shooting the ball well from the field (48.2 percent) and beyond the arc (42.5 percent).

White is also a valued leader and has leveled up on the defensive end, helping fill the intense and energetic void left by Marcus Smart. Or, perhaps it's just noticeable now in the open with Smart gone. I've always appreciated White's tenacity on 'D', where this season he's averaging 1.1 steals and nearly a blocked shot per game. 

One of White's best performances was a recent victory over the Knicks, where he knocked down six threes on route to 30 points. 

Early season surprises off the bench include Sam Hauser but I do think more depth is needed as the season wears on. Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Al Horford have formed a nice trio off the bench but more consistency from a handful of other players is needed. (And I do think Jordan Walsh and JD Davison will be contributors at some point in '23-24).

Upcoming schedule

After bowing out with a loss to the Indiana Pacers in the quarterfinals of the in-season tournament, the Celtics have picked up a couple of wins. They have a pretty heavy load in the coming days, including an upcoming stretch at home.

Cleveland is up first, followed by two games with Orlando. Against the Magic, the Celtics will hope to avenge one of their only losses this season. This was a 17-point humdinger where Boston was missing Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown suffered through a 6-22 effort from the floor.

Then, Boston embarks on their first west coast trip of the season. Four straight (and five total) await the Celtics, with a Christmas Day game against the Los Angeles Lakers circled.

The fifth road game of the final day games in 2023 for the Celtics is a New Year's Eve meeting with the lowly San Antonio Spurs, currently 3-20.

With the fully in the rearview, the Celtics can hand over full concentration to finishing the first-half of the season strong. A healthy, locked in team should go at least 8-2 or 7-3 in the coming weeks. Surprises, including the Magic, have made the Eastern Conference even more competitive than initially thought. The Bucks and 76ers loom, the Heat are always dangerous, and the Pacers and Knicks can both get hot. 

For now, though, Boston can enjoy being on top, with the hope success can be sustained in keeping the goal of banner no. 18 remaining firmly in sight.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boston College Eagles football: 3 standouts from 2023 regular season

 

College football bowl season has descended upon us, and the Boston College Eagles have made a triumphant return.

Well, triumphant might be overstating things, considering the Eagles ended the season on a three-game slide. This, along with a flood of players hitting the transfer portal to take part in college free agency, leaves somewhat of a sour taste on the regular season.

Many of those leaving were either backups or injured over the closing weeks. Names like Patrick Garwo III, Emmett Morehead, Shitta Sillah, and Jaden Williams among no less than ten Eagles choosing to look at their options for extending their college careers.

A five-game winning streak after a 1-3 start had Boston College in the hunt for playing in the ACC title game. The Eagles were finding ways to win close games, giving up that this was the season Boston College finally got back to the eight-win mark.

Blowouts and touch losses followed, sending the team in a loose spiral as the regular season ended. Injuries played their part, as did tough opponents. Untimely turnovers on offense contributed to the skid, mixed in with a defense that gave up rushing yards by the spoonful.

A preview of the Wasabi Fenway Bowl (12/28) vs 24th-ranked SMU will come later. For now, a look at three Boston College standouts from the 2023 regular season.

Thomas Castellanos

Quarterback Thomas Castellanos entered the season as the backup, with promises to see some action early as head coach Jeff Hafley wanted to see what he had.

Castellanos dazzled in that first game, earned the starting position, and never really looked back.

There were bumps along the way, and work does need to happen in the passing game. But Castellanos is a dual threat quarterback who can keep things rolling with the Boston College offense.

In the ground game, Castellanos finished the regular season as the top rusher for the Eagles. He finished with 957 yards and 11 touchdowns. Castellanos topped 100 yards on three occasions, with a high mark of 142 against Army and settling up with 130 in the season-ending loss to Miami.

Passing game is where Boston College hopes Castellanos takes the next step in 2024. Completion percentage (57.1) and interceptions (13) are areas of concern but ones that will improve with more reps.

Castellanos threw for 2146 yards and 15 touchdowns. His best game in the air was the tough loss to Florida State, where he was 20-33 for 305 yards and a touchdown (plus one interception).

The expanded ACC in '24 will make things even tougher for Castellanos and the Boston College Eagles. But, knowing he will be the starter going forward in spring and fall camps will be only a plus for Castellanos. It will be a chance for more first-team reps, in turn giving Castellanos a better connection and rhythm with the receivers around him.

Kye Robichaux

A transfer out of Western Kentucky, running back Kye Robichaux was deep down on the depth chart when the season began. And by game 12, Robichaux was the top Boston College runner in 2023.

Given a chance due to early injuries to Garwo and others, Robichaux shined, starting with his first heavy workload game against Holy Cross. Robichaux provided a 19-carry, 94-yard effort that day and, despite getting dinged up and missing some time, had a productive season.

Robichaux, appearing in 10 games, finished with 691 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. The junior had three 100-yard games, with his best against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Robichaux had 21 carries for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

Robichaux also added 13 receptions for 90 yards.

Capping off his debut season with Boston College with a strong bowl game. Then, with a full offseason and fall camp under his belt, Robichaux will hopefully be headed for a bright 2024.

Elijah Jones

An anchor in the Eagle secondary Elijah Jones was the most experienced player returning for the unit in 2023.

Jones was nothing short of a stalwart, and the defense did suffer when he missed the final three games with an injury. Leadership on the field was a definite plus but Jones displayed the same talents and skills that made him mainstay for three seasons in the secondary. 

In nine games, Jones had five interceptions and eight pass breakups. In games against Georgia Tech and Syracuse, Jones had two interceptions each and seemed to be building to a spectacular grand finale of season before being sidelined.

Jones added 25 tackles and was an all-ACC first team selection. Jones will be missed going forward, having recently declared for the 2024 NFL draft.

Honorable mentions

A handful of players took the spotlight throughout the season, with some delivering season-long efforts worth mention. The top of the list is an offensive line that helped pave the way for the Eagles to average 194.3 yards per game on the ground this season. 

At the receiver position, Lewis Bond put together a fine season. He leads the team with 48 receptions, 611 yards, and seven touchdowns, a number that accounted for nearly half of the team's touchdowns receptions in the regular season.

On defense, Vinny DePalma and John Pupel both left their mark in multiple games. DePalma leads the team in tackles with 87. Pupel contributed 77, with 6.5 tackles for loss.

At 6-6, the regular season did come to a disappointing end. And, despite the players on their way out or already gone, most of these standouts will have one final chance in '23 to put their stamp on the season.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons