Jason Haskins's Blog, page 18

NCAA men's tourney 2023: Surprise Final Four teams

 

The Final Four is set for the 2023 men's NCAA tournament, with four solid, if not surprising, programs ready to tip-off the closing weekend of the season.

The 2023 men's NCAA Final Four is a classic case of "one of these things is not like the other".

In this instance, it is the UConn Huskies who are the odd ducks out. Not because of anything this current team has done to earn that moniker. No, it's because this is a program who has been in this position before (six Final Four appearances), with four titles to their name, the last coming in a 2014 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Florida Atlantic Owls, San Diego State Aztecs, and Miami Hurricanes have a combined zero Final Four appearances between them. Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga has been here before, leading George Mason on a magical Cinderella run back in 2006.

All four teams, in one way or another, could consider their run to this season's Final Four a "Cinderella" run. The top 12 seeds of the tourney have all bowed out, with the highest remaining the Huskies at a no. 4 seed. Toss in a couple of no. 5 seeds and a no. 9 (FAU), and what's left is a season of chaos coming to fruition.

Each team, though, deserves to be here, with the victories and confidence to back them up. All bring their own strengths and weaknesses but all are ready to cut down the nets come Monday evening.

(9) Florida Atlantic Owls vs (5) San Diego State Aztecs

Watching the Florida Atlantic Owls (35-3) during this tournament, it's clear they can adjust their style of play to their opponents. Up-and-down the court, with quick shots and speedy play? Yep, this was evident against Fairleigh Dickinson. Or slow it down and get dirty in the metaphorical mud? Yep, looking at the Tennessee game for this one.

Entering this Final Four meeting with the Aztecs, the Owls own an 11-game winning streak. Florida Atlantic has won their four tourney games by a combined 19 points and has consistently found ways to close games strong.

They carry a deep bench, perhaps rivaled among the Final Four teams by only San Diego State. The Owls overcame another Markquis Nowell gem (30 points, 12 assists, 5 steals) to defeat Kansas State 79-76 in the .

Florida Atlantic gets production from many different avenues. Johnell Davis is averaging 17.3 points this tournament and nearly eight rebounds, though Davis is only 3-16 from three-point range.

Alijah Martin (12.5 points per game in the tourney) is slightly better from deep at 8-21, with the Owls going 34-109 the last four games. And Madislav Goldin, who scored only 17 points in the first three games, notched 14 against Kansas State.

Goldin is averaging 8.3 rebounds for a Florida Atlantic team that is +32 in that department for the tournament, thanks in part to a +22 advantage over K-State.

The Owls have a tournament average of 71.3 points, holding opponents to 66.5. That's the exact number the San Diego State Aztecs (31-6) are putting up. The main difference? San Diego State's defense is giving up only 57.3 points per game. 

It's a defense, already outstanding, that is only getting better. In eight games since their last loss, to Boise State, the Aztecs have held opponents to under 60 points in six of those games.

Opponents are only 16-94 from three-point range in this tournament against the Aztecs and San Diego State holds a +18 edge on the boards.

Like the Owls, the Aztecs have nine players who play regular minutes and each one can go off any given night. Their leading scorer Matt Bradley had 17 in the opening round but has only scored 18 points since. Bradley is 6-27 from the field the last three games, including only 1-10 from beyond the arc.

Darrion Trammell has stepped the last three games, scoring 46 points. And Nathan Mensah doesn't score much (20 points the last four games) but is a highlight on defense. Mensah has 27 rebounds and 12 blocks in this year's tournament.

The most interesting match-up between these teams could come down to Mensah and Goldin. Whoever wins that battle in the interior will be the difference as to which team advances.

Florida Atlantic vs San Diego State. 4/1 @ 6:09 p.m. (ET) on CBS

(5) Miami Hurricanes vs (4) UConn Huskies

If there is one team that has the ability to keep pace with the Huskies, it is the Miami Hurricanes. 

Of course, the same was thought about the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who only scored 54 in a 28-point loss.

Miami (29-7), after only scoring 63 in their first round victory over Drake, has scored 85, 89, and 88 points in their last three games. The latest, the Hurricanes 88-81 victory over Texas, involved a second-half comeback in which they were down by 13 points. 

After shooting only 30.4 percent from the field against Drake, the 'Canes have incrementally been better. A 48.6 percent effort against Indiana was followed by 51.7 against Houston and 59.2 percent in the Texas game.

Miami has made 26 three-pointers in the tournament but attempted only eight against the Longhorns, making two.

It was the Jordan Miller show in that victory. Miller scored 27 points, making all seven of his field goal attempts and draining 13-13 from the line. After only scoring seven against Drake, Miller has dropped 59 in his last three games, shooting 70 percent from the field.

ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong also struggled in that Drake game (1-10 from the field, five points) but has scored 61 since. 

Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier have been the most consistent Miami players in the tourney. Pack has 74 points (13-29 from deep) and Omier has been a beast on the boards, collecting 53. Omier is also averaging nearly 11 points per game.

Firepower is plentiful with Miami, as it is with the UConn Huskies (29-8). The Huskies are averaging 81.8 points while allowing opponents a shade under 60, at 59.3. And they have the inside and perimeter game to match Miami, creating interesting looks across both teams.

Adama Sanogo may face his stiffest test yet going against Omier. So far, Sanogo has been up to all challenges in averaging 20 points and nearly 10 rebounds during this tournament. He also has five blocked shots and dished out six assists in the victory over Gonzaga.

Jordan Hawkins is the deep threat to keep an eye on. Hawkins has scored 69 points and is 16-31 from three-point range.

The player who makes everything run smooth on the court is Andre Jackson Jr. Jackson has 31 points and 28 rebounds but it is passing where he thrives. He's dished out 31 assists to only six turnovers in this game.

A track meet is expected between these two teams. Slowing down UConn is something that hasn't been done yet and the Huskies are adept at sharing the ball (82 assists). Miami's lack of depth may come back to haunt them but if they can slow down UConn at all, watch out.

Miami Hurricanes vs UConn Huskies, 4/1 @ 8:49 p.m. (ET) on CBS

All the signs, and many of the experts, are predicting the Huskies to walk away champions the night of April 3. For good reason, too, especially based on the run they've put together the last few weeks.

To this end, they seem like a very viable option. I, however, am going to let my Mountain West bias (and belief of "Defense Wins Championships") guide the way and go with the San Diego State Aztecs being crowned victors.

Championship prediction: San Diego State 66 UConn 64

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

NCAA 2023 men's tournament Elite 8: Injecting energy with style

 

Arriving at the Elite Eight for the men's 2023 NCAA tournament has been a delightful maze of the underdogs enjoying their day in the sun and basking in glory.

A moment of silence, here at the end of the , for the fallen no. 1 seeds. We hardly knew you, Purdue Boilermakers. The Kansas Jayhawks, but a drop in the water. Alabama Crimson Tide and Houston Cougars? Both bowed out on Friday of the second weekend.

Apologies that the odds were not in your favor.

A nod to the no. 2 seeds as well, with the Arizona Wildcats, Marquette Golden Eagles, and UCLA Bruins packing up before the Elite Eight. This leaves the Texas Longhorns as the sole representative from the pack of no. 2 seeds.

We are headed toward the first Elite Eight with any 1s, but also this: Alabama and Houston losing would leave only 2-seed Texas left among all 1s and 2s in this NCAA Tournament.

It would be the first Elite Eight in history with one or fewer 1s and 2s.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 25, 2023

Predictions ahead of this year's tournaments had this as one of the most wide-open fields in recent memory. There was no consensus "unbeatable force" or a group of teams destined for the Final Four. Yes, there were favorites but even then it was a topsy-turvy season with many teams seen as rightful contenders for the throne.

Heading into the Elite Eight, action has held up to that promise. A no. 16 seed in Fairleigh Dickinson knocking off no. 1 seed Purdue. The run of the Princeton Tigers, taking down no. 2 seed Arizona on their way to an appearance in the Sweet 16. And a team from Florida Atlantic that is on the verge of waltzing into the Final Four.

No Kansas, Duke, and Kentucky to speak of in the Elite Eight, with previous powers UNC, Villanova, Syracuse, and Michigan not even finding their way into the tourney. Parity is upon us, with mostly fresh programs locked in for the Elite Eight, with one regular visitor and former powerhouses all vying to punch a ticket to the Final Four.

East region

A safe wager is calling the two teams squaring off in the East region finals a couple of tournament darlings. One, the Florida Atlantic Owls (34-3), even dipped their toes in the villain waters with an ill-advised dunk attempt in the waning seconds of a game already in hand.

And for the Kansas State Wildcats, it's about two outstanding individual players while returning to a high-level they once played on.

For Kansas State, one must first look at the play of point guard Markquis Nowell, who is enjoying quite the run in this year's tournament. One hopes we haven't seen the best of Nowell yet but it will be hard to top his game in the Sweet 16 victory over Michigan State.

Nowell put on a master class, continuing a run reminiscent (to an extent) of what Kemba Walker did for UConn in the 2011 tournament. Nowell's is solid but it is his passing skills truly on display in this tournament.

Putting the Spartans on notice, Nowell dished out a men's NCAA tournament record with 19 assists. He also scored 20 points and added 5 steals, playing most of the second-half and overtime on a bum ankle. 

In wins over Montana State and Kentucky, Nowell has been special. He opened the tournament with a 17-point, 14-assist effort and, against his Wildcat brethren from Kentucky, Nowell settled in for a 27-point, 9-assist game in the six-point victory.

Nowell is part of a heart-and-soul combo along with Keyontae Johnson. Johnson, only 2.5 years ago, collapsed on the court and was in a medically induced coma for three days. To be here playing today is one thing. For Johnson to be doing it at such a high level is another.

Johnson has 53 points and 18 rebounds in three tournament games for a Wildcat team averaging 83.3 points in the tourney while allowing 75.6. The Wildcats had more turnovers in their opening game (14) than their last two games combined (13) and are minus 24 in rebound margin (thanks in large part to a 20 rebound disadvantage against Kentucky).

Florida Atlantic has survived close games, too, and have been in some defensive slugfests so far, averaging 68.7 points to their opponents 63.3. The Owls were two seconds away from not even making it out of the first round in a victory over Memphis, which was followed with wins over and Fairleigh Dickinson.

FAU has controlled the pace and the ball well (28 turnovers in three games) while also holding a rebound margin of +10.

The Owls have a deep bench and it's routine to see three to four players sub in at once. In the tournament, they've consistently scored three or more players in double figures and have a bench putting in between 15-20 points. 

Johnell Davis had 29 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and five steals in the round of 32 victory. Davis followed that up with 15 points and 6 rebounds in the victory over Tennessee. Four of FAU's starters have hit double figures at least once so far in this tournament.

This game could easily turn into a track meet, with the Owls adept at playing whatever style is presented to them by their opponent. The stars will shine at Madison Square Garden and this game will come down to whether Kansas State has enough juice to overcome the depth of the Owls.

#9 Florida Atlantic Owls vs #3 Kansas State Wildcats 3/25, 6:09 p.m. (ET) on TBS

West region

In 2022-23, the Gonzaga Bulldogs (31-5) quietly went about their business. They weren't overly hyped, traipsing through the regular season with one loss. Gonzaga looked like their exterior was cracking, sharing a conference regular season title with Saint Mary's and even dropping a few other games they usually win with ease.

A quick exit from the NCAA tournament, despite a no. 3 seed, would not entirely be surprising.

Consider this a lesson learned to never count out Drew Timme.

The All-American Timme has had a tournament to remember, rivaling even that of Nowell. Timme was a catalyst in yet another Gonzaga - UCLA classic, with the Bulldogs taking round three courtesy of a Julian Strawther three-pointer from the edge of the NCAA logo.

Timme did most of his work in the game's first 29 minutes, scoring 31 of his 36 points. He added 13 rebounds and four assists as Timme looks to finish what this Bulldog program started two seasons ago. 

Through three tournament games this season, Timme has 85 points and 27 rebounds. He is getting help from Strawther (54 points, 29 rebounds), Anton Watson, and Malachi Smith off the bench. Along with Rasir Bolton (17 points vs TCU), these five are the core of Gonzaga's attack.

One aspect which Gonzaga is excelling in during the tournament is rebounding, hold a +44 margin on the glass. And their opponent for the Elite Eight will likely give them their biggest test, not only in rebounding but in scoring and talent as well.

The UConn Huskies (28-8) hold a large rebounding margin (+37), too, and averaged the same amount of points in the tourney (81.7). The Huskies have had a much easier go of things in three games. While the Bulldogs have one their last two games by a combined six points, the Huskies are outscoring opponents by nearly 20 points per game.

Adama Sanogo is controlling the paint almost at the same level of Timme, scoring 70 points (on 33-44 from the field) and 29 rebounds. This match-up is one to keep an eye on, especially if Sanogo is able to slow down Timme on defense. 

Jordan Hawkins has 49 points in the tourney, with a 24-point outburst in the Sweet 16 victory over Arkansas.

UConn can shoot (30 made three-pointers) and own a 15-point win over Saint Mary's in the round of 32. If Gonzaga can play defense like they did in the second-half against UCLA, they'll be Final Four bound. If not, well, UConn may very well run the Bulldogs right out of the gym.

#4 UConn Huskies vs #3 Gonzaga Bulldogs 3/25, 8:49 p.m. (ET) on TBS

South region

Dominos of higher seeds in the South region began in the first-round, with no. 4 seed Virginia and no. 2 seed Arizona exiting. This opened the door, even with top overall seed Alabama holding court, for a couple of surprises to step up. 

One of those teams turned out to be the San Diego State Aztecs (30-6). The Aztecs used a 32-16 run to close the game in the Sweet 16, knocking the no. 1 seed Crimson Tide out of the tournament.

San Diego State is now one win away from giving the Mountain West, who hadn't had a team win a tourney game since 2018, an entrant in the Final Four.

The Aztecs continue to rely on an outstanding defense, a deep roster, and timely shooting to march their way through this year's tournament. Regular season and conference tournament champions, San Diego State is holding opponents to 14-77 on three-point attempts. This includes a 3-27 performance by Alabama in the 71-64 Aztec win.

Three different leading scorers have paced the Aztecs, with Matt Bradley going for 17 against Charleston, Micah Parrish 16 against Furman, and Darrion Trammell dropping 21 in the Sweet 16.

Efficient but not flashy on offense, the Aztecs won't overwhelm an opponent from deep (16-53) and are averaging 69.7 points in the tournament while holding opponents to 57.7. Alabama is the first team to cross the 60-point mark against the Aztecs since San Diego State's quarterfinal game of the Mountain West tournament against Colorado State. 

The Aztecs have won 14 of 15 games, and hold a +18 rebounding advantage in the tournament.

Defense has proven to be the ace-in-the-hole for San Diego State and the Aztecs have risen to meet every obstacle so far. Another will be presented in the Elite Eight against the no. 6 seed Creighton Bluejays.

The Bluejays (24-12) are playing some of their best basketball of the season, and are steady on both sides of the court, inside and out. Creighton enters the Elite Eight meeting averaging 81 points their last three games, nearly five above their season average. The Bluejays have defeated N.C. State and Baylor by nine, and finally ended Princeton's run, winning by 11.

Creighton has used a +15 advantage on the boards to help win games, as well as a perfect night from the free throw line (22-22) in defeating the no. 3 seed Baylor Bears.

Ryan Nembhard has his best game of the tournament in that round of 32 game, going 10-10 from the charity stripe and dropping 30 points. It's been center Ryan Kalkbrenner, the team's leading scorer, who has had the best tournament so far.

Kalkbrenner scored 31 in Creighton's opening round victory and has totaled 63 points overall. Kalkbrenner was 20-26 from the field in games one and three but struggled in a 4-10 night against Baylor.

San Diego State's frontline, four physical players with talent on both ends, could give Kalkbrenner trouble. Unless Creighton can figure out a hole in this defensive armor of the Aztecs, the Bluejays will be in for a long night.

The teams did each face Arizona and Arkansas this season, with San Diego State losing by 17 the Wildcats and Creighton losing by two. The Aztecs fared better against the Razorbacks, losing by 4. Creighton, however, picked up the win against Arkansas, 90-87

#6 Creighton Bluejays vs #5 San Diego State Aztecs 3/26, 2:20 p.m. (ET) on CBS 

Midwest region 

The Texas Longhorns (29-8) were simply getting warmed up when they won the Big 12 conference tournament title two weeks ago. 

In winning their Sweet 16 game over Xavier with ease, the Longhorns have set the stage to reach their first Final Four since 2003.

Texas is a deep team that can attack opponents from various angles with a multitude of players. In Friday's Sweet 16 victory over Xavier, five players scored in double figures. This has been a regular occurrence, with different players taking the lead each game.

The most consistent has been the top player off the bench. Sirjabari Rice has scored 52 points this tournament. Dylan Disu was a star the first two games, totaling 45 and 20 rebounds, but was forced out of the Sweet 16 game after only two minutes .

This shows off the depth of the Longhorns, who are averaging 78.3 points in the tournament while allowing 66. Texas has a +10 rebounding advantage in the tournament and after committing 13 turnovers against Colgate, have committed only 14 since.

The Miami Hurricanes (28-7) get almost every drop of effort from their starting five, with not a whole lot of production off their bench. But those five starters match skills with some of the best of the nation.

All five scored in double figures in Miami's Sweet 16 victory over no. 1 seed Houston, 89-75. Nijel Pack led the way with 26 points, knocking down seven three-pointers. Pack had 21 in Miami's opener vs Drake and has scored 59 points this tournament.

The player to keep an eye on, of course, is Isaiah Wong. Wong has been turned to time, and time again, in keeping Miami's season alive (for multiple years now). In this year's tournament, the guard has bounced back nicely after a five-point, 1-10 shooting night against Drake. The last two games, Wong has 47 points and 14 rebounds.

Much of the glass work for the Hurricanes, who hold a +23 advantage in the tournament, is done by Norchad Omier. Omier has 44 rebounds and chipped in 31 points.

Wong's and Pack's shooting will be a key for the Hurricanes and, while Texas has depth, a limited or out Disu for the Longhorns could allow Omier to have a big game. 

#5 Miami Hurricanes vs #2 Texas Longhorns 3/26, 5:05 p.m. (ET) on CBS

Photo credit: Flickr via Franchise Opportunities 

NCAA men's basketball tourney: A (K)night to remember

 

Upsets and close games. Heartbreak and jubilations. March Madness is out there going to work, once again.

Do you believe? 

College basketball asks that question of teams repeatedly during March Madness. Reasons are easy to find as to why, with the run of a Cinderella team (generally) garnering the support of fan bases across the land. 

It's a simple, powerful question that can be laughed off by some teams and fully embraced by others.

Yes, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights do believe. And believe some more.

F-D-WHO? #reigKNIGHTed | @MarchMadnessMBB pic.twitter.com/M35VfjUvhm

— FDU Men's Basketball (@FDUKnightsMBB) March 18, 2023

On Friday night, the Knights became just the second-ever no. 16 seed in the men's tournament to defeat a no. 1 seed. Nearly five years to the day that , the Knights upset the Purdue Boilermakers 63-58.

Undersized and outmanned, Fairleigh Dickinson did not back down against Zach Edey and the powerhouse Boilermakers. The Knights took the fight to Purdue all game, scrapping for every loose ball and winning those 50/50 battles more often than not. They hit big shot after big shot and came up with key defensive stops throughout the game.

Fairleigh Dickinson took a five-point lead with 14:33 remaining and then entered a danger zone as Purdue rattled off an 11-0 run. It seemed the Boilermakers had finally found the separation needed and would put this game away.

Not on the Knights' lives.

FDU retook the lead at 51-50 and never relinquished it, holding Purdue to only 11 points the last 11:41 of the game. This included a stretch of nearly six minutes in which the Boilermakers did not score.

The Knights, who defeated Texas Southern with ease in the First Four, were led by Sean Moore's 19 points. FDU didn't shoot particularly well (24-62, 7-23 from deep) and lost the rebound battle by 10. But they committed only nine turnovers and won so many of those hustle plays not seen in the box score, helping them win this game.

Purdue struggled from three-point range (5-26) and committed 16 turnovers. Edey, the likely Naismith Player of the Year, finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.

Fairleigh Dickinson owns the impact win of the first round but a handful of double-digit seeds also had their say in things.

Power of the double-digit seed

More double-digit seeds in the past have won first round games than this year, and for the first time since 2018 a , but there were big surprises in 2023 nonetheless.

Action on Thursday began with a bang. The receiving end of the first huge upset? None other than the Virginia Cavaliers, who in recent years (national title aside) have found themselves in the habit of losing to double-digit seeds.

The Paladins of Furman, a no. 13 seed, won in grand fashion. After a bad turnover by Virginia, JP Pegues nailed a three-pointer with two seconds remaining to send Furman to the round of 32 with a 68-67 victory. 

Courtside views from Furman's upset over Virginia 🔥

(via @MarchMadnessMBB)pic.twitter.com/yvPrATMlfX

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 16, 2023

A couple of hours later, a no. 15-seed decided to up the ante. This time the Princeton Tigers, a program no stranger to huge March upsets, did it again. It was again a PAC-12 team with title aspirations, with the Tigers taking down the Arizona Wildcats 59-55.

Princeton ended the game on a 9-0 run in the victory. Struggles from three (4-25) were surprising but a balanced attack (seven players with 6+ points) and only 11 turnovers helped the Tigers.

Closing out Thursday, if you were sleeping on the Penn State Nittany Lions (like me), let this serve as a wake-up call.

It was a simple rout for the no. 10 seed Nittany Lions, who knocked down 13 three-pointers in the victory. Andrew Funk had eight of them, scoring 27 points. And Jalen Pickett had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Prior to FDU's victory on Friday, another First Four participant in Pitt picked up the upset, knocking off no. 6 seed Iowa State, 59-41. It wasn't the prettiest of games for the Panthers, who raced out to a 22-2 lead. The Cyclones were the lead to five but shot only 23.3 percent from the field and Pitt pulled away late.

Upcoming games for double-digit seeds

The five remaining double-digit seeds will look to advance to the Sweet 16, with three teams taking the court on Saturday and two on Sunday.

#13 Furman Paladins vs #5 San Diego State Aztecs 3/18 @ 12:10 pm (ET) CBS#15 Princeton Tigers vs #7 Missouri Tigers 3/18 @ 6:10 pm (ET) TNT#10 Penn State Nittany Lions vs #2 Texas Longhorns 3/18 @ 7:45 pm (ET) CBS#11 Pitt Panthers vs #3 Xavier Musketeers 3/19 TBD #16 Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs #9 Florida Atlantic Owls 3/19 TBD 

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boise State Broncos men's basketball: 1st NCAA tourney win within reach

 

Earning an at-large bid for the 2023 NCAA men's tourney, the Boise State Broncos have been given a ripe opportunity to advance in the West Region.

For the second straight season, the Mountain West Conference landed four teams in the . If they hope to keep receiving multiple at-large bids in future seasons, chances are they'll need to pick up a win or two in the 2023 tourney.

The Boise State Broncos would love to be one of those teams to accomplish that feat.

Boise State (24-9) is back for the second year in a row, earning an at-large bid this season, a year after winning both the Mountain West regular season and conference tournament. After bowing out as an 8-seed in an opening round 64-53 loss to the Memphis Tigers in the 2022 NCAA tourney, the Broncos will try to accomplish a list of firsts this time around, as a 10-seed in the West region.

The Broncos will be looking for their first win (0-8) in the NCAA tourney and first ever win against a Big Ten program (0-9). Head coach Leon Rice, too, will be (0-3) as a head coach in the Big Dance.

The Nevada Wolf Pack began play for the Mountain West with a First Four game on Wednesday, losing to Arizona State 98-73. Boise State will be the last of the Mountain West teams to begin action, with no. 10-seed Utah State and no. 5-seed San Diego State, both in the South region, opening play earlier in the day on Thursday.

Boise State Broncos vs Northwestern Wildcats. March 16. 7:35 pm (ET) in Sacramento, on truTV.

Boise State Broncos

Losers in three of their last five games, Boise State aims to right the ship after a disappointing close to the regular season and conference tournament 

The Broncos reached the semifinals. In both of their conference tourney games, the Broncos had excellent first-halves followed by abysmal second-halves. A combination of cold-shooting and fatigue did them in both games. While they were able to survive a quarterfinal overtime victory over the UNLV Rebels, success could not be found in a semifinal loss to Utah State.

Boise State rolls with a rotation of seven players. Off the bench, Jace Whiting and Lukas Milner handle the majority minutes. Both had decent showings in the conference tournament. But, the Broncos could stand to see solid two to three minute spurts, in both halves, from players deeper down the bench if they hope to win on Thursday. Easing the load of the five starters, who have played a lot of high-usage minutes all season, is a must.

All five averaged double-digits in the points column. Each could lead the team in scoring on any given night, with Tyson Degenhart (14.3) and Max Rice (13.9) leading the way. Degenhart shoots 53.7 percent from the field, with Rice knocking down 41.5 percent of his three-point attempts.

Chibuzo Agbo (11.5) also shoots well from deep at 40.8 percent, while Marcus Shaver Jr. is consistent across the board, averaging 13.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.

These starters also share the burden on the boards, with all averaging 4.6 or more. Shaver is tops, followed by Naje Smith's 5.5 (to go along with 10.1 points). Smith is coming off a Mountain West tournament where he scored 32 points on 9-16 shooting (4-7 from deep) and collected 10 rebounds.

The Broncos are fairly matched across the board with Northwestern, in terms of stats and style of play (with Boise State holding an edge in many categories). Boise State shoots 45.5 percent from the field (36.5 percent 3-point attempts) and 73.5 percent from the free throw line. 

The Broncos grab 35.6 rebounds per game, compared to 34.6 by Northwestern.

This game will likely be a defensive-minded affair. Boise State has proven to be a good perimeter defensive team and should see this continue against a Wildcat team that doesn't shoot all that well from deep. With similar styles between the teams, a game in the high-50s or low-60s will likely be on the agenda.

Northwestern Wildcats

A 7-seed in the West region, the Northwestern Wildcats (21-11) return to the NCAA tournament for only the .

The Wildcats won a game back in the 2017 tournament and enter this season's edition having finished tied for second place in the Big Ten conference. 

Northwestern, like Boise State, enters the tournament on somewhat of a down note. The Wildcats have lost four of five, including an early exit to Penn State in the conference tournament. Two of their last four losses have been to Penn State, by a combined five points, and a third was to Illinois by four.

A win over Purdue, no. 1 in the East region, is on Northwestern's resume, along with two victories over the Indiana Hoosiers. One of their more glaring losses was a 29-point loss to Pittsburgh, who picked up a First Four victory over Mississippi State on Tuesday night.

Auburn also defeated Northwestern earlier this season, 43-42. 

Northwestern averages 67.7 points per game but has only reached the 70-point mark once in their last 11 games. They defend well, holding opponents to 62.5 points, nearly two points under what Boise State allows.

The Wildcats shoot 40.6 percent from the field (32.1 from three-point range) and hit 75.1 percent of their free throw attempts.

Boise State will have to contend with a first-team all-conference selection in Boo Buie. Buie is adept at getting into the paint and to the line, averaging 17.1 points per game. Like Shaver, Buie can fill up the box score, averaging 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

Northwestern also has the Big Ten defensive player of the year in Chase Audige, who averages 2.4 steals per game. Audige is also the team's second-leading scorer, chipping in 13.8. 

The Wildcats have four other players scoring between six and nine points per game but they won't dig too much deeper into the bench than Boise State.

West region outlook

The Kansas Jayhawks (27-7) hold the no. 1 seed in the West region and, on paper, a good choice from this region to reach the Final Four. The Jayhawks won 9 of their last 11, with both losses coming to Texas.

By no means do this mean it will be a cakewalk for the Jayhawks.

UCLA (29-5), 2nd-seed, and Gonzaga (28-5), the third-seed are both playing well. The Bulldogs are a bit more under-the radar than in previous seasons, in terms of national title contenders. They boast All-American Drew Timme and enter the tournament on a nine-game winning streak.

The Bruins enter the tournament hobbled but could get , who was injured in the PAC-12 conference tournament, back in the lineup this weekend. Plus, they have experience in Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell.

The winner between Boise State and Northwestern will take on either the Bruins or UNC-Asheville on Saturday.

Underdog teams to keep an eye on in West region: TCU (6), VCU (12), Iona (13)

photo credit: rawpixel

Mountain West men's tourney preview: Sin City semis

 

One Cinderella team is left standing among the final four in the Mountain West Conference men's tournament, hoping to steal a bid as March Madness heats up.

Two days of the 2023 Mountain West tournament have provided thrilling action, highlighted by exciting and heartbreaking finishes, in both regulation and overtime.

When the dust settled and carnage sorted past 11 p.m. on the west coast Thursday night, three of the top four seeds in the tournament were left standing.

The sole outlier? An upstart San Jose State Spartans (20-12) team that only a season ago slogged their way through a 1-17 conference slate.

Led by Mountain West player of the year Omari Moore, the Spartans picked up their first-ever Mountain West tournament win in program history. Fifth-seed San Jose State outlasted the fourth-seed Nevada Wolf Pack in overtime to advance to the semifinals. In turn, possibly ending Nevada's, who has lost three in a row, chances at a NCAA tournament bid.

Moore and the Spartans look to continue their run against San Diego State in the first of two semifinal match-ups Friday evening in Las Vegas.

#1 San Diego State Aztecs vs #5 San Jose State Spartans

Moore delivered on multiple levels in the Spartans 81-77 overtime victory against Nevada. After struggling in the teams two meetings during the regular season, Moore had an MVP performance with 26 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds as San Jose State had almost as many points in this game as they did combined in two previous losses (91) to Nevada.

Sage Tolbert III did his part, too, with 20 points on 8-13 shooting from the field, including a couple of rim-rattling dunks. Robert Vaihola added 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

The Spartans, normally a team that holds a huge rebounding advantage, lost the rebound battle in this game by eight. But they only had six turnovers and shot 49.2 percent from the field as they were the more consistent team from start-to-finish on Thursday.

San Jose State will have their hands full against 20th-ranked San Diego State (25-6). The Aztecs were in a fight of their own in the quarterfinals, fending off the 8th-seed Colorado State in a 64-61 victory.

An uncharacteristic effort of turning the ball over (13 total) by the Aztecs allowed Colorado State to lead most of the first-half. It was enough to keep the game close and almost had the Rams pulling off the upset. Despite struggles on offense (38.2 percent from the field, 5-19 from three-point range), a standard defensive effort (nine blocked shots, +10 on the boards) propelled the Aztecs into the semis.

Lamont Butler was 5-14 on field goal attempts and led the San Diego State with 16 points. Matt Bradley added 13.

In the lone meeting this season, the Aztecs defeated the Spartans 72-51. Moore was held to 11 points on 3-10 shooting as San Jose State shot only 34.7 percent and had 13 turnovers. 

Keshad Johnson had 16 points and 8 rebounds for San Diego State, with Bradley adding 14. The Aztecs committed only three turnovers and held a slight advantage on the boards.

This game will come down to how much Moore and the Spartans can get going on offense (which, honestly is true for most opponents of San Diego State). If the supporting cast around Moore plays like they did against Nevada, this one should be close.

Game time: 9:30 p.m. (ET) on CBSSN

Prediction: San Diego State 68 San Jose State 63

#2 Boise State Broncos vs #3 Utah State Aggies

The Boise State Broncos (24-8) were rolling in their quarterfinal game with the UNLV Rebels on Thursday night. A first-half in which the Broncos shot 70.4 percent from the field to lead to a 50-34 halftime lead.

It looked like Boise State might get a chance to rest their starters. Instead, UNLV kept battling and the Broncos went cold and stagnant. The Rebels forced overtime but the first-half Broncos showed up, outscoring UNLV 14-3 in overtime to pick up a 87-76 victory.

Boise State ended with a 51.7 percent clip from the field, connecting on 13-28 three-point attempts. The Broncos held a slight advantage on the board (+4) and committed 11 turnovers.

Naje Smith had 18 points and six rebounds, hitting a couple of big threes in the second-half and going 6-7 from the free throw line. Marcus Shaver Jr. had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, with a bounce in his step not seen since re-aggravating an ankle injury suffered in February.

Shaver in his best form will be needed against the Utah State Aggies (25-7), who are coming off a 91-76 quarterfinal victory over the New Mexico Lobos.

It was the Taylor Funk showed from the get-go for the Aggies. Funk scored the team's first 16 points on route to a game -high 32. He did so on shooting 10-16 from the field, including six 3's. Steven Ashworth had himself another fantastic all-around game, scoring 22 points while adding 4 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

The Aggies shot 48.4 percent from the field (12-24 from deep) and had 14 turnovers in victory.

This will be a rubber-match between these two programs. Boise State was phenomenal and Utah State cold in the Broncos 82-59 victory in January. The Aggies returned the favor last Saturday in a 86-73 victory.

The teams are mostly even, though Boise State has had some success in keeping Utah State from getting too hot from deep. In the two meetings, the Aggies are 14-42 from three-point range while Boise State is 18-40. Funk is the exception, scoring 38 points and delivering on 8-11 from deep.

Tyson Degenhart has 33 points and 16 rebounds against Utah State this season.

The Aggies have the slightly deeper roster, as far as contributions from the bench and sixth-man Dan Akin. This game may come down to how much the Broncos get from their bench and which team takes better care of the ball.

Game time: 11:59 p.m. (ET) on CBSSN

Prediction: Boise State 77 Utah State 73

Barring some surprises, the top three seeds have most likely locked up spots in this year's Big Dance. Can San Jose State make it a fourth by winning this tournament? Find out beginning with the semis Friday evening on the CBS Sports Network, followed by a Saturday title game on CBS.

photo credit: rawpixel

Mountain West tourney 2023: Conference aiming for 4 bids to Big Dance

 

A competitive 2022-23 season for the Mountain West Conference men's basketball teams comes to a close March 8-11, with multiple teams looking to expand their NCAA tourney resume.

Back in January and into early February, there was talk of the Mountain West Conference possibly sending five teams to the NCAA tourney. A strong non-conference slate plus a solid start to conference had plenty of programs feeling good.

Life in college basketball can flip in one-tenth of second, let alone with weeks to play on the schedule.

Now, with the conference tournament ready to tip-off, the Mountain West may need things to break just right to place four teams in the Big Dance.

A competitive regular season ended with a ranked team and two others receiving votes. For the most part, the top four teams in the league lost only to each other, with the fifth place and sixth place teams sneaking in a few victories.

There were surprises, to be sure, and some rankings have four Mountain West teams safely in the NCAA tournament, no matter their result in the coming days. But, March can be a cruel mistress (and so can the selection committee) so it's going to be a long few days of speculation and game-watching to find out what happens.

To me, the conference tourney needs to go chalk to the semis to give the Mountain West the best chance at receiving four bids to match . The Boise State Broncos, San Diego State Aztecs, Colorado State Rams, and Wyoming Cowboys all notched bids in last year's dance.

Two of those teams in the Broncos and Aztecs should return this season with no debate. Let's hope, whether it's three teams or four who receive bids, they have better success than a year ago, where the Mountain West went 0-4 in the NCAA tournament.

Top contenders

The path to the title goes through the nation's 20th-ranked team San Diego Aztecs (24-6, 15-3).

But by no means will an Aztec tournament title be assumed, given the talent that resides in this conference, including the top four teams.

San Diego State is a team that regularly plays nine players and has the deepest bench in the Mountain West. All nine average at least 6.6 points per game and it's a nice balance between backcourt and frontcourt propelling the Aztecs.

Depth has allowed Matt Bradley to carry less of the load, though he remains the team's leading scorer at 13.2 points per game. Darrion Trammell (9.8 ppg) and Lamont Butler (8.5 ppg) are two talented guards, with Butler averaging 3.3 assists. And sharpshooter Adam Seiko shoots 50 percent from three-point range.

But it is a fearsome foursome of forwards who make this team complete. These four players combine to score 26.7 points per game and all are shooting over 50 percent from the field. They also average 18.6 rebounds and have the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in Nathan Mensah, who averages 1.5 blocks per game.

San Diego State averages 72.9 points and holds opponents to 64.4. Opponents only shoot 42.1 percent from the field and 29.8 percent from deep.

One team that rivals the Aztecs on the defensive side is the Boise State Broncos (23-8, 13-5). The Broncos hold opponents to similar numbers from the field (41.2) and three-point range (30.2). Boise State's scoring is similar, too, with the Broncos averaging 72.1 to opponents' 63.7.

Depth is a concern for Boise State. All five starters handle the majority of the scoring, with four of five averaging double figures. Max Rice (14.4 ppg) and Tyson Degenhart (14.3 ppg) lead the way, with Rice hitting 45 percent of his three-point attempts.

Marcus Shaver Jr. does a bit of everything in filling up the box score. He averages 13.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Chibueze Agbo (11.5 ppg) has been a nice addition and Naje Smith is an x-factor that makes this team tick.

Boise State's best chance at repeating as champion depends on how their bench plays. Two players regularly contribute but the Broncos need an additional player to rise to the occasion.

The Utah State Aggies (24-7, 13-5) certainly have risen to the occasion, winning five straight (all by double figures) and seemingly playing themselves off the bubble.

The Aggies are a fast-paced team (79.1 ppg) and, when shooting lights out, are as dangerous as any team in this conference. They are a little like fools gold, though, because many times this season cold-shooting nights have turned into frigid ones and they don't have the defense to consistently overcome that in games.

A solid core powers Utah State, with five players scoring in double figures. Steven Ashworth is an expert marksman (45 percent from deep) and averages 16.3 points and 4.7 assists per game.

Taylor Funk (13.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg) provides a nice inside/outside game, with Dan Akin shooting 66.5 percent in averaging 12.1 ppg. Max Shuga (12.1 ppg) and Sean Bairstow (10.5 ppg) round out this top-scoring bunch. 

One of Utah State's conference losses this season was to the Nevada Wolf Pack (22-9, 12-6), who enter the Mountain West tournament having lost three of their last five games.

Nevada boasts one of the best trios in the conference, consisting of Jarod Lucas, Kenan Blackshear, and Will Baker. Lucas averages 16.9 points per game, with Blackshear contributing 14.4 and Baker 13.9.

All three can shoot the 3-point ball but Blackshear is only at 27.9 percent. Baker, as a big man, helps spread the court, with a field goal percentage of 56.3 while connecting on 36.2 of his attempts from deep.

Freshman Darrion Williams is a valuable fourth wheel of the triangle, notching 7.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

These four programs are the favorites entering the conference tournament but discount the next three seeds as possible dark horses to win the tournament.

Underdog title hopes

The most surprising team of this year's conference is the San Jose State Spartans (19-12, 10-8). A leap was expected this season for the Spartans but not from worst a year ago (1-17 in conference) to a fifth-place finish in '22-23.

San Jose State played consistent all season and boast the Mountain West Player of the Year in Omari Moore. Moore averages 17.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in helping lead the Spartans to victories over top-four teams Boise State and Utah State.

Moore is one of six Spartans who average at least 6.1 points per game and is coming off a 33-point effort on March 4 at Air Force. San Jose State has a huge advantage on the glass, too, outrebounding opponents by more than eight rebounds per game. Robert Vaihola, Ibrahima Diallo, and Sage Tolbert III all average over six rebounds, with Tolbert pulling down 7.3 per game. 

Vaihola and Diallo combine to average 14 points per game, with Vaihola shooting 73.2 percent.

One team that can match-up inside with San Jose State is the New Mexico Lobos. The Lobos have Morris Udeze (16.4 ppg, 9.2 rebounds) and Josiah Allick (8.1/7.3) to counter most teams in the frontcourt and both are shooting above 50 percent from the field.

New Mexico also has two talented guards in Jamal Mashburn Jr. (19.5 ppg) and Jaelen House (16.8 ppg, 4.7 assists). These four power the Lobos to 81.2 points per game but behind them significant depth and experience is hard to find. A 14-0 start to the season is almost a distant memory for the Lobos, who have lost seven of nine.

UNLV enters the tournament having lost four of six, but the Rebels did last Saturday. They swept the Wolf Pack this season and played many of the top teams close throughout the season.

The Rebels can put a nice stretch together to win this tournament but size prevents a problem as UNLV is a guard-heavy team. EJ Harkless leads the way, averaging 18.6 points per game, though he only shoots 28 percent from deep. Keshon Gilbert (11.5 ppg), Luis Rodriquez (10.9 ppg), and Justin Webster (46.3 percent on three-point attempts) help carry the load. 

Though the remaining teams not mentioned have long odds to win the tournament, don't discount them making a run. This is mostly due to each have an individual player that can take over a game.

For Colorado State, that player is . Stevens averages 17.9 points and 6.8 assists per game. Across the border in Wyoming, who picked up wins over Nevada and New Mexico, Hunter Maldonado (14.8 ppg, 5.4 reb., and 4.1 assists) is the player who can carry a team to victory.

With Air Force, it's about a style of play and hard-nosed defense but Jake Heidbreder (14.8 ppg, 49.2 percent from the field) can get hot and take over a game. And Fresno State has Jemarl Baker (12.8 ppg), who is coming off a 43-point effort against Chicago State.

First day schedule

Action in this year's tournament begins March 8 in Las Vegas. All times Eastern.

#9 Fresno State Bulldogs (11-19) vs #8 Colorado State Rams (14-17) 2 p.m.#10 Air Force Falcons (14-17) vs #7 UNLV Rebels (18-12) 4:30 p.m.#11 Wyoming Cowboys (9-21) vs #6 New Mexico Lobos (21-10) 7 p.m.

Colorado State swept Fresno State, with wins by 22 and 3. UNLV defeated Air Force in the lone meeting between the teams, snagging a 54-53 victory. New Mexico lost to Wyoming by 14 at home and won by 1 on the road.

The title game is set for March 11 at 6 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boise State Broncos women's basketball team eyeing the prize

 

Action begins for the Mountain West Conference women's tournament on March 5, with three games tipping off to complete the quarterfinal field.

A difficult climb lies ahead for the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team as they look to win their sixth Mountain West Conference tournament title under head coach Gordy Presnell.

That's not to say the task is impossible.

Aside from a dominant UNLV team, the Mountain West was a very competitive conference in 2022-23. So much, in fact, that seeds two thru six for the tournament weren't determined until the final days.

Boise State (16-15, 11-7) had a chance to secure a coveted first-round bye in the final regular season game. A victory did not come to fruition, however, in a tough road loss to the Colorado State Rams (19-10, 12-6).

A middle portion of the 1st-half, the end of the 1st quarter and start of the second, led to the 66-51 loss to the Rams. This outcome bumped the Broncos to the sixth-seed and elevated the Rams to the third-seed for the MWC tournament. 

The Broncos enter the tournament having won seven of their last nine games and are an impressive 8-2 in Mountain West games decided by 10 points or less. Boise State opens tourney play on March 5 at 8 p.m. (MT) against the 11th-seed Utah State Aggies. 

Boise State vs Utah State

Boise State won both of their games against the Utah State Aggies (4-25, 1-17) during the regular season. The Aggies lone conference victory was a 10-point win at Fresno State, and they are a team with a somewhat depleted roster.

Still, the first meeting between the two was a close affair until a 26-point fourth quarter propelled the Broncos to a 73-56 victory. In that game, junior guard Mary Kay Naro had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists to pace Boise State, with junior Anna Ostlie adding 12 (on 4-7 from 3-point range).

Boise State shot 38.7 percent from the field (9-28 from deep) while holding the Aggies to 2-16 on three-point attempts and 30.5 percent overall.

Game two was a Boise State rout, in which the Broncos led from start to finish in a 89-41 victory. Freshman Natalie Pasco had a career-game, dropping 29 points. Tatum Thompson had 13 and Ostlie knocked down three 3's. Elodie Lalotte and Abby Muse combined for 13 points and 19 rebounds.

The Broncos were lights out that game, shooting 47.2 percent and hitting on 12-26 from deep, though they did have 22 turnovers. The Aggies were even more frigid in this game than the first, hitting on only 1-22 from deep and 22.4 percent from the field.

A huge exclamation in this game was a 64-26 rebounding advantage for Boise State.

Tamiah Robinson had 14 points in the first meeting and 10 in the second. Prima Chellis had 11 points and 7 rebounds in the first game and did not play in the second. Chellis is no longer listed on the Utah State roster. 

Maria Carvalho is the Aggies leading scorer at 10.9 points per game. Carvalho did not play in the first meeting and had only four points on 2-8 shooting in the second.

Boise State stat leaders

Defense has been the name of the game for the Broncos in 2022-23. Much of that has to do shot-blocking master Abby Muse in the paint.

Muse, a junior, already is the all-time shot block leader for Boise State and has a single-season recorder that continues to climb, currently sitting at 89.

This is not the only reason for Boise State's stellar defense but it certainly helps. The Broncos hold opponents to 62.9 points per game. Opponent field goal percentage is at 36.9 percent, with threes only falling at a 30 percent clip. 

A plus seven rebounding advantage also helps, with Muse (8.6 rpg) leading the way there, too. Lalotte is up next at 6.6 per game, with Tricia Hull pulling down 4.4 off the bench.

Solid play on defense helps make up for an offense that sometimes struggles and gets the Broncos in trouble with careless play and long stretches without field goals. That said, any number of players can lead Boise State in scoring on any given night.

Lalotte (10.2) and Muse (9.2) are usually the most consistent of the bunch but if the guards get into a zone, as proven by Pasco, huge nights follow. 

Maya Hansen averages 8.7 but is rounding back into shape after an injury sidelined for parts of February. Dani Bayes (8.2) and Pasco (8.0) both shine in their roles with Ostlie (5.8), Thompson (5.8) and Naro (5.1) all capable of scoring in double figures.

Ostlie has connected on 34 three-pointers (38.6 percent), third behind Pasco, who hit 42 at 35.9 percent, and Bayes with 49 (36 percent).

Boise State averages 66.4 points per game while shooting 41 percent from the field and 34.2 from deep. The Broncos also commit nearly 17 turnovers per game, a number that will need to remain under 12 or 13 if they hope to win the tournament.

MWC tourney preview

UNLV (28-2, 18-0) enters the Mountain West tournament as a clear favorite. The Rebels are ranked 22nd in the nation. And while they do have the hot hand, UNLV was tested on a few occasions this season.

The most recent was a five-point victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack (9-20, 6-12) to close out the regular season. UNLV's two victories over Colorado State were by a combined eight points and the Rebels twice had close meetings with San Diego State, with both games won by six points.

UNLV is the , picking up their first title last season with a victory over Colorado State.

Sandwiched in-between these teams in this year's seeding is Wyoming (20-9, 13-5). The Cowgirls fell by six points to UNLV in the teams' lone meeting this season.

The Aztecs (fifth seed) and New Mexico Lobos (fourth seed) each went 12-6 in conference and round out the five teams who received first-round byes.

All seven of Boise State's conference losses this season are to teams ranked ahead of them, with victories over San Diego State and New Mexico.

Boise State vs Utah State will be the third of three games on Sunday. If they win, they will face the Rams on Monday night at 8:30 (MT).

Photo from Public Domain Pictures

The great unboxing post of 2023

 

Join me, if you will, a trip down memory lane as I unbox this mystery box containing joys from those days of yore. Or, more commonly known, the 1990s.

Over the years, on occasion during the weekend trips to my childhood home, I'd find myself going through boxes, containers, and closets. These places held the remaining leftover possessions from my youth.

A bat bag from my high school baseball days, with stray sunflower seeds hibernating for the past 26 years. Sports cards and collectibles, with far-too-many Dell Curry cards to count. Star Wars action figures, random toys, and more. At one point, I believe I had close to every issue of Sports Illustrated from late 1989 to 1998. (I've long since downsized this collection, though I managed to hold onto most covers with the Boston Red Sox, from the Splendid Splinter to Marvelous Mo Vaughn.)

These trips, and purges, down memory lane don't happen every return trip home. The last exploration of overstuffed boxes was in 2020, with the nieces and nephews in tow. An itch of the mind this weekend had me crawling into a crammed closet, searching for the next hidden gem but not looking for any one object in particular. Simply on a mission for a grasp at nostalgia.

On these jaunts, I tend to have a good idea what will be in the containers. Even when it's a Quaker Oats container repurposed as a time capsule in the sixth grade. Items of which include Kool Aid sunglasses (took a lot of points to earn those), a friendship bracelet, and a newspaper clipping.

The box I tracked down today in the corner of the closer, under board games and a basketball, was an unknown entity. Ideas were in place but few were confirmed as I dug in.

The unboxing commences

Throwback baseball jerseys were all the rage in my junior high days. For, you know, like six months. I finally was gifted one towards the tail end of the fad, a New York Giants jersey, and looked to wear it as often as possible.

Which, truthfully, was probably a grand total of less than five days. I practically swam in the thing and, rather than deal with the excess (even in the days the style was "baggy"), simply let it hang in a closet for years.

And then moved to a box, to be opened on this very day. This shirt was the first thing I saw upon opening, so I decided to try it on. Lo and behold, nearly 30 years later, it finally fit. 

Further in, and underneath a windbreaker, it's a hodgepodge of trophies and plaques. But it's not them I am too dialed in on. Somehow pushed from brain from this era (age 13 to 18, give or take) was an obsession with collecting keychains. Some were sentimental, like one from my trip to Death Valley, Marvin the Martian from a trip to Disneyland, or the 1-800-Collect, Class of '97 keychain. Others were random, an assortment of swag from insurance agencies or car dealerships and it makes me wonder, "Did I go wrong in not pursuing this hobby further?" 

Digging deeper, I find a lot of items related to graduation. Pictures from that day I'd forgotten were even taken. A program. A handful of graduation cards from friends and family, which no doubt contained a few dollars (that I probably spent buying keychains). 

There was a handheld electronic soccer game that I spent hours perfecting, from the third-grade on. Ribbons from Field Day in elementary school, participation and otherwise. Stats from my junior varsity basketball team and... wait. Hold up. These I knew I wore but had no clue a pair remained in possession all these years:

The dream of the goggle-wearing NBA All-Stars from the 1980s and 90s lived through me into my first two years of high school. The bespectacled jewel of the Ruby Mountains is what they called me... Okay, that last part I made up. But these were my go-to in basketball games, until the jump to contact lenses was finally made and the Rec Specs retired for good.

The bottom of the box was reached, with a few surprises but nothing too outstanding to report. One thing I was expecting to find in this box was a shoebox (a box within a box? You betcha) full of letters and notes from those formidable late-elementary, junior high, and high school years. Once, I remember owning all of these, from exchanges with classmates to letters written to and received from the girl from North Carolina I met and got to know at the FBLA National Conference in Anaheim, whose name now escapes me. 

Alas, there were no such letters (but plenty of FBLA mementos). This leads me to believe the letters and notes did not survive one of the many purges I did back in my early college years. Though, I do hold an ounce of hope there is another box somewhere, tucked away behind a stack of puzzles or an X-Wing fighter. 

Or maybe they truly are gone. Not for good. But relegated to the chamber of the timeline where lost memories sit. Meant to be rediscovered in dreams or, like a in the case of today, a cold, February afternoon in a random unboxing of old-time glory.

Boise State Broncos women's basketball playing best at right time

 

A terrific last month has the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team sitting in prime position in the Mountain West Conference.

The young, deep roster of the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team is playing like the squads of yesteryear in recent weeks. 

It's been a couple of years of rebuilding for a program that won four straight Mountain West titles from 2017-2020. Struggles, and inconsistent play to open 2022-23 made it appear the Broncos were about to embark on another season in the middle of the Mountain West pack. 

Winners in six of their last seven games, including a 89-41 victory over Utah State on Saturday, Boise State is playing their best basketball at the perfect time. The team hasn't reached their peak yet, and the best is yet to come.

Building to a bright future

Through the non-conference slate, and into the early part of conference play, the Boise State Broncos found difficulty in playing consistent basketball. Boise State was in a delicate balance between playing really well, starting 2-0 in conference, and displaying inexperience. They were on the cusp of excelling, followed by extended stretches of turning the ball over and going scoreless.

Only one senior (Mandy Simpson, who later had to medically retire) and a handful of juniors were present among a slew of freshmen and sophomores getting playing time. Understandably, struggles were bound to happen. But even the more experienced players of the bunch had moments of not playing up to their capabilities.

Expectations were high for the upperclassmen, especially as they'd been starters for a few seasons now.

Slowly but surely in conference play, the pieces fell into place. Three-pointers started to fall at a more frequent rate. Defense and rebounding intensified, all hallmarks of what head coach Gordy Presnell has built this program on. 

First, it was two quarters at a time. Then three. Soon, complete games were being had and the victories accumulated. And with them, a growing confidence (and playing loose and fun) for this team.

Boise State Broncos prepping for final weeks

Down to their final two games, the Boise State Broncos (15-14, 10-6) are guaranteed a winning record in conference play. The Broncos have climbed to the fifth-spot in the Mountain West. While there is no shot at catching 23rd-ranked UNLV (25-2, 15-0), Boise State can still finish as high as second place.

Two games remain on the schedule, both on the road. The first is against the San Jose State Spartans (3-23, 1-14) and the Broncos close out the regular season with a huge game and seeding implications, against the Colorado State Rams (18-9, 11-5) on February 28.

The Mountain West tournament is March 5 - 8, and the top five seeds earn 1st-round byes.

Boise State lost 71-50 to the Rams in early January; a game that was fairly close until the Colorado State outscored the Broncos by 14 in the fourth. Dani Bayes had 16 points to lead Boise State that game.

Bayes (8.5 ppg) is one of several freshmen playing heavy minutes on a roster that could easily go 11-12 deep on any given night. It is the play of four juniors, however, that has been a catalyst for the team's recent streak.

Annie Ostlie has knocked down 13 threes in the last seven games. Elodie Lalotte and Abby Muse combine to average 19.5 points and 14.8 rebounds per game. Muse also gets it done on the defensive end. She recently became the school's all-time blocks leader and has 85 this season.

And Mary Kay Naro steers the ship, dishing out 98 assists this season.

The freshman and sophomores are doing their part, too. Tatum Thompson had 19 points in a loss to UNLV and Natalie Pasco dropped a career-high 29 in Saturday's victory over Utah State. Both have contributed heavily this season, along with Mya Hansen. Hansen (9.1 ppg) is third on the team in scoring but is battling her way back from an injury.

This Boise State team is building its way towards a great future. And with Cinderella season fast approaching, that future could easily begin now.

Boise State Broncos men's basketball: X-factor in Naje Smith

 

The men's basketball team for the Boise State Broncos picked up win no. 20 earlier this week, powered by a group of starters that have been in this position before.

The best, most consistent college basketball teams have that special player who helps guide them. This player may not always be the best overall player or top scorer but someone who brings consistency, talent, effort, energy, and enthusiasm to the court.

For the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team, that player is Naje Smith. And that's saying a lot, considering it can be argued multiple players on the team check those boxes. 

Smith, a fifth-year senior, has been a spark since his arrival at , whether that be off the bench in brief appearances or as a starter. Previously coming off the bench most of his career as a Bronco prior to this season, Smith has started the last 23 games for the 20-6 Broncos, and the team has been better off.

Season ramping up for Smith

A recent stretch of games for Smith has seen the forward join his fellow starters in the double-digit scoring club. And his importance has never been more evident than in the last six games.

The last two games, in victories over the Wyoming Cowboys and Colorado State Rams, Smith has scored 35 points and pulled down 17 rebounds. He's connecting on 66.7 percent of his field goal attempts and, even better, hit 9-11 from the charity stripe.

Discounting a couple of games where he was banged up (Air Force, San Diego State) and only scored a total of six points, Smith has been locked in. If one was to toss out those games, Smith has a four-game effort of averaging 15.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest.

Cherry picking stats aside, Smith is delivering on both ends of the floor. He only played 11 minutes in the victory over Air Force. And I'm sure Smith is looking forward to the rematch with the first-place Aztecs (21-5) on 2/28 to improve on the two-point effort from Boise State's loss.

Smith had one of his best games of the season with an 18-point, 10-rebound effort against Wyoming. And he provides highlights on both ends of the floor. Monster dunks on one end and sky-high rebounds and electric blocked shots on defense. Smith had six blocked shots in a victory over UNLV and has had three or more blocks in four games this season.

Smith is averaging 10 points per game, to go along with 5.5 rebounds (second on the team). He is shooting 50.8 percent from the field and hit 16-48 from three-point range.

All five starters average double figures in scoring for the Broncos. While outstanding, it points to lack of offensive output from a spirited bench.

Boise State Broncos: Bench play

A concern for the Boise State Broncos, notably in conference play, is just how much they rely on the starting five. While it's great the lineup is so good, there's also worry about their workload and production heading into the homestretch and Mountain West Conference tourney.

The drop-off can be especially seen when top scorers Tyson Degenhart (14.6 ppg) and Marcus Shaver Jr. (13.4 ppg) are on the bench for extended minutes. In Wednesday night's 80-78 victory over Colorado State, Degenhart's absence due to foul trouble was huge. With him in the game, especially the second-half, the Broncos would be on the verge of pulling away as Degenhart was lighting up the scoreboard. But the Rams battled back when Degenhart went to the bench as the Broncos found it difficult to score.

The same can be said about the loss to San Diego State with Shaver missing the game and Degenhart saddled with foul trouble. Max Rice (13.4 ppg) did all he could but that night was a perfect storm of the aforementioned, plus the Aztecs on a mission to avenge three losses to Boise State last season. 

Newcomer Chibuzo Agbo (11.6 ppg) rounds out the starting five and can definitely be hot and cold when it comes to his scoring output.

It's beyond these five where the worry comes into play, especially in the scoring department.

Jace Whiting and Pavle Kuzmanovic can certainly get hot from deep and Kobe Young has proven he can score. Lukas Milner is often the most consistent of the bunch but recently went through a stretch where he failed to score in four of six games.

One of these four need to be scoring five or more points per game to truly make the Broncos great. Of course, their impact is much more than aiding the scoring load shouldered by the starters. The bench, whether it's these four players or even deeper down the roster, could go scoreless as long as they're giving meaningful minutes. 

It's about being reliable in key situations and for two, Whiting and Young, they are still learning the college game in many ways. But both are improving and contributing valuable minutes, along with Milner and Kuzmanovic, will determine if the Broncos repeat as Mountain West champions and how deep Boise State plays into March

So, too, will the play of Smith. Counted on in so many ways, the senior has risen to the occasion. And if he keeps posting similar numbers as the season winds down, I like the odds that the Boise State Broncos can finally get that elusive NCAA tournament win eluding them all these years.